Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
A graptoveria moonglow is a controversial double yellow flower that features a green stem and leaves. It was originally discovered in the state of Texas, but graptoveria’s can now be found all over North America.
Some graptoveria moonglow is a plant that doubles as a houseplant and an outdoor plant. This plant is often called controversial because it has yellow flowers in the summer and orange flowers in the winter. The controversy behind this graptoveria moonglow comes from how some people think that these two colors clash too much when they are next to each other. However, others believe that this graptoveria moonglow adds more color to their garden year-round!
This article discusses graptoverias moonglows, including their history and current status as well as other care and growing information about them.
Origin and description
Graptoveria moonglow is a hybrid of Echeveria and xGraptopetalum. Both are in the Crassulaceae family, which includes many succulent species that range from small to large shrubs or even trees. Native to Mexico, these two genera share some similarities but are not closely related.
Graptopetalum belongs to the subfamily Sedoideae, which also includes Echeveria and several other genera. They are all relatively small succulents that have thick leaves with a waxy surface, often colorful flowers in bright shades of reds or pinks depending on species, and originated from Mexico and the United States.
Echeveria belongs to the subfamily Sedoideae as well, but their leaves are thinner and flatter with a waxy coating that is often either grayish or bluish in coloration depending on species.
Graptoveria moonglow is a succulent that has rosettes as well as weeping stems and blooms in early summer with peachy yellow flowers. Although they often do not last long, however, the color lasts for around two weeks before turning white or pink instead of peach. This plant is native to the highlands of Mexico. It is hardy in zones 9 through 11 and prefers full sun, although it can grow indoors as well with lots of light.
Graptoveria moonglow propagation
The most common way to propagate graptoveria moonglow is by division, which can be done at any time of the year. The best time may be between late fall and early winter after they have gone dormant. Divide the clumps into single rosettes with a sharp knife or garden shears.
The best time to separate the rosettes is after a couple of days. The leaves will begin to shrivel but are still alive at this point so you can tell where each division should be made. After division, pot them in a fast-draining soil mixture with some added sharp sand.
Towards the end of winter, you should start watering again but not too much or they might rot. The new plants will begin to grow once spring arrives and you can fertilize every other month using 20-20-20 fertilizer at half strength until fall when you can increase it to full strength.
Graptoveria moonglow care
This is a generally easy-to-care-for plant that can survive in just about any household condition with good light and water. It’s also one of my favorites since its unique foliage makes it stand out from most other succulents!
The graptoveria moonglow is an easy succulent plant to care for. Let’s discuss how to take care of this popular cactus. The first thing that you need to know about the graptoverias is their cold tolerance, which can range from 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-13 Celsius) and 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-31 Celsius).
Light requirements
Generally, graptoverias prefer full sun. However, the double yellow flowers of this plant are extremely sensitive to sunlight; they will burn if exposed directly for too long or in an area that gets very hot during the summer months. If you’re growing graptoveria moonglow with its beautiful display of bright flowers (and who isn’t?), try keeping it in part shade.
Soil/potting mix
Graptoveria moonglow is not picky about soil or potting mix, but it does need good drainage. Graptopetalums are native to mountainous regions and prefer rocky soils that drain well. If the root ball stays too wet for too long (like in a poorly draining clay-based potting mix), this plant will quickly become mushy and rot.
Most graptopetalums actually grow well in a pumice mix, although this plant prefers standard potting soil with added perlite to improve drainage. Whatever you decide to use, don’t forget the gravel at the bottom of your container or pot for better drainage!
Watering
Graptoveria moonglow is low-water, but it can’t survive being left dry. They are native to the arid mountainous regions of South Africa, so they prefer a bit more water than other graptopetalums. However, this plant doesn’t need much attention; you should only have to water it once every week or two.
You should avoid watering this plant from above, which can cause the leaves to get wet and encourage rot. Instead, pour water into your container slowly at the base of the pot so that it seeps down through all of the soil in a slow trickle; you may need to empty any excess after 15 minutes or so.
This plant can also handle a bit of underwatering, but be careful not to let it get too dry! If you’re growing graptoveria moonglow in a pot with other plants that need more care and attention, try putting this one on the bottom where it’s less likely to be damaged by overwatering.
Finally, keep the soil slightly drier from early fall until late spring. This plant goes dormant during those months to conserve energy for blooming in summer and autumn. Of course, if it’s a particularly warm year or you’re growing graptoveria moonglow as an indoor plant, this may not apply!
Fertilizer
Graptoveria moonglow doesn’t need too much fertilizer, but it will benefit from an occasional dose of balanced plant food. You can use standard orchid fertilizers for this purpose; just follow the directions on the label.
Fertilize graptoverias during the growing season (spring and summer) every few weeks to encourage blooming. You can also fertilize them in fall and winter but use less fertilizer to avoid burning delicate new growth that forms during those seasons.
Temperature
Graptoveria moonglow can tolerate a surprisingly wide range of temperatures. However, keep the plant around 55-75 degrees F (12-20 C) and avoid cold drafts during winter months to protect new growth that emerges in late fall and early spring.
This graptopetalum is hardy down to about 20 degrees F (-12 C), but you should still avoid exposing it to temperatures below 40 degrees F (15 degrees C) for very long. If your plant freezes, the leaves will become mushy and browned; trim off any affected foliage once spring arrives.
Humidity
Graptoveria moonglow doesn’t need high humidity to thrive, but it can tolerate moderate levels as long as airflow is good. This plant will grow just fine in normal indoor temperatures and light conditions with relative humidity around 50-60%.
You should aim for 40% relative humidity if you’re growing graptoveria moonglow in a terrarium. If you’re growing it in a greenhouse or conservatory, humidity can be lower but should probably not drop below 30%.
As long as your graptoveria moonglow isn’t getting soggy from sitting around too much water, the plant will usually handle low levels of humidity without any problems. It’s very tolerant of the dry air indoors, but you should avoid exposing it to heat or drafty conditions.
Pruning
One of the best things about graptoveria moonglow is that it isn’t too fussy with pruning. It can be trimmed up and kept as a bonsai, or you can let it grow into a full-sized shrub without much difficulty!
Just keep in mind that this plant blooms on new growth; if you prune off a stem or branch, the plant won’t have any flowers until it starts growing again. However, most graptopetalums can be cut back with impunity and will usually grow fine.
If your graptoveria moonglow is getting too tall for its pot or if some of the branches are starting to die out, go ahead and trim it back! If you’re not sure if the plant has gotten too tall for its pot or how to prune properly, just take a look at this article.
When to repot
Most graptopetalums are relatively fast-growing plants, so you should repot them about once every year or two. Graptoveria moonglow is no exception to this rule!
Don’t wait too long between repottings; most of these plants won’t last more than a few years if their roots start overgrowing the pot. When you do repot, use a container with ample drainage holes and try to disturb the roots as little as possible when you transfer it.
When your graptoveria moonglow starts putting on new growth or flowering more heavily than usual, that’s usually a good indicator that it’s time for another repotting!
Dormancy
Graptoveria moonglow doesn’t have a dormant period, but it will grow faster in warmer weather.
If your graptoveria moonglow is blooming more than usual during the winter months or if you notice it’s putting on new growth when it’s supposed to be resting, don’t worry; this plant usually has no dormant period, so it will grow year-round.
Flowers & Fragrance
Graptoveria moonglow is a double-flowering species, which means it has two types of flowers on each stem. The standard yellow-orange petals are the last thing to bloom in summer and fall while the shorter inner ones emerge later and fade first, so if you cut off an entire stem when all of its blooms have died out, the plant will start over next season.
Graptoveria moonglow typically produces yellow-orange blooms with a greenish tinge in early summer, but these flowers fade as they age and are usually replaced by the smaller, darker yellow-green blooms of the plant’s secondary flowering. These inner blossoms last longer than their outer counterparts but still tend to go out with a bang before fading away completely!
Graptoveria moonglow is one of the most fragrant species in this genus, with its double flowers giving off a delightful fragrance! While the standard petals are yellow-orange in color, they fade to greenish after exposure to sunlight and produce an intense scent that has been compared favorably to both gardenias and jasmine.
Growth rate
Graptoveria moonglow is a relatively fast-growing plant, and it looks great in hanging baskets or pots.
This graptopetalum has an average rate of growth, but its trailing vines make it especially suitable for use as groundcover or to fill out the pans and troughs of planters with! If you want to keep your graptoveria moonglow as a potted plant, you should probably repot it every year or two.
Toxicity
Graptoveria moonglow has no known toxicity.
This plant bears no major toxic side effects, so it’s perfectly safe to place in your home! The sap of graptopetalum may cause skin irritation if you are sensitive or allergic, but this species is unlikely to have any negative impact on people who touch its leaves or flowers.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Graptoveria moonglow is hardy to USDA Zone 9 – 11.
This graptopetalum has no known issues with the cold and can survive in temperatures as low as -20°F, so it’s safe to grow outdoors if you live somewhere that gets this cold!
Pests and diseases
Graptoveria moonglow is generally pest-resistant.
This might be because graptopetalum species are extremely resilient when it comes to pests, but it’s also quite likely that their thick leaves protect them from most common houseplant insects! If you notice any bugs on your graptoveria moonglow or if the plant suddenly starts looking a little worse for wear, then it’s time to take action!
Conclusion
graptoveria moonglow is a great plant for beginners due to its ease of care and adaptability.
They may be best known as one of the easiest plants in this genus to grow, but it’s also an extremely versatile species that can thrive both indoors and outdoors! If you’re looking for a hardy houseplant that’s not fussy about its conditions, then you should definitely consider graptoveria moonglow for your home.
