caralluma

Caralluma is a succulent plant

Image - Flickr / Skolnik Co

La caralluma It is a genus of succulent plants that we could well grow in a pot. When they are done growing, they are only three feet tall at most. In addition, its flowers, although they are small, have a very high ornamental value.

The maintenance that must be given is simple; What's more, it is so much that you can have it indoors, something that by the way is recommended if the winter in your area is cold.

What is Caralluma?

It is a type of non-cactus succulent or crass plant that grows especially in Africa, although it is also found in Europe, Asia and Arabia. They have fleshy, thin stems that are generally green or blue-green in color that reach a minimum height of 10 centimeters and a maximum of 90 centimeters.. They may have leaves, but they are very small, between 0,1 and 0,5 centimeters, so it is not surprising that they go unnoticed since they are nothing more than scales.

As for the flowers, they are simple, purple or dark lilac in color, and are grouped in inflorescences which sprout at the top of the stems. Those of some species have a bad smell.

What are the most cultivated species?

The genus comprises about 120 species, but the truth is that of these, only five are popular:

Caralluma burchardii

The caralluma is a small crass

Image - Wikimedia / Juanillo1976

It is known as chumberilla de lobo and is endemic to the Canary Islands. It reaches a height of about 50-60 centimeters, and has purple-brownish flowers covered with white hairs.

Caralluma europaea

Caralluma europaea has small flowers

Image - Flickr / Skolnik Co

Known as penquilla de monte or chumberillo de lobo, it is a crass native to Spain (Murcia and Almería), north of Africa and south of Sicily. It has fleshy green stems, which are about 30 centimeters high, as well as red flowers whose aroma attracts flies.

caralluma fimbriata

Caralluma fimbriata is a succulent plant

Image - Wikimedia / Lalithamba

It is a plant native to India that reaches an approximate height of 60 centimeters. Its flowers are red with yellow lines. In addition, it is an edible plant. It is used for weight loss as it is believed to "trick" the brain into thinking it is satiated, but there is no scientific study to prove the latter.

Caralluma hesperidium

Carallumas are succulents sensitive to cold

Image - Wikimedia / yakovlev.alexey

The caraluma is a plant native to Morocco that reaches a height of 20 centimeters. Produces green stems with reddish / brown spots, and velvety dark brown flowers with a yellowish center.

Specious cararalluma

Caralluma speciosa has red and yellow flowers

Image - Flickr / Rafael Medina

It is a plant that grows in Africa, forming groups that can exceed one meter in width. It reaches a height of 90 centimeters, and has purple flowers with a yellow-orange center which form an inflorescence about 8 centimeters in diameter.

How do you take care of yourself?

Carallumas are small succulents, which can be in pots, either alone or with other small succulents. So why not have some copies? Next we will explain how to take care of them:

Location

They are plants that need light, so you will have to put them either outside, or in a room where there is a lot of light. In the event that you are going to have them indoors, you should avoid putting them next to the window, since it would produce the magnifying glass effect and, therefore, it would burn.

Soil or substrate

The caralluma form groups

Image - Wikimedia / Ninaras // Socotrana Caralluma

  • Flower pot: it is important that the substrate that we put on the carallumas is light, porous, and of good quality. They are plants whose roots rot quickly when the soil is compact and heavy. For this reason, to avoid this we recommend making this mixture, for example: black peat with perlite in equal parts. Another option would be to put soil for cacti and succulents (for sale here).
  • Earth: in the same way, if we are going to plant them in the garden soil, it is important that the earth does not get flooded when we water, or that it absorbs the water quickly. Now, as our protagonists are small plants, even if we have poor quality soil, we can make a 50 x 50-centimeter hole, cover its sides except the base with shading mesh or anti-rhizome cloth, and then fill it first with a layer. about 20 centimeters of volcanic clay or claystone (for sale here), and then with a mixture of black peat with 50% perlite.

Irrigation

Irrigation to be done when the earth is dry. In general, it will be watered about twice a week if it is summer and there is no rain, and once a week the rest of the year. But yes, when we water them, we have to avoid wetting their stems; in fact, this could only be done when they are not in direct sunlight, and only if the humidity is low.

Whenever possible, it is best to use clean rainwater, although as not all of us can get it, one that is suitable for human consumption will do.

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In spring and summer can be paid with a special fertilizer for succulents (on sale here), always following the instructions for use that we will find on the product packaging.

Multiplication

The Caralluma multiply by stem cuttings throughout spring and summer. To do this, we have to cut a piece from the base, and plant it in a pot with soil for succulents. Finally, it will be put in semi-shade, and it will be watered whenever it looks dry. In this way, over the course of about two weeks it will produce its own roots.

Alternatively sow your seeds in spring, for example in a pot with soil for seedlings. You have to put them on the surface of the substrate, which we will have previously watered, and then we will cover them with a thin layer of soil. If all goes well, they will germinate in about 5-10 days.

Pests

They are vulnerable to attack by snails and slugs. As they are fleshy plants, these animals love them, so you have to use repellants (such as this) during the rainy season. Also, in summer they can attack them mealybugs, but are easily removed with diatomaceous earth (for sale No products found.) or even cleaning the plant with soap and water.

Rusticity

They are sensitive to frost. C. europaea can withstand up to -1ºC, but they should not be kept outside if the winter is cold, as they would not bear it.

Caralluma is a small plant

Image - Wikimedia / Skolnik Collection

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