Ophthalmophyllum (Succulents)

Its name derives from Greek and literally means "leaf with an eye", referring to the main feature of these small succulents, similar to living stones: in the center, between the two extremely fleshy leaves, there is a small "window" similar to an eye, which serves the plant to absorb sunlight and distribute it to the depth of the stem, as long as it often remains underground to protect itself from excessive heat or cold. It is surprising to see, how these small "miracles of nature" know, how to survive even the most extreme weather conditions, with such important and, at the same time, decorative stratagems! Here are some easy tips for its proper care and cultivation: It likes very bright places, however, avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. It prefers environments with low humidity levels. It is preferable to keep it at mild temperatures that should never go 10 °C, for this reason it is recommended to properly shelter it during the winter period. Water with moderation in spring and summer, always making sure that the soil is completely dry between a watering and the next one. Waterings should be completely suspended during the winter period. We suggest as the best soil a well-draining one, even better if further enriched with inert materials such as pumice, sand or lapilli. Since these are plants that do not need frequent fertilization, it will be sufficient to dilute a specific fertilizer for succulents with the watering once a year.