Red Apple Ice Plant Care
A native of the coastal plains of South Africa, red apple ice plant, (Aptenia cordifolia) will form low clumps of dark green leaves and from spring until fall will produce bright reddish-purple daisylike flowers. Red apple ice plant is an effective low-maintenance ground cover and can spread out as far as 2 feet. Hardy to temperatures as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit, red apple ice plant is also heat-tolerant, but will benefit from an occasional drink of water during hot, dry weather.
Plant red apple ice plant where it will be in afternoon shade and morning sunlight if you live in a hot desert climate. Otherwise, plant red apple ice plant in full sunlight.
Keep the soil moist while the red apple ice plant is young. Once the plant shows new growth, the roots are established, and watering can be reduced to a light watering twice a week during hot summer weather. Like all succulents, red apple ice plants can rot in soggy soil.
- A native of the coastal plains of South Africa, red apple ice plant, (Aptenia cordifolia) will form low clumps of dark green leaves and from spring until fall will produce bright reddish-purple daisylike flowers.
- Once the plant shows new growth, the roots are established, and watering can be reduced to a light watering twice a week during hot summer weather.
Fertilize red apple ice plant once a year, in early spring, using a diluted liquid fertilizer formulated for cactus and succulents, as ice plants are light feeders. Apply the cactus and succulent fertilizer according to the package directions but dilute the fertilizer to one-quarter strength.
Divide red apple ice plant when the plant looks crowded or begins to outgrow its boundaries. Dig up the plant with a garden fork, then pull the plant apart into smaller sections with your fingers, making sure every section has several roots. Discard any weak or dead areas or sections with brown or rotted roots. Plant the divided red apple ice plant in well-drained soil.
Propagate A Red Apple Ice Plant From Stem Cuttings
Cut a 2- to 4-inch length of stem from a healthy ice plant. Cut the stem with a sharp knife to avoid excessive damage to plant tissues. Alternatively, make potting soil by combining 90 percent clean sand, perlite or pumice with 10 percent compost or regular potting soil. Water the potting soil thoroughly. Set the pot aside to drain until the potting soil is evenly damp, but not soggy. Set the pot in a warm, dry room where the cutting is exposed to indirect sunlight. Avoid sunny windowsills, which are too hot and may scorch the cutting. Water the plant deeply whenever the soil is completely dry.
- Fertilize red apple ice plant once a year, in early spring, using a diluted liquid fertilizer formulated for cactus and succulents, as ice plants are light feeders.
- Set the pot in a warm, dry room where the cutting is exposed to indirect sunlight.
Related Articles
References
- PlantoftheWeek.com: Aptenia cordifolia - Baby Sun Rose
- The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Ed. Kathleen Norris Brenzel
- North Dakota State University Extension: Propagation of Cacti and Succulents
- University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program: Cacti and Succulents
Writer Bio
M.H. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing.
