Gasteria nitida var. armstrongii
| Light | Bright, indirect light; some shade from harsh direct sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; let the soil dry fully between waterings, near-dry in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Leaf cuttings, offsets and seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Gasteria nitida var. armstrongii is a highly collectible dwarf form of Gasteria nitida from the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is prized for its very thick, blunt, tongue-like dark green leaves, held stiffly in a flat, two-ranked (distichous) fan that stays remarkably small and slow-growing for many years — one of the most instantly recognisable of all the small gasterias.
Description
The plant forms a low rosette of just a few very thick, rigid leaves arranged in two opposite rows, giving the plant a flattened, fan-like profile. Each leaf is short, broad and bluntly rounded at the tip, dark green to almost blackish, with a rough, warty (tuberculate) surface that catches the light. Compared with the taller, smoother G. nitida — which forms a spiralled rosette at maturity — this variety is neotenic, retaining the flat, two-ranked arrangement of stubby, tongue-shaped leaves throughout its life rather than spiralling into the adult form.
Mature clumps slowly offset from the base to form small colonies. Like other gasterias, it produces arching flower spikes carrying pendulous, curved, stomach-shaped blooms — the swollen, gasteria ("little stomach") flowers that give the genus its name — pinkish-red and tipped with green.
Distribution and habitat
The species G. nitida occurs across the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, in well-drained, rocky and grassy ground. The variety armstrongii has a much more restricted range, endemic to pebbly renosterveld flats near the Gamtoos River in the Humansdorp area, where the small, well-camouflaged plants sit low among the stones and are often partly sheltered by low shrubs. In habitat these plants endure both drought and periodic rain, retreating into their thick, water-storing leaves through the dry season. Its narrow distribution and the loss of habitat to cultivation and collecting make it one of the more threatened gasterias in the wild.
Cultivation
Gasteria nitida var. armstrongii is an easygoing, forgiving succulent and an excellent choice for the beginner, asking mainly for restraint with the watering can. Grow it in a gritty, free-draining mix in a pot that is not too large, and water thoroughly only once the soil has dried out completely, tapering off in winter to keep the plant nearly dry and cool.
Unlike many succulents, gasterias actually prefer bright but filtered light rather than blazing full sun — too much direct exposure can scorch or bronze the dark leaves, while too little makes the rosette stretch and lose its compact charm. A spot with good light but some shade from intense afternoon sun keeps the leaves dark, plump and tightly stacked. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
This variety is easily increased, which is part of its appeal. Established plants offset freely, and the pups can be separated once they have a few roots (see Propagation — offsets). Gasterias are also one of the few succulents that root readily from whole leaf cuttings — a healthy leaf removed cleanly, allowed to callus, and set on gritty mix will often form roots and a small plantlet at its base. Seed is also possible but slower, and because it is a variety, seedlings may show some variation. See Propagation — seed for the full method.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual killer, almost always from overwatering or a mix that holds too much moisture; the base or lower leaves turn soft and translucent.
- Scorch and bronzing — dark leaves exposed to harsh direct sun can develop pale bleached or reddish patches that do not recover.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the compact rosette stretch and open up, spoiling the tight two-ranked form.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff between the leaves and at the roots) are the most common nuisance; watch also for scale and fungus gnats.
See also
- Gasteria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — seed