Home»Cactus - Succulents»Senecio
Senecio Serpens [ sen - NEESH - shee - oh , SUR - penz ] , is a succulent priming coat cover aboriginal of South Africa and a extremity of the Asteraceae family .
You may also hear the flora pertain to by the common name Blue Finger or serpens cactus . In the United Kingdom , it is sometimes called Kleinia .
Senecio Serpens Cactus Blue Chalksticks Care
Size & Growth
Senecio mandraliscaeis tardily - growing plant with finger - like leaves can grow to be 3 ’ feet high and 3 ’ infantry wide ( 91.5 cm ) .
Typically , it bide a bit shorter and a height of about one infantry is common .
The plant has a public exposure , swan , thumping - forming ontogenesis habit . It branches from the base and roots along the shank making it an excellentsucculent ground cover .
The industrial plant grow actively during the spring , summer , and former autumn .
It will become semi - dormant during the former fall and winter months .
Senecio Serpens has finger - like fleshy leaves about 2 ” inches long .
They are an attractive bluish - gray or bluish - greenish color with a protective powder program .
When the foliage is exposed to a great peck of heat and sunlight , the gratuity of the leave-taking will wrick purple .
Flowering & Fragrance
The plant life will bring about low creamy ashen blossoms during the summertime .
They arise in clusters standing just a little moment above the leaves from mid - summer to early fall .
Light & Temperature
Although the works does well in direct , full sunlight ( 6 to 8 minute day by day ) but also tolerates partial shade in an out-of-door stage setting .
It is winter dauntless in USDA hardiness geographical zone 9a and above .
In nerveless climates , you must be vigilant about unexpected halt .
Keep an eye on your local weather prevision and cover your plants in advance of freeze temperatures .
If you must keep Blue Chalksticks indoors in winter , asouth - facing windowis well .
If you are ineffective to give the plant rich sunlight , you will need tosupplement with a fluorescent grow lightfor about sixteen hour a daytime .
range the light stuffy to the flora .
They should be between 6 ” – 12 ” inches above the foliage .
This Sunday - loving succulent is prevent as a perennial in USDA hardiness zone 9a and above .
In cooler clime , it is grown as an annual or produce in container to be brought indoors to winter .
Serpens Cactus Watering & Feeding
Allow the stain to dry out out wholly , and then bring home the bacon a rich and exhaustive watering .
Generally talk , give your plants a deep lachrymation about once a calendar month once established .
When you first plant your Blue Chalksticks , your plants may call for water weekly during the first growing season .
Container plant may need more frequent tearing . Watch out for overwatering which can lead to root rot .
If keeping the plant indoors during the cold winter months , water meagrely about once a calendar month .
Your goal in winter is to prevent the plant from wilting .
Fertilize garden plants with a balanced liquid state postscript each year in the spring if you wish , but fertilizing is not necessary for Blue Chalkstick planted in the ground .
Use a especially formulated fertilizer intended for out-of-door cactus and succulents .
If keeping these succulent plant indoors , allow for a half - strength pane of balanced liquid fertilizer monthly throughout the growing time of year .
Soil & Transplanting
Blue Chalksticks prefer sharp , tight - draining soil .
Use a commercially prepared succulent or cactus mixture soil . Another option is to create a succulent mix by adding ok crushed rock , uncouth sand , and perlite to received potting soil .
If planting directly into the garden , plant in a sandlike soil mixture . better the territory with these components to provide the best possible drain .
Grooming & Maintenance
The slow - grow serpens cactus needs little or no grooming and sustainment .
If the plants become leggy or excessively tall , prune them back in other spring . This will give the industrial plant embodiment and boost them to ramify out in a bushy outgrowth riding habit .
How To Propagate Blue Chalk Stick Plant
Like most succulents , Blue Chalksticks are grown from leafage press cutting or seed .
Growing from cut is in general well-fixed than growing from seed .
If growing from seed , pitter-patter seed directly onto a tray of well - run out grease .
come out the tray in a warm , dry , well ventilated setting with undimmed , indirect sunlight .
Keep the stain evenly moist until seeds germinate , then taper off watering gradually as the seedlings grow and senesce .
It can take several hebdomad for the seeds to sprout and grow .
Other Popular Varieties of Senecio :
Bluechalk Stick Plant Pests or Diseases
When well cared for , Blue Chalksticks do not lean to have diseases or pests .
If overwatered ( notice any dropping leaves ) or kept in a circumstance with too little sunlight or poor air circulation , bacterial and fungous rots such as origin rot may occur .
to boot , flora in piteous condition will attract mealy bug and other scale insect . Use Neem oil or insecticidal Georgia home boy for control .
When produce indoors , Blue Chalksticks may show rotting or drooping leaf .
This may be because the land in which they are planted is too copious and/or retain too much urine .
Be trusted any container you practice has plenty of drainage jam .
Remember all succulent and cacti prefer a sharply draining soil admixture comprise grit , pebbles , sand , and standard potting soil .
Is This Plant Toxic Or Poisonous?
Senecio Serpens is toxic to pets and citizenry , but on the upside , it is also cony and deer insubordinate .
Is This Plant Invasive?
concord to the CABI Invasive Species Compendium Senecio Serpens may be considered invasive in Portugal at this time but is not considered invasive in any other part of the world .
notwithstanding , in areas where it get alfresco yr - round , take care not to countenance it to escape into the wilderness .
Suggested Senecio Serpens Uses
This plant is very drought tolerant and is a good selection for xeriscaping and rock garden plantings .
Blue Chalksticks is also a dandy option as a container garden as a makeweight plant life .
In temperate areas , it is sometimes kept alfresco all year around and makes an excellent ground cover .
This plant does not do well as a houseplant .
