Gibbaeum dispar
| Light | Bright light with some shade from the fiercest summer sun; strong light keeps growth compact |
|---|---|
| Water | Very sparingly; water in autumn and winter, keep dry and cool through the hot summer rest |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9a–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; division of clumps |
| Toxicity | Not known to be toxic to cats and dogs |
Gibbaeum dispar is a low, clump-forming dwarf succulent from the Little Karoo of South Africa, grown for its distinctive velvety grey leaf pairs and its cheerful bright pink flowers. Like the rest of the genus Gibbaeum, each pair of fleshy leaves is markedly unequal — one leaf noticeably shorter than its partner — giving the plant a lopsided, dumpling-like look that many collectors find irresistible. In cultivation it slowly builds up into a neat, low mound of these chunky pairs.
Description
Gibbaeum dispar is a small, tufted succulent that forms low mounds of paired leaves. Each body consists of two fused, fleshy leaves of noticeably unequal length, chubby and rounded, with a soft grey to grey-green colour and a fine, velvety surface texture that comes from a covering of minute hairs. This felted skin softens the plant's outline and helps distinguish it from the smoother-bodied members of the genus.
New leaf pairs emerge from the cleft between the old ones, so an established plant becomes a congested cluster of overlapping bodies. Flowers are daisy-like and a bright pink to violet-red, opening from the gap between the leaves and sitting close to the plant. As with most Karoo mesembs, the flowers open in response to bright light.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Little Karoo region of the Western Cape, South Africa, a semi-arid region of low and erratic rainfall. Here it grows in arid, stony ground among quartz gravel and low scrub, weathering hot dry summers and cooler, moister winters. Plants often nestle low against the soil and gravel, where their grey colouring blends into the surrounding stones — a camouflage shared by many of their mesemb relatives.
Cultivation
Gibbaeum dispar follows the winter-growing rhythm typical of its Little Karoo home, and getting the watering season right is the key to success. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a shallow pot, in bright light with a little shade from the most intense summer sun. Water is given mainly in autumn and winter, when the plant is in active growth; through the heat of summer the plant rests, and it should be kept dry and shaded to prevent rot. Overwatering, especially during the summer dormancy, is the most common cause of loss.
Feed lightly if at all, and resist the urge to repot too often — these dwarf succulents are content in a snug container. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
The species is usually raised from seed, sown onto a gritty, mineral surface and kept lightly moist and warm until the tiny seedlings establish; see Propagation — seed. Older clumps can also be divided, and offset-like rooted pieces separated from the mound and grown on — see Propagation — offsets. As with all mesembs, let any cut or divided surface dry before potting to reduce the risk of rot.
Common problems
- Rot — almost always from watering during the summer rest or from a slow-draining mix; affected bodies go soft and translucent.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the leaf pairs swell, pale and lose their tight, compact form.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff tucked into the leaf clefts and roots) and, less often, root mealybugs are the usual troublemakers. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Gibbaeum — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets