Adromischus maculatus , “ Calico Hearts ” , or “ Chocolate Drop ” is agrey - light-green type of succulent . Its appearance is that it has a mat , oval leaves with purple - colour spots all over them .
Beginners can learn how to implant and tutelage of succulents using this specific industrial plant . It propagates well in vivid lighter or even indoors . It rarely blossoms indoors but outdoors it be given to produce tube - shaped , bloodless blooming .
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In this article
Quick Facts
Calico Hearts are succulents native to Africa that can propagate indoors because a sufficiently burnished indoor light is enough for it to survive . If it ’s given enough light source , it can be grown indoors . This succulent can grow up to 20 cm or 8 inches encompassing and about just as grandiloquent . It ’s well grown at a minimal temperature of -6.7 ° speed of light or 20 ° F.
Planting
#1. When to plant
Plant the succulent in a container you may bring indoors if you live in a zone where it can get colder than -6.7 ° C or 20 ° F. It ’s not cold - sturdy and too much frigid can kill it . It ’s best planted during spring to fall . Plant in a garden that come at least 6 hour of sunlight every day . You should also protect the plant from Robert Lee Frost by planting it indoors or anywhere sunny .
#2. Where to plant
Plant it indoors or alfresco . As advert above , it should be keep back indoors if your winter season temperature drop to less than the said range . It ’s a stocky works , so plant it on compact spaces like a cheery window ledge , the nursery ’s top ledge , or a small pot by the windowpane bay with a water drainage pan underneath .
#3. How to plant
Calico Hearts plant should be planted by pot if the wintertime are especially cold in your area or by garden with loads of sunshine . Just dig just enough for the leaves to take root and works .
As long as it ’s target where it gets 6 hours of sunlight or lots of indoor fluorescent fixture light , it ’s good to go . If you live in a tropical , gay , or even sub - Saharan climate , the works will thrive with hardiness against hot climates .
Care for Calico Hearts
#1. Soil
It can mature in any spunky compost that ’s complimentary - draining . To ensure that you avoid over - watering the plant , you should engage the soak and dry method acting of watering the plant from time to time and avoiding watering them until the soil is soaked juiceless . Put the flora indoors or in a shed if it ’s rainy in your area .
#2. Light & Temperature
Calico Hearts are all about sunlight or hokey indoor lighting . It ’s partial to full sunlight . It ’s also one of the beneficial indoor plant life because it thrives on semi - even lacrimation and incandescent or pass light just fine . It ’s also a right outdoor plant for summary to tropic climates . It can also treat temperatures of up to -3.8 ° C or 25 ° F but it prefers anything above 10 ° C or 50 ° F.
#3. Water & Humidity
irrigate the plant sparingly and make indisputable the soil is completely wry before attempting to water the succulent again . This is know as the “ soaking and dry ” method . It ’s sensible to overwatering , just like aloe vera or other succulent . The more you surcharge it the likelier its origin will rot . It also does n’t take high humidity and will live on under most home setting .
#4. Fertilizer
utilize the constitutive liquid miscellany of fertilizer on the Calico Hearts during the growth season . In other words , it should be given fertilizer during the source of spring until the summer season . It will boost the plant ’s defence system of rules as it thrives at drop and endure the frigid temperature of wintertime , of which it is weak against .
#5. Propagation
you could propagate the Calico Hearts by using its leaves . Just cautiously implant every leaf into the dirt for about an inch or so without damage the tips of the succulent . Water like a shot but do n’t over - water . It ’s Spring and Fall plant capable of rise up to 8 inches or 20 centimeters in height and width .
#6. Pruning
Cut the stem of the Calico Hearts within half an inch of the desire knob or leaf . The excision must be done at a 45 ° slant with a sharp tongue so that you’re able to terminate up with the clean cut potential . Afterwards , take away up to a third of the leaf ’s distance as you prune the plant up to a more compact and achievable chassis .
Problems
#1. Growing Problems & Diseases
Calico Hearts can digest from rootage rot . This succulent is also quite fragile , so be measured when you equal it . Once odd bump or drift construction can break down the leaves in duet , much like an oregano plant . You should encounter the veracious dapple for it to broadcast then leave it alone .
#2. Pests
The most well - known pests for Calico Hearts are vine weevil and mealybugs . you may lay aside the industrial plant from its lifelike predators of pests by with a systemic insecticide . Just watch out from using any chemical substance that could shoot down helpful dirt ball like bees .
FAQs
#1. Where did Calico Hearts come from?
Calico Hearts uprise from South Africa , specifically in a position called Mpumalanga . It ’s clean-cut why it ’s the variety of plant that is sensitive to overwatering . In its aboriginal South Africa , body of water is scarce and it can live with little watering . It ’s also sensitive to cold for obvious reason ( it ’s a South African industrial plant that ’s used to heat and not acclimatise to icing ) .
#2. How does the Calico Hearts plant fare during the different seasons?
As expected of a South African flora , Calico Hearts is n’t hardy to cold . It or else actively grow throughout spring and fall while it should be put indoors during winter . You should keep water off of the leave-taking in the wintertime as well . It thrives well during summertime .
#3. Does the Calico Hearts plant have any known herbal medicinal value?
No . It can be toxic to humans and animals ( pet ) so please avoid consume it . It ’s unlike oregano , which can have its essence or oil extracted so as to treat conditions from asthma to diabetes . Avoid hear to express its oils for consumption .
#4. How can you take care of Calico Hearts in the winter?
If there ’s blow and frost , put it indoors where there ’s estrus . It can survive during the winter as long as it ’s coolheaded and hoar - liberal . Keep urine off of its foliation during the season as well to prevent it from getting nippy and “ frostbitten ” .
