Showing posts with label caudiciform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caudiciform. Show all posts

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Aloinopsis schooneesii: My, What a Lovely Caudex!





I love Aloinopsis, and schooneesii is my favorite. This caudiciform makes for a wonderful mini-bonsai. They are from South Africa, and A. schooneesii's leaves look like little greenish granite pebbles growing out of a tawny trunk, which is really its tap root.

They need somewhat deeper pots owing to the tap root, and can be raised up gradually as they grow, so the lovely caudex can be shown off to friends and family. I water mine weekly in summer and give them full sun in an east-facing window with good air circulation, about 75F for temperature.

I am growing several, and this one has the most  unique, swirly caudex of the bunch. They can grow to about 7cm in diameter, and I've seen some truly amazing older specimens win bonsai awards in my area. Beautiful and unique!