Cephalophyllum Alstonii aka Red Spike Ice Plant 5 Seeds Free Shipping!
Cephalophyllum alstonii, commonly referred to as the Red Spike Ice Plant, is a creeping succulent indigenous to South Africa, noted for its striking red flowers and triangular green foliage. It flourishes in well-drained soil and exhibits drought resistance, rendering it ideal for gardens and patios in warmer regions. chicagobotanic.org plantlust.com
Physical Features
Leaves: Triangular, upright, and smooth, ranging from 60 to 120 mm in length.
Flowers: Vivid red, primarily blooming in winter (June-September), attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Growth Habit: Creeping stems can extend up to 20 inches (50 cm) in length, creating dense clusters.
Growing Conditions
Attribute Details
USDA Zones 9b - 12
Sun Exposure Full sun to partial shade
Watering Low to regular; drought-tolerant
Soil Type Gritty, lean, rocky, well-drained
Care Instructions
Light: Requires bright light; avoid excessive direct sunlight.
Watering: Water thoroughly during the growth period but allow the soil to dry out between waterings, particularly in winter.
Fertilizing: Generally does not require fertilizer if repotted every two years.
Propagation: Can be propagated from seeds or through division.
Uses
Cephalophyllum alstonii is favored in gardens for its aesthetic appeal and its capacity to prevent soil erosion. It complements other succulents well, making it a visually appealing addition to various landscapes. Additionally, it is non-toxic, ensuring safety for households with children and pets.
Seed Germination Tips
To achieve high germination rates and successfully grow robust seedlings, you need the right conditions: warmth (between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit), plenty of bright light, well-draining soil, consistent moisture from watering, high humidity, good air circulation, and a bit of patience. Just a few hours or days of inconsistent conditions can spell trouble.
Cactus and Succulent seeds
For the best results, grab a premixed Seed Starter Mix, which you can easily find online or at garden stores, or whip up your own mix.
To create your own blend: use 65% ground sphagnum peat moss and 35% perlite, pumice, or vermiculite.
Plant your seeds in shallow pots that are about 4-6 inches wide and 3-5 inches deep.
Make sure to moisten the soil thoroughly.*
*If you're working with Opuntia and Cholla seeds, soak them overnight in warm water before planting. Keep the temperature above 85°F both day and night.
Sprinkle 6-10 seeds on the surface of the soil. Then, add a light layer of soil or sand on top. Make sure the growing area gets strong indirect light.
Filtered sunlight is ideal for seeds, but you can also use fluorescent or grow bulbs to help them sprout.
Cover the growing area with glass or plastic, ensuring there's enough space above the seeds for ventilation. If you can, keep the soil temperature between 70-90°F. A soil heating mat can provide effective bottom heat.
Good moisture, drainage, bright light, warmth, and aeration are key for high germination rates.
Germination can take anywhere from a week to four months. Don’t lose hope on your seeds unless you see fungus. Keeping the soil consistently moist will lead to success in the end.
Once seedlings sprout, mist them lightly often enough to keep them moist. Avoid letting them dry out. Continue to shield them from harsh direct sunlight.
For the first few weeks, moisten the soil every 1-4 days. After the plants are established, water them every 1-4 weeks, depending on the season, your soil, and the temperature.
When they’re mature enough (this varies by species and your garden conditions), you can move the new plants to indirect sunlight or even full sun in the garden or on the patio. Just be cautious not to sunburn the young plants when relocating them.
Tiny Seeds (Mesembs, Crassula, Echeveria, Small Succulents Seeds)
Tiny seeds, nearly as fine as dust, like lithops, various succulents, and some cacti can be tricky to manage. At times, it feels like the packet holds nothing but a hint of dust-sized bits.
1. Grab a small pan or pot for sowing, around 4 or 5 inches should do the trick.
2. Fill the pan or pot to the brim with seed compost, then press it down first with your fingers, followed by a wooden presser.
3. Toss a heaped teaspoon of fine sand into the seed packet and give it a shake to mix the sand and seed together.
4. Sow the seeds directly from the packet, gently tapping it to spread the sand-seed mix evenly over the compost.
5. Don’t cover the seeds with compost; just press them into the surface using the wooden presser.
6. Water the compost from below by placing the tray or pot in a bowl of lukewarm water.
7. Cover it with a piece of glass, cling film, or seal it in a polythene bag to keep the compost moist and create a slightly humid environment.
8. Keep in mind that very fine seeds have a lower germination rate compared to regular-sized ones, and maintaining the right temperature for germination is crucial.
Sowing: You can sow indoors any time of the year.
Fill small pots or trays with light, well-aerated compost. Place the pots in water, let them soak thoroughly, and then drain. Scatter the seeds on top of the compost. Don’t cover them, as they need light to germinate; shade them after sowing to avoid direct sunlight.
If you can, start germinating in a propagator. If not, wrap a polythene bag around the pot or cover the container with glass, then place it in a warm, shaded area. Make sure to keep the pots from drying out from underneath. Most seeds germinate best at temperatures between 20 to 22°C (68 to 72°F). Germination can take anywhere from 10 to 180 days, so be patient and don’t toss the tray too early. Once you see germination, take off the glass or plastic and move the setup to a brighter spot. Keep the top of the compost moist. As soon as the first seeds sprout, remove the plastic or slightly lift the lid to allow some air circulation. From this point on, the little seedlings need good light but should be shielded from direct sunlight. It's best to provide shade from all but the winter sun for the first year.
Cultivation:
Growth is slow, so about 6 to 8 weeks after sowing, transplant into individual small pots of 7cm (3in). Maintain a temperature of 18 to 25°C (64 to 77°F) during the day and 15 to 18°C (59 to 65°F) at night. Cooler nighttime temperatures are better for leaf pigmentation. If temperatures drop below 15°C (59°F), you might see leaf deformation. Echeveria can’t handle frost. After 12 to 14 months, move them into larger pots.
Some succulent seeds need to be well covered as they don’t require light to germinate. When sowing Anacampseros, Conophytum, Echeveria, Crassulacea, Lithops, and Mesembryanthemum, keep the temperature below 20 °C until they germinate, and don’t cover them. Dinteranthus can take up to 3 months to sprout.
During the growth phase, Echeveria needs a relatively high amount of water, but in winter, it should be kept in a dry substrate. Avoid watering from above, as wet leaf rosettes can rot quickly. Moderate fertilization is necessary in spring and summer, but stop fertilizing after mid-September.
Large Desert Tree, Shrub Seeds
1. Soak the large, hard seeds overnight (up to 36 hours) in water to kickstart the germination process.
2. Plant the seeds at least to the depth of their thickness.
3. Germinate the seeds in pots filled with sterile soil (a popular mix is 1/2 peat moss and 1/2 perlite) or use a non-sterile commercial potting mix (about 75% tree compost and 25% sandy loam) or even plant them directly in the garden.
4. Make sure to germinate in full sun during the growing season. The soil temperature should be at least 75°F for quick germination.
5. Water generously until the seeds are established. Keep the soil evenly moist until the roots are fully developed.
Small Desert Tree, Shrub And Ground Cover Seeds
1. Sow directly into rich garden soil or in pots with commercial potting mix, or (our favorite) a mix of 1/2 peat moss and 1/2 perlite. Cover with a thin layer of soil and keep it moist until the seeds germinate. Once they germinate, reduce the moisture level.
Germinating Cacti Seeds: Sow the seeds in compost. There’s quite a debate about the best type of “compost.” A common mix includes 50% aged, black, fine compost (from bark), 15% sandy, sterile loam, 15% pumice or perlite, and 20% fine peat moss. I prefer a mix of 1/2 peat moss and 1/2 perlite. Shallow (3″ deep) plastic grower’s trays lined with newspaper at the bottom work great as growing containers. Others have had success with very different mixes and containers.
Sprinkle seeds on the surface, but don’t cover them completely. Water from below. If you’re watering from above, make sure the mist is really fine. Cover the growing area with glass or plastic, but leave enough space above the seeds for ventilation. Keep the soil temperature between 70-85ºF. Bottom heat works wonders. Keep the soil moist; using sterile soil mixed with peat moss and pumice is great for the seedlings. Good moisture, drainage, bright light, heat, and aeration are key for high germination rates. Commercial growers often use a general fungicide to prevent fungus from thriving due to frequent watering and misting. The conditions that young seedlings thrive in are also the same ones that fungi love. If the moisture levels get too high or the soil isn’t clean enough, the cacti can quickly become a snack for fungi.
