Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana
| Light | Bright, indirect light; some shade from harsh direct sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderately in the growing season; let the mix dry out between waterings, keep nearly dry in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining, gritty succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Offsets (primary); leaf cuttings; seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana, the lilliput gasteria, is a tiny, freely clustering variety of Gasteria bicolor from the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It forms dense mounds of small, thick, tongue-shaped leaves arranged in a neat spiral and speckled with raised white spots, making it a popular miniature gasteria for windowsills and small collections.
Description
Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana is a dwarf, mat-forming succulent that stays small its whole life, individual rosettes usually only a few centimetres across. The leaves are firm, fleshy and tongue-shaped, dark green and evenly dusted with small, raised whitish tubercles. In young plants the leaves are held in two opposite ranks (distichous), but as a rosette matures the leaves spiral around the stem in the typical Gasteria fashion.
The plant offsets prolifically from the base, so a happy specimen soon becomes a tight cushion of many little heads crowding the pot. As with other gasterias, slender arching flower stalks appear mainly in spring and summer, carrying rows of small pendent flowers that are swollen and pink at the base and green-tipped — the curved, stomach-like shape that gives the genus its name.
Distribution and habitat
Like the wider species Gasteria bicolor, this variety is native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. In habitat gasterias typically grow in the light shade of shrubs, grasses and rock outcrops, often on slopes where the soil drains sharply and the plants are sheltered from the fiercest sun. This background explains their preference in cultivation for bright but filtered light rather than blazing exposure.
Cultivation
The lilliput gasteria is an easy, forgiving little plant and a good choice for beginners. Grow it in a shallow pot of free-draining, gritty mix in bright, indirect light; too much direct sun can bleach or redden the leaves, while too little makes the rosettes stretch and lose their compactness. A spot with good light but shade from midday sun suits it well.
Water moderately through the warmer growing months, letting the mix dry out between waterings, and keep the plant nearly dry over winter to prevent rot. Because it clusters so readily it will happily fill a pot; see Repotting for dividing and refreshing crowded clumps, and Watering for general technique. Overwatering and standing water are the main dangers, so err on the dry side.
Propagation
Offsets are the easiest and quickest method: gently detach a rooted or unrooted pup from the clump, let any wound dry briefly, and pot it into the same gritty mix (see Propagation - offsets). Gasterias also propagate readily from leaf cuttings — a whole leaf laid or inserted base-down on the surface will often form roots and small plantlets (see Propagation - cuttings). Seed is possible too but slower and, because plants hybridise freely, seedlings may not come true to the variety (see Propagation - seed).
Common problems
- Rot — from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or water sitting in the crowded rosettes; heads soften and discolour from the base.
- Etiolation — in too little light the rosettes stretch and the leaves lose their tidy, compact spiral.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff hidden between the leaves and among the offsets) are the most common; watch also for scale and fungus gnats in constantly damp soil. See Pests and diseases.
- Leaf scorch — sudden strong direct sun can bleach or scar the leaf surface; acclimatise plants gradually.
See also
- Gasteria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation - offsets · Propagation - cuttings · Propagation - seed
- Pests and diseases