Aeonium decorum: Care and Propagation Guide
Aeonium decorum is a shrubby succulent also known as pinwheel or fairy wings. The leaves are arranged in rosettes on thick branches. The branches can be upright or drooping towards the ground, depending on the plant.
The rosettes are about 4 inches across and the green leaves are tinged with yellow and have toothy, purple margins. During the blooming season in spring and summer, white, red or pink flowers grow on peduncles rising above the rosettes.
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Contents
How To Care For Aeonium decorum
Light
Aeonium decorum, which is cultivated as houseplants, requires a bright location with a lot of direct sunlight all year round. If the light conditions are not sufficient, the leaves grow deformed and elongated and die. A sunny and warm location on a south window is best.
Water
Aeonium decorum is to be watered moderately. The roots of the succulents must only be kept slightly moist. Before watering again, make sure that the top 1 to 2 cm of the soil is dry. Overall, it is better to water this plant too little than too often.
Aeonium decorum likes to be watered very sparingly during the rest period between October and February. This succulent needs to be given just enough water that the soil does not completely dry out.
Like any other succulents, Aeonium decorum does not tolerate waterlogging. Excess water must be able to drain freely or be poured out of the planter after watering because wetness quickly leads to root rot in these succulents.
Rainwater is cheaper for the Aeonium decorum, but this succulent also loves ordinary tap water that is not too calcareous.
Soil
The ideal soil for Aeonium decorum is a substrate mixture of nutrient-poor soil and mineral components. A substrate for succulents should be well permeable to water so that no water can accumulate after watering. This can be achieved by mixing 60% succulent soil (also called cactus soil) and 40% mineral components, such as gravel or perlite, lava rocks and some quartz sand.
The open-pored mineral components, perlites and granules support the airflow of the substrate. They store the nutrients and moisture but allow excess water to flow quickly after watering.
Climate
Aeonium decorum thrives well in warm temperatures between 18°C and 23°C. During the winter period, these succulents prefer temperatures around 12°C and as much direct sunlight as possible. Temperatures below 10°C are not tolerated by the Aeonium decorum.
Fertilizer
Fertilize Aeonium decorum with a weak solution of succulent fertilizer every four weeks during the growth phase. Do not fertilize during the rest period.
How to Propagate Aeonium decorum
The branching Aeonium decorum can be propagated by cuttings. At the beginning of the growing period, cut off 3 to 4 cm long shoots, let them dry for two to three days and then place the cuttings in moistened succulent soil.
For faster rooting, it is possible to dip the cuttings into a rooting hormone beforehand, but this is not necessary. The freshly inserted cuttings of the Aeonium decorum are to be placed in a bright but not completely sunny place until successful rooting and watered just enough that the soil remains a little moist.
After three to four weeks, the first roots should have formed. After about 6 weeks, the young plants can be put in a partially sunny to fully sunny location and then the plants can be maintained like full-grown specimens.
Aeonium decorum propagation is possible through leaves as well. Leaf cuttings are obtained from a single leaf that is plucked or cut as deep as possible from the rosette.
With leaf cuttings, a completely new plant grows from the leaf. If this is about one centimeter in size, it can be placed in a special substrate for succulents. Until the following summer, the young plant should not be exposed to the blazing midday sun.