Gasteria maculata
| Light | Bright, indirect light; tolerates shade better than most succulents |
|---|---|
| Water | Water thoroughly when the soil has dried; reduce sharply in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining, gritty succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Offsets, leaf cuttings and seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Gasteria maculata — now usually treated as a synonym of Gasteria bicolor — is a robust, clump-forming succulent from South Africa, grown for its long, strap-shaped leaves of glossy dark green heavily marbled with pale spots and bands. In young plants the thick leaves are arranged in a flat, two-ranked fan (a distichous arrangement) that spirals into a loose rosette with age, making it one of the more recognisable and forgiving members of the genus Gasteria.
Description
Gasteria maculata produces tongue-shaped (lorate) leaves that are thick, firm and smooth to the touch, with a glossy rather than rough surface. The dark green blades are boldly marked with irregular whitish spots that often merge into broken transverse bands, and the leaf tips carry a small horny point. Young plants tend to hold their leaves in two opposite ranks like an open book; as the plant matures and offsets, the leaves usually arrange themselves in a spiral rosette, though some material stays distichous, especially in cultivation.
Like all gasterias, it carries curved, stomach-shaped ("gasteriform") flowers — the feature that gives the genus its name. These hang from a slender arching stem, roughly 30 cm long, in shades of pink to reddish-orange tipped with green, and are pollinated by nectar-feeding birds. Established plants clump readily, forming dense colonies of offsets over time.
The name Gasteria maculata Haw. has a tangled taxonomic history and has been applied to more than one plant over the years; it could not be retained as an accepted name because these plants were first described in the genus Aloe, and Haworth's Aloe maculata duplicated an earlier name given to a different plant. It is now regarded as a synonym of Gasteria bicolor, and much material in cultivation under the old label is closely allied to, or overlaps with, other spotted gasterias. For the grower, the practical identity is consistent: a tough, spotted, clumping species that behaves like a classic robust Gasteria.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it grows on rocky slopes and outcrops in thicket vegetation, and is particularly common around Port Elizabeth. In habitat the plants are often sheltered among rocks or beneath the cover of shrubs and grasses rather than in full exposure — a preference for dappled light that is why Gasteria maculata copes with lower light levels than many other succulents.
Cultivation
Gasteria maculata is among the easiest succulents to grow, which makes it an excellent beginner's plant. Give it a free-draining, gritty mix and bright but indirect light; unlike sun-loving cacti, it prefers a little shade and can scorch or bleach to a washed-out colour in harsh direct sun. In too much shade the leaves stretch and lose their compact form, so aim for a bright spot out of the fiercest midday rays.
Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out, then allow it to dry again before the next watering — the thick leaves store ample moisture, and the commonest cause of loss is rot from staying wet. Cut watering back sharply through the cold months, when the plant rests. It is happy in a snug pot and appreciates occasional repotting once a clump fills its container. See Watering for general technique.
Propagation
Gasteria maculata is very easily propagated. The simplest method is to remove the offsets ("pups") that form around the base of an established clump, let any cut surface callus for a day or two, then pot them up — see Propagation - offsets. Whole leaves will also root: a leaf pulled cleanly from the stem and allowed to callus will often produce plantlets from its base (see Propagation - cuttings). Seed is possible where flowers are hand-pollinated, though it is slower and, because named forms may not come true, less commonly used by hobbyists (see Propagation - seed).
Common problems
- Rot — from overwatering or a slow-draining mix; the leaf bases turn soft, brown and mushy. Water less and improve drainage.
- Scorch — sudden strong direct sun can bleach or mark the leaves; move to bright indirect light and acclimatise gradually.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the leaves stretch, thin and lose their tidy fan or rosette shape.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff tucked between the leaves and at the roots) are the main nuisance; watch also for the fine scarring that mites can leave on the leaves. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Gasteria — the genus overview
- Gasteria bicolor — the currently accepted name
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation - offsets · Propagation - cuttings · Propagation - seed