Orostachys (Succulents)

Its name derives from the Greek words “òros” (“mountain”) and “stachys” (“spike”), due to the spiky shape of its flowers and the areas of its origin, which are generally at quite high altitudes. They are biennial succulents, which means, that the life cycle of the plant is of two years. Orostachys has fleshy, elongated leaves with a long spine at the apex, which are arranged in the form of a beautiful rosette. The foliage color is initially light green, but depending on the season, it may take on purple-pink shades. During the flowering period, it blooms with flowers, that vary in color from white to pink. After flowering, the rosette dies, leaving new small shoots. Orostachys is a very resistent succulent, easy to grow, perfect for decorating gardens and interiors. Here are some tips for its cultivation: It requires a lot of light throughout the year, however, avoid direct sunlight. It is better to keep it at mild temperatures and never below 4 °C, for this reason it is recommended to place it in sheltered and ventilated locations during the winter period. Water moderately and only when the soil is completely dry. It is enough to water it once a week in spring and summer, reduce it to once every two months in autumn and to suspend it completely in winter. The best soil is a well-draining one, even better if further enriched with inert materials such as pumice or lapilli. They do not need frequent fertilization, it is sufficient to dilute the fertilizer with watering once a year.