Has anyone ever seen small plants that look exactly like bright sunflowers? If not, then you’re at the right place because the plant you’re about to get the information about is a succulent, a tiny version of a sunflower.
Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’, also known as the Irish rose, is a succulent belonging to the Crassulaceae family. This plant originated in the north of Africa at nearby islands like The Canary Islands, Madeira, and Cape Verde.
The succulent has the shape of a sunflower and its leaves are glossy, quite thin, and delicate. The young leaves are mostly together, while the elder leaves are spread out.
Caring for Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’
Like most succulents, Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ can be planted easily in your gardens/homes. The thing which differentiates this plant from other succulents is that the growing process is very slow. It may take up to 4 to 5 years for your Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ to grow fully. Another amazing fact about this succulent is that they are monocarpic, meaning that the mother plant dies, and afterward, its pups grow to produce more pups.
Aeonium Arboreum has certain temperature checks that must be considered before deciding to grow them at your house. Like most succulents, this plant cannot survive in extremely cold temperatures. If you’re living where it snows or rains throughout the year, it won’t be advisable to consider growing Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’. This plant only survives where temperatures are normal.
Listed Below are some of the basic requirements for Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’.
Soil
Unlike the other succulents that prefer dry, well-draining soils most times, Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ demands a type of soil that always remains slightly moist. This change in soil requirement is because these plants thrive in bright sunlight. Hence, they require watery soil so that they don’t dry out and die. There isn’t any perfect soil mix for this plant; however, one can get a mix of different soils to make a good environment for their plant. You can use loamy soil mixed with perlite. This soil can be used for pots/boxes. If you’re planning to grow the plant in the garden, you must make changes with peat moss because garden soil is usually dense. By this, you’ll be able to improve the growing stage of your plant.
Sunlight
The sunlight requirement for Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ is slightly different. These plants require direct sunlight throughout the year; The reason is that they take too much time growing; they require more sunlight so that they can thrive more. However, this does not mean you leave your succulent in bright sunlight throughout the day. You must remember that it is still succulent and needs to be kept in the shade for a while.
If one plans to grow the plant indoors, they should provide it with artificial light, or the plant will die.
Water
By looking at the heading, you might wonder whether Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ requires a lot of water. This is partly true as they require more water than most succulents; however, a lot of water can cause its root to rot. In winter, you’ll have to be extra careful because, as previously mentioned, these plants like moist soils and must be watered more frequently than other succulents. You can check the water requirement of your plant by placing your finger in the soil. If you feel like the soil is moist, you shouldn’t water it.
In summers, this plant requires a lot of water because, most times, it is exposed to bright sunlight; hence water would dry up faster.
Temperature And Humidity
As mentioned at first, Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ requires mild temperatures. It might be difficult for them to survive if they have grown in too hot or too cold temperatures. To grow this plant in high heat, you’ll always have to keep the soil moist.
Even though Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ thrive in bright sunlight, they grow at their fullest from winters to spring. This is because temperatures at that time are cool and damp.
Like other succulents, this plant also becomes dormant in summers and hence would require less water sometimes.
Fertilizers
Unlike other succulents, Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ require fertilizers because their growing period is much longer than others. The amount of fertilizer given to the plant depends on the season. When the plant grows at its full pace in winters and springs, a half-strength mixed fertilizer must be given each month. In summers, when the plant becomes dormant, you shouldn’t give any fertilizer as the extra care might be bad for the dormant plant.
Propagating Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’
The propagation process is simple. All you must do is remove the elder leaves from the old plants. The picked-out plants will need to be dried up in a cool place. Afterward, place them in well-drained soils.
Pests and Plant Diseases
Pest Diseases
Mealy bugs and spider mites are common pest diseases.
Plant Diseases
The common diseases for Aeonium Arboreum Atropureums are root rot, dry rot, and leaf spot. If your plant starts to drop its leaves or has black spots on it, it is highly likely to have such diseases.
To help your plant, you can use the process of infestation. In this process, you’ll have to spray Isopropyl, a spray for infected succulents.
Conclusion
It may seem that, unlike other succulents, Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’ are hard to grow and care for, which is, in fact, slightly true because these plants require special care and effort. One can have perfect results if one truly devotes itself to the plant’s growth. Hope you have fun growing Aeonium Arboreum ‘Atropureum’!
