Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:04 pm
Gasteria glomerata, or gasteria for short, is a succulent that can be grown indoors. The plant has thick leaves and furry white flowers that bloom in the winter. Gasterias are native to South Africa where they grow naturally on rocky slopes.
They are also known as “living stones” because of their ability to survive through drought conditions by storing water in their leaves (which act like sponges). This makes gasteria an excellent addition to any home with little access to water; it needs only one watering per month!
Gasteria Glomerata is also a flowering succulent, often called a home plant. It is in the gasteria family and originates from South Africa. It grows in clusters of rosettes with a round shape that has been compared to an artichoke or gourd.
They have dark green leaves with white stripes on the edge and are covered in small hairs that help them retain water for longer periods of time than other plants would be able to do so on their own.
Origin and description
Gasteria glomerata is a succulent plant that belongs to the family Asphodelaceae. It was discovered in South Africa, which makes it native only to Southern Africa. The genus name for this species is derived from Greek, meaning “belly” or “stomach,” and could possibly refer to the shape of its leaves.
The name “glomerata” is from Latin, which means “a mass,” and refers to this plant’s clustered growth pattern.
Gasteria glomerata can be found throughout South Africa in open grassland areas up to an elevation of approximately 3000 feet above sea level. In these habitats, it grows in clumps, with the leaves growing upward to create a “basket-like” appearance.
The diameter of Gasteria glomerata’s thick green leaves is approximately one inch at their base and can grow up to six inches tall. The flowers are small buds that only bloom once every several years during summertime, but when they do, they are red in color with yellow throats.
Gasteria glomerata’s leaves have the ability to store water for times of drought or when there is not enough rainfall during its growing season. This enables it to survive extended periods of time where there are little-to-no rainfalls. The thick leathery texture of these leaves also helps the plant to survive wind, sunburn, and grazing by animals.
Gasteria glomerata is a popular choice for home gardeners in all areas of the world because it provides color throughout most months of the year if cared for properly.
Gasteria glomerata propagation
Gasteria glomerata can be propagated by seed or vegetatively. Seeds need to be cold-treated before they will germinate, but this process is not necessary if the plant is grown from cuttings taken during summertime and placed in a warm and humid environment.
The soil should be well-draining and should contain some sand or gravel to ensure that the plant does not sit in water for extended periods of time. This species is drought tolerant, so it can survive without being watered very often.
Gasteria glomerata thrives best when grown outdoors during summertime with little watering every week or two depending on the season. In the wintertime, it should be grown indoors in a bright room that receives sunlight and is watered once or twice per month to keep them from drying out.
Gasteria glomerata care
Gasteria glomerata can be cared for by providing bright sunlight and warm temperatures during the growing season. It is drought tolerant, so it does not need to be watered very often as long as its soil has great drainage. In the wintertime, plants should experience a cooling-off period where they are exposed to less light but still watered enough to prevent them from dying
Light requirements
Gasteria glomerata should be grown in a location that receives bright sunlight during the growing season but is protected from being exposed to direct light for long periods of time.
In order to prevent leaf-burning or stress on this plant due to sun exposure, it should only be placed outdoors when temperatures are between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
During the wintertime, it should be brought back indoors and placed in a room that receives bright light but not direct sunlight. This can help prevent plants from drying out too quickly or dying due to a lack of water.
Soil/potting mix
In order to ensure that the plant stays moist and doesn’t dry out, a well-draining potting mix is needed.
A soil mixture of one part peat moss and two parts sand can be used as an alternative if you wish for your Gasteria glomerata to have a more alkaline soil environment.
Extra drainage holes should be added to the pot in order to allow water to flow through it.
It is important for these plants not to sit directly on top of rocks or gravel, as this can cause their roots to rot and kill them.
In addition, a layer of coarse sand on the top of the soil can help keep these plants from sitting in too much water.
Watering
Watering is pretty simple for gasteria glomerata. They like to be kept on the dry side and will do best when they are allowed almost no standing water in their pot tray or saucer. When you get a new plant of this succulent, it may take some time before you learn how much and how often to water them since they’re not very typical cacti.
Once your plant is established, it will want to be watered about once a week or so during the warmer months of summer and fall depending on how hot your summers are where you live. In winter, they can go even longer without watering as long as their soil doesn’t dry out completely – try not to let it.
Fertilizer
Gasteria glomerata is a tough succulent plant that doesn’t really need much in the way of extra fertilizer. They will grow fine without any kind of fertilization, provided you find it difficult to keep their soil on the dry side and they’re not growing too slowly for your tastes.
If you do feel like giving them some sort of fertilizer, a slow-release balanced (20-20-20) succulent food should be fine. The amount of fertilizer to use will vary depending on the size and age of your plant but shouldn’t need any more than about half or even less than recommended for most other cacti and succulents.
As far as when to fertilize, you should be alright doing it whenever the soil is dry enough that you can work with it.
It’s important to remember not to give your gasteria glomerata any fertilizer if their leaves start turning yellow or pale green because too much fertilizer given at once will burn them and kill your plant. If this happens, stop fertilizing and don’t give them any more until you see new growth after the burned leaves have fallen off.
Temperature
Gasteria glomerata is a winter grower in most places and will do best when they have cool to cold nights along with warm sunny days. Temperatures should be kept around 50-55 degrees Fahreinheit at night during the colder months of winter, but no cooler than about 40 degrees Fahreinheit or so for too long or your plant may lose its leaves.
When it starts getting warmer in spring and summer, they will want to be kept outside where temperatures can range from full sun to partial shade depending on how much direct sun you give them. They do best when the temperature is allowed to rise up at least into the 70s or 80s during these warm months but won’t do well if left out in the heat of midday sun.
Humidity
Gasteria glomerata doesn’t really need any kind of extra humidity or misting to prevent them from drying out. They aren’t very picky about humidity and will be fine as long as the air around them is fairly dry, but they should do best if you can keep their environment relatively humid without allowing it to be soggy.
If their soil ever feels completely dry, try giving them a good misting with water to help raise the humidity levels before you take any other steps. You can also place some pebbles or rocks inside of your pots near the plant so that they create small areas where moisture can collect and not evaporate as quickly – this will increase humidity for your plant.
If you decide to mist or increase humidity, be careful not to get the leaves of your gasteria glomerata wet since this will cause them to rot and die if left on too long. If they are damaged in any way, immediately remove any pieces that have come off with water before it dries out completely.
An ideal humidity range is about 40-60% if possible, but it’s not a problem as long as your plant isn’t drying out.
Pruning
Gasteria glomerata is a plant that can be pruned at any time of the year. While it may not significantly affect blooming, you should avoid trimming in summer and winter due to the sensitivity of the foliage during these periods. Trim off dead or damaged leaves by cutting them back to their base with sharp, clean shears.
If you have a plant with yellowing or discolored leaves, it may indicate the presence of pests or disease. You can treat this by applying an insecticide solution to your plants in accordance with product directions and avoiding excessive water applications that will promote root rot.
When to repot
To repot your plant, remove it from its current container and loosen roots slightly by gently shaking or brushing them aside. Place new potting soil around plants roots and ensure that the final product is no more than one inch below the plant’s rim to allow for watering.
Give your new potted Gasteria glomerata time to adjust before moving it back into direct sunlight. If you are experiencing root rot or poor drainage, try repotting your plant with different soil composition.
The best time to repot is around spring and fall, but you can also repot throughout the summer if necessary.
Dormancy
Gasteria glomerata will enter a state of dormancy in response to extended periods of cold and/or dry weather. While there is no need for concern during this time, you may want to reduce watering or stop it altogether if your plant begins to shrivel significantly.
Flowers & Fragrance
Gasteria glomerata is a plant that will remain in bloom for several months when given proper care. The flowers are the main source of nectar for butterflies and other insects, so it’s important not to disturb them by rinsing or pruning during this time.
The Gasteria flower has a pleasant fragrance with scalloped petals in a shade of pinkish-white. This plant is known to attract butterflies, so enjoy watching them visit your Gasteria glomerata!
Growth rate
Gasteria glomerata is a slow-growing plant with thick, fleshy leaves and small rosettes.
Toxicity
Gasteria glomerata is non-toxic to humans and animals. Keep in mind that the sap of this plant can cause irritation when it comes into contact with skin, so avoid handling your Gasteria without wearing gloves or washing your hands thoroughly afterward.
USDA Hardiness Zones
The Gasteria glomerata is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones of 11-12.
Pests and diseases
Gasteria glomerata is susceptible to pests and diseases such as the Gasteria Mosaic Virus, mealybugs, slugs, snails, and nematodes. They may also be affected by fungal infections like stem rot or root rot from overwatering.
The leaves will begin to turn brown starting at the tips of the leaves and moving towards the base of the plant.
Conclusion
Although the Gasteria glomerata is susceptible to pests and diseases, it can be easily cared for. It grows slowly so only minimal care is required over time.
