Cacti & Succulents
Thinking of adding a ghost plant to your indoor garden ? touch plants ( aka Graptopetalum paraguayense ) are well have intercourse succulent that can make any indoor garden pop with visual interest . In this article , horticulture expert and houseplant enthusiast Emily Horn outlines how to imbed , grow , and care for Ghost industrial plant .
Succulents have become increasingly democratic over the years , peculiarly as houseplants . They are incredibly leisurely to grow and are even said tothrive on neglect . In particular , pinkish succulentshave become more common as indoor plant for their unique vividness . The stunning ghost plant is one of these pink - colored succulent that are love by nurseryman .
Ghost plantscan grow in pinkish - yellow tones under the proper scant conditions . They prefer full to fond sunshine and will have pink foliation in conditions that are dry and hot . Otherwise , more shadiness and cooler air will result in a blueish - gray colour .
Because of this ease , one - of - a - kind colouration scheme , and general popularity of the works , they are a top choice as additions to indoor gardens . Are you append one to your home ? Below you ’ll read more onhow to plant , grow , and care for ghost plantsin your abode !
Contents
Ghost Plant Overview
What is a Ghost Plant?
The ghost plant , Grapetolpetalum paraguayense , is a medium - sizedflowering succulent . The rosette of the plant max out at around 4 inches wide , 12 inch marvellous , and can train upward of 36 column inch , calculate on the cultivar .
Forgiving in nature to fence environmental conditions , touch plant are well suitable as indoor houseplant for tiro as well as old hand plant hobbyists .
Graptopetalum paraguayenseare extremity of theCrassulaceae syndicate , which includes flora such as jade plants , kalanchoe , and sedum . With thick , fleshy , direct grayish bluing to reddish - yellow leaves arranged in a little potato radiation diagram and the episodic flower stalk of white to yellowish star - form flowers , ghost plants are a beautiful addition to any desert works aggregation .
Originating from cardinal and eastern Mexico , Graptopetalum paraguayenseenjoybright sparkle and warm temperature . However , they are easily adaptable to low swooning degree and cooler temperatures , depend on the season .
Where to Buy
Initial flora selection is significant . You require to set out off with a healthy plant specimen to be successful . There are a few things to do when take the correct plant life for your indoor garden .
Although the plants may be more expensive , they have been cared for good than the ones hanging out at the local grocery store floral department . It is oftenconfused for the Graptosedum ‘ Ghosty ’ plant life , so be certain to agree the recording label .
you may also take some starts from a friend or neighbour . Ghost plant areeasy to propagatevegetatively , so chance are you know someone who has an abundance of young works in penury of a new home . Be sure to scout for any insect pestis on the starts .
Feel the leaves , are they steady and overweight ? squashy and seepage ? Fall off when touch ? How does the dirt smell / face ? How heavy is the pot ? Is the industrial plant sitting in standing urine or waterlogged ?
If the leave fall off or slop upon being touched , chance are it ’s been overwatered , androt is occurring . smell out the soil , within reason . If the water has been in the pot for a while , you ’ll know it . A dead or rotting smell mean no aura at the ascendant , and there is very little hope that this works will survive .
If you see any grainy bugs , plate insects , spider mite webbing , or aphid , take a pass on the plant . regrettably , if you have any other houseplant , these pests will love the fact that you bestow them home base tofeast on a houseplant smorgasbordof unsuspecting plants .
If you ’re unsure if your new plant contains pest , isolate it initially from your other industrial plant for a week or two . If you see no irruption of louse , feel free to desegregate your ghost plant life in with your other plants .
How to Grow
When growingany succulent , there are a number of factors that need to be study in orderliness for them to gain their ideal wellness in your abode .
The right dirt , just the veracious amount of water system , the idealistic inflammation shape , as well as the proper mint are all necessary to keep aGraptopetalum paraguayensehappy . Let ’s take a facial expression at what it takes to wish for this succulent .
Light
SinceGraptopetalum paraguayenseare desert aborigine , themore intense sunlight the plant receive , the more dramatic shade of ruddy yellowness the leaves will be . Typically , full sun , a minimum of 6 hour , is required to accomplish these color tone .
The strength of sunshine also regulate the overall emergence habit of the ghost industrial plant . Since there is adequate brightness level usable in a full sunlight fix , the plant does not involve to stretch along out to receive more lightness , a physical process known as etiolation . This abundance of sunlight creates a short , slurred , and stalwart plant overall .
However , etiolation is not necessarily a unsound thing . Under subprime idle stipulation , such as indirect luminosity , or sitting in anorth or east - face up window , Graptopetalum paraguayensecan take on a new form .
Instead of the bright , cheery cerise yellow leaves , the leaves take on a abstemious Amytal almost gray tone , which is fairly alone to the plant domain .
In add-on to the dramatic change in leaf people of color , the stems of the ghost plant will begin to stretch out , looking leggy . This stretching will create a more open , almost vining look to the works .
Water
trace plants are shallow rooted , meaning theroots tend to last out near the soil surface . This serve up the plant well in its natural habitat .
With inconsistent rainfall in the desert , the root system continue at the soil airfoil , allowing the roots to overcharge up as much rain as quick as possible . This ability dish out the plant well since it does not sleep together when the next clock time it will welcome water .
If you do resolve to water , make certain that you give your plant a exhaustive watering . Thorough watering is when a plant is water from the top and the water can drain through the intact grease profile ; come out the bottom of the pot . This allows for yourGraptopetalum paraguayenseto get all the water it needs .
broadly speaking , when watering all plant , utilize half-hearted water . I knew a wise , onetime Dutchman who liken lachrymation plant to taking a shower . passing hot water or straightforward cold body of water in a exhibitioner would send a shock through your system . The same is true for your plant life . strain for lukewarm water if you could when watering .
Check your ghost plant every week to see if it needs water . The need for water can vary depending on many factors such as localization , time of twelvemonth , size of it of the container , and so off .
A few elbow room you may tell if your industrial plant needs water are comfortable and inexpensive , and you ’ve got the equipment already at your fingertip , literally . If your soil is loose , stick yourindex fingerdown inside the soil as far as you could .
Your fingertip is literally the best moisture time uncommitted . you may feel with your finger how wet the soil is and how far down the soil profile it is loaded . If the soil feels crocked , it ’s wet enough and you could skip over watering . If it feels teetotal to the touch , give your plant a thoroughgoing drink .
retard weekly to see if it need water . It may or may not need to be watered . Do not irrigate if you are incertain . It is alwaysbetter to underwater a plantthan overwater it . Plants can recover much better from wilt disease than they can from swim .
Soil
pot admixture option bet a key theatrical role in plant natural selection . Commercially available desert potting mix is the easiest and most convenient to expend . Most commercial-grade mix control balanced ratios of at least one organic component , inorganic factor , gumption , and limestone / Ca substratum .
Organic materials like peat moss , compost , or leafage hommos , help retain water and are anutrient source for plants . Inorganic ingredients let in materials such as perlite and pumice stone , which produce the necessary pore distance in the soil to keep oxygen at the root geographical zone .
gumption does retain necessary urine , but without the addition of perlite or pumice , can become heavy and pure , leading to root issues . now and then , limestone is supplement tobalance the soil pH , but other calcium - based materials can also add up pore place and aid waste the stain pH simultaneously .
Unglazedclay flock work wellfor cactus and succulents because they are holey , imply it can “ respire . ” Excess piddle in a porous pot can disappear easily through the pot walls . This provide for air circulation at the root geographical zone , which decreases the likelihood of root bunkum diseases .
In increase to the type of container , be sure the jackpot has drainage hole . Drainage fix allow for surplus water to come out of the filth allowing for diminished pocket ofdissolved oxygento form in the flora stem zone . Plants need oxygen at their roots for proper growing , as O assists in the absorption of nutrients found in the dirt and plant food .
Temperature
shade plant prefer warm temperatures , think75 ° For more , but they can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 ° F . That is a very wide temperature range for a houseplant . In the desert , daytime temperature can get rather high . But at nighttime , the desert air gets very coolheaded and ironic .
Graptopetalum paraguayenseare very adaptable to temperature changes inwardly as well . Now , do you require to keep your base thermoregulator above 75 ° in the day and 20 ° at Nox for you to be successful in growing your spectre plant ?
The answer is no . Rather , thisability to adaptto temperature fluctuation help your ghostwriter plant coexist with you inside your nursing home .
Fertilizing
spectre plants do not expect much in the means of fertilizer . If you used a high - quality cactus potting intermixture when you initially planted it , the constituent textile in the soilless mix will provide enough sustenance as thepeat moss / compost / humusbreaks down .
If you do need to run yourGraptopetalum paraguayense , there are commercially useable cactus and succulent plant food on the market , many of which are great for fertilizing your spook plant life . Be certain to abide by the label directions on how much and how often to fertilize your plant life . Failing to do so can cause tissue damage and possible plant death .
go for fertilizer during the fighting arise season;spring - summer . This is the fourth dimension when your plant need extra nutrients .
Maintenance
As houseplant , most desert plantsare low sustenance , andGraptopetalum paraguayenseis no exception . train the plant for water weekly , order the plant in adequate lightness , and plant in a pot that is not too big relative to the plant ’s size of it are essentially the care it requires from you on a veritable basis .
There are a few other needs your ghost plant has that do not happen very often but are equally as of import ; fertilizing , pruning , and repotting .
Repotting your ghost plant into a novel pot is not a regular occurrence . It may want to be repotted every few geezerhood if that even . When you make up one’s mind to repot your plant , keep in creative thinker the following :
It is imperative that the new mess have drainage holes at the bottom of the pot .
The size of it of the pot is very important . Usually , when you repot a ghost industrial plant , you go up one pot sizing - if you had your plant in a 4 ” container , now you would pot it in a 6 ” container . By slightly increase the bay window sizing , you control the growth rate of the works . It allows the plant roots to grow but observe the top of the plant from sprawling out all over the place.rnrnBy increase the mountain size by one size , you also help control the moisture level in the soil besiege the antecedent . If they pot is too big , you will apply right smart too much soil in the locoweed to occupy it . When you go to water the stack thoroughly , the soil will keep too much piddle , because the plant is small and just can not apply the water reservation . This is a perfect surround for root rot .
later winter / early spring is the adept meter to repot . Your plant will be in its unexampled pot and fresh grime just as it begins its active growth for the year . The raw pot will give the industrial plant room to grow , and the unfermented soil will be load with nutrient , allowing your u003cemu003eGraptopetalum paraguayenseu003c / emu003e to fly high during the growing season .
Graptopetalum paraguayensemay involve casual pruning to helpmaintain the size of it and shapeof your plant life . If your industrial plant has become too long due to low light , you may prune it back . former wintertime / early spring is a in effect prison term to prune , as you are heading into the dynamic rise time of year , and it will not be long before new growth emerges .
When it comes to pruning plant life , the cosmopolitan rule of pruning is not to remove more than 1/3 of a plant ’s top maturation . This allows for the remaining leaves to support the nutritional needs of the plant until new growth appear .
If you remove any more than 1/3 of the growth , you may stress out the plant . Stressed plants are more susceptible to insect and disease infestation .
When it ’s time to prune , look for the node and internodeson the stems of the industrial plant . The nodes are the areas in which the leaves derive out . The recollective stretch in between the nodes are promise the internode .
Determine how long of a stem you require to have to remain on your flora . Using clean pruners , cut slightly at an slant , in the direction of the leaf growth , just above the node . The remaining stems will flush out new leaves in a few month , at the last node near the slash . you may use these pieces you clip out to disseminate fresh plants .
Propagation
Most plants reproduce in one of two ways ; vegetatively , asexually , or sexually , via seeds / spores . The easiest way to reproduceGraptopetalum paraguayenseisvegetatively . By using leaves , stems , or even the offsets of older plants , you could easily increase your touch flora accumulation .
The first way we will talk over the propagation is by using a proficiency bid leaf cuttings . you may literallytake leave of absence off your ghost plant , stay put them in some filth , and over time , Modern petty works will begin to grow .
In a affair of a few weeks , you will see new growth beginning at the grunge grade . take into account the new industrial plant time to develop multiple leaves as well as roots prior to removing the new plant to its new home . The original leaf will finally shrivel and die . It did its job and is no longer needed .
The physical process of growing touch plants from stem cuttings is almost the same as grow fresh plants from leafage press clipping . The only difference is that rather of the leaf being placed on the dirt floor , a 3 - 4 ” long callused prow with leaves is inserted into a pot ofdamp cactus media .
Pack the root word tightly in the potting intermixture , so that the prow can stand erect , it will look like little tree sticking up . Once new roots have begun to form , you’re able to transfer the new plant into its own pot .
When shade plants are happy , they may start growing little off shoots at the base of the mother plant . These outgrowth , or pups , areidentical industrial plant to the larger plantthey are attached to . Although impound , the pups can be hit from the female parent plant and pot in their own sens .
During the active growing season , lightly dig around the pup and the mother plant to see where the pup is attached . At the attachment situation , carefullyremove the whelp from the female parent plant , avoiding crushing or damaging the plant tissue paper . Sometimes the pups fall off rather well , and this is okay .
Allow the pup to callus over for a few days and then hard press the pups into a pot of damp cactus mix . Place in a well - light up windowpane and check the soil often to make trusted it is damp enough for the pup to begin its own active development .
Depending on the age and sizing of the pup , it may have its own root system already . If that is the font , gently dig up the tooth root of the whelp and plant the pup into its own pot .
Pests
shade plants are relatively pest and disease free with right care . once in a while , mealy bugs , spider land site , or aphidsmay become a problem , easy remedied with insecticidal max or Neem oil applications .
Another option for pest control would be using a cotton wool swab dipped in a chafe intoxicant solution to dislodge the insects from the plant life with gentle scrubbing . The rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly , preventing any scathe to the plant life tissue .
Mixing a 10 % solution of rubbing alcohol and water ( 1 part fray alcohol to 9 parts water ) will be strong enough to wipe out the pest , but again , should not damage the plant .
Final Thoughts
With its great adaptability to indoor stipulation , as well as its interesting forcible reply to various tripping levels , ghost plants are a relatively easy additionto your houseplant collection . They are excellent novice - level plants that any gardener can grow and uphold . Once you recognize how to like for these interesting plant , they wo n’t allow you down !
