Little Sticky
This article brings you knowledge about succulent plants, sharing the care experience of Little Sticky (Cotyledon eliseae). Let's introduce it next.
Little Sticky (Cotyledon eliseae) belongs to the Crassulaceae family, the silver wave锦 genus, and is native to the Cape Province of South Africa. It has no Chinese name because the plant's leaves easily secrete sticky substances, hence the name Little Sticky. Little Sticky has an indistinct leaf tip, red edges on the leaf margins, and the center of the leaves is thick while the edges are thin, possibly related to the original habitat. The plant is an upright, succulent shrub, not very tall. The leaves are opposite, long and spoon-shaped, with some leaves having slight wrinkles at the top. Under strong sunlight, the leaves become slightly yellow-green, quite cute, and are basically light green during the growing period. It blooms in spring and summer, with compound corymbose racemes, the inflorescence is tall, the small flowers are tubular and pendulous, the flowers are reddish-pink, and the buds look like little peppers.
Little Sticky requires a sunny, cool, and dry environment, is tolerant of partial shade, afraid of waterlogging, and dislikes hot and humid conditions. It has the habit of growing in cool seasons and dormant in high summer temperatures. The growing period for the plant is from September to June of the following year (different environments have different growing periods). Insufficient light will cause the plant to stretch, the distance between leaves to increase, making the plant loose and the stems very fragile. Plants growing in full sunlight have a shorter, stocky shape with closely arranged internodes. My Little Sticky is grown in a sunlit greenhouse. During the growing period, keep the soil slightly moist and avoid waterlogging.
The soil I used for Little Sticky is a mixture of coal slag, peat, and a small amount of perlite, in a ratio of about 6:3:1, with small stones laid on the soil surface. Little Sticky can tolerate temperatures as low as -2℃ when the potting soil is dry, which is the indoor temperature, not outdoors. Lower temperatures can cause frostbite, drying, and even death at the top growth points of the leaves, but as long as the main stem survives, new lateral branches will sprout from the withered areas the following year.
Watering is almost stopped during the entire winter, and watering should be gradually reduced when temperatures drop below 5℃. When temperatures exceed 35℃ in summer, the plant's growth basically stops. At this time, reduce watering to prevent root rot due to excessively moist potting soil. Enhance ventilation, provide some shade, and avoid direct sunlight. This is the basic care throughout the summer. It should be noted that in summer, I do not completely stop watering; instead, I give a small amount of water, about twice a month, between 7-9 pm when the sun has set, which does not affect the plant's roots.
During cultivation, avoid getting the plant wet in the rain, as it can easily rot the roots. Little Sticky should be repotted every 2-4 years, before the first watering in early spring.
The shape of Little Sticky is not too large, with branching. It can be propagated by cutting the top and dividing the plant, or by leaf propagation. The leaves are simply placed flat on the soil surface, in a shaded and well-ventilated area, and left alone. New leaves will gradually grow. Once the roots develop, water can be given. Stem cuttings are even simpler; healthy old stems can be cut and inserted into slightly moist sand. In a shaded, well-ventilated area, roots will typically grow in 15 to 20 days. Cuttings should be done in spring and autumn, while leaf propagation can be done at any time except winter.
The above shares the full content of the care experience for Little Sticky (Cotyledon eliseae). I hope it is helpful to green plant enthusiasts!