Curio articulatus
| Light | Bright light to part shade; grows in cooler months, prefers protection from the fiercest summer sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Water when the soil dries; winter-growing habit — keep barely moist in summer dormancy |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings and dropped joints, which root readily |
| Toxicity | Toxic if ingested; keep away from pets and children |
Curio articulatus is a small, easygoing succulent from South Africa, grown for its curious jointed stems that look like a string of chubby, blue-grey sausages. Each fleshy segment is banded and slightly angled, and when a joint breaks off it will happily root where it lands, which explains common names such as candle plant and hot dog cactus — though it is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae), not a true cactus. It was long known as Senecio articulatus and is still widely sold under that name.
Description
Curio articulatus forms clusters of upright to sprawling stems built from short, plump, cylindrical joints a few centimetres long. The segments are usually a chalky blue-grey to grey-green, often marked with faint purplish lines, and coated in a waxy farina that rubs off easily to the touch. New joints break away from older ones at slight constrictions, giving the plant its distinctive articulated, sausage-link look.
In its growing season the stems carry small, fleshy, somewhat arrow-shaped leaves on slender stalks; these are shed as the plant goes dormant, leaving the bare jointed stems that most growers know it by. Mature plants can produce small clusters of off-white to pale yellow flower heads, which carry a scent many find unpleasant.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Cape region of South Africa, where it grows in dry, rocky and sandy ground, often sheltered among shrubs and grasses. Like many South African succulents it is adapted to grow through the cooler, wetter part of the year and to rest during the hot, dry season — a winter-growing rhythm worth keeping in mind under cultivation.
Cultivation
Curio articulatus is one of the more forgiving succulents and a good choice for beginners. Grow it in a gritty, very free-draining mix in bright light; a little shade in the hottest part of summer helps keep the blue coloring. Water when the soil has dried out during its active growth in the cooler months, and ease off through its summer dormancy, when the plant naturally sheds leaves and rests.
The stems are brittle by design and joints detach easily, so handle plants gently when moving or repotting them. Overwatering — especially while dormant — is the main thing to avoid, as the fleshy stems rot quickly in soggy soil. See Watering for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be simpler. Detached joints and stem cuttings root readily: let the cut end callus for a day or two, then set it on or just into barely moist gritty mix and wait for roots. In fact the plant more or less propagates itself, as dropped segments often root where they fall. This ease of vegetative increase is why it spreads so freely in collections.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or watering during summer dormancy; stems soften, blacken and collapse.
- Etiolation — too little light stretches the joints, spacing them out and washing out the blue-grey color.
- Loss of bloom — handling rubs off the waxy farina, leaving greener patches; this is cosmetic and harmless.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff at the joints and roots) and the occasional aphid on new growth; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Curio — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases