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Growing Pleiospilos bolusii
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Many succulents (cactus family) can endure low
temperatures, even down to about 40 degrees, and Pleiospilos bolusii
happens to be one of them. To truly thrive, though, the Pleiospilos
needs a minimum temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, year round,
which is surely why it is found only in Africa. Being a succulent,
it loves a few hours of direct sunlight each day, so if you're
growing these plants indoors, make sure you've got them in a very
bright window, or under a few hours of bright artificial light every
day.
Succulents like the Pleiospilos bolusii can got for long periods of
time without watering as well. The colder it gets, the less water
these plants need, but in the summertime, if you're trying to
maximize the mesembrine content, don't be afraid of giving them
abundant water in small bursts, maybe once a month. They will soak
up large amounts of water quickly, to store it away for the time
when there's no water.
Another way to possibly further enrich the mesembrine content of
Pleiospilos, is to enrich the soil it's growing in. Any fertilizers
rich in potassium and phosphorous, but low in nitrogen would be
perfect for this task. Nitrogen only makes the plant retain more
water, which is great for its survival, but not great for maximizing
any alkaloid content, at least in relation to these particular
plants. The same is also true of Sceletium tortuosum as well, since
these plants are very closely related, and both have their native
habitats in Africa.
This is a ground plant, never reaching more than a few inches tall,
but it can cover a large area quickly. Never invasively like some
plants, but it will spread itself along the ground searching for
more water and nutrients, in an environment that is typically
lacking in both. As a result, if the plant is in poorly-drained
soil, it can get fungus, that, with its soft, fleshy exterior, can
do great damage to this plant. Aphids also seem to love this plant,
and will gather in large numbers if allowed to. Simple insecticide
can go a long way, but try to use natural ones instead of
chemical-based ones, since there's a good chance you will be drying
this plant for smoking, making into a tea, or extract.
Further Reading:
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