Pachyphytum hookeri
| Light | Bright light to full sun; some acclimatised sun brings out the best colour |
|---|---|
| Water | Soak-and-dry; let the mix dry completely between waterings, much drier in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Leaf and stem cuttings; also seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Pachyphytum hookeri is a shrubby Mexican succulent grown for its slender, spindle-shaped, pointed leaves — a soft blue-green dusted in pale farina and often blushed rose-red at the tips. The leaves are crowded into loose rosettes at the tips of erect stems that lengthen and often become decumbent with age, giving established plants a taller, more sprawling look than the tight, ground-hugging rosettes of many relatives in the genus Pachyphytum.
Description
Pachyphytum hookeri forms short, erect stems that elongate and may become decumbent with age, sometimes reaching 30 cm or more and offsetting slowly to branch. Each stem carries a loose rosette of many fleshy leaves, crowded toward the growing tip and spaced out below. The leaves are narrow and spindle-shaped — subcylindrical to fusiform, tapering to a fine point — and range from about 2.5 to 5 cm long. Their surface is coated in a chalky, waxy bloom (farina) that gives the plant its powdery blue-green colour; in strong light the pointed tips flush pink to red, and the bloom rubs away easily where touched.
Like others in the genus, it produces arching flower stalks bearing bell-shaped, nodding blooms in shades of greenish-white to reddish, the petals often hiding colourful, exposed scales inside — a family trait that distinguishes Pachyphytum from the closely related Echeveria.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to central Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes and cliff faces, rooting into crevices and shallow, mineral-rich pockets of soil. In habitat it experiences bright light, sharp drainage and a marked dry season, conditions worth keeping in mind in cultivation. Its name honours the botanist William Jackson Hooker, the first director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Cultivation
Pachyphytum hookeri is an easygoing, rewarding grower for anyone who can resist overwatering. Plant it in a gritty, mostly mineral mix with excellent drainage, and give it the brightest position you can — plenty of light keeps the stems compact and deepens the red on the leaf tips, while too little causes stretched, pale growth (etiolation).
Water by the soak-and-dry method: drench the mix, then let it dry out completely before the next watering. Cut back sharply in winter, when the plant wants to stay cool and nearly dry. Try to water at the roots rather than over the foliage — the powdery farina is easily marked, and water sitting in the crown invites rot. As the stems lengthen and lean with age, leggy specimens can be cut back and the pieces re-rooted to keep a plant compact. See Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation is straightforward and mostly vegetative. Whole leaves twisted cleanly from the stem will, after callusing for a few days, root and produce plantlets when laid on a barely-moist mineral surface (see Propagation — cuttings). Stem cuttings and beheaded tops root readily by the same approach, making this a good way to rejuvenate an overgrown, sprawling plant. Seed is also possible but slower and less common in the hobby (Propagation — seed).
Common problems
- Rot — the usual killer, caused by overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or water trapped in the crown; affected stems and leaves turn soft and translucent.
- Etiolation — too little light stretches the stems, spaces out the leaves and washes out the tip colour.
- Lost farina — the waxy bloom does not regrow once rubbed off, so handle plants by the pot or stem to keep the powdery finish intact.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the leaf axils) and, less often, aphids on flower stalks; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Pachyphytum — the genus overview
- Echeveria — a closely related genus, and a common hybrid partner (see ×Pachyveria)
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting