Trachyandra tortilis is a unique succulent plant rarely grown in the US. It is an attractive plant that significantly improves the appearance of your surroundings. However, it has specific care and propagation requirements.
Trachyandra tortilis, also known as the ribbon plant, requires the right conditions to thrive. The plant grows well in rich, porous, acidic soil mixed with rocks and perlite. You can propagate the plant using seeds or leaves.
This article will discuss care and propagation tips for Trachyandra tortilis. You’ll find his information useful if you ever come across this adorable plant.
Trachyandra Tortilis Care Guide: Conditions and Requirements
The ribbon plant is native to the Cape Provinces in South Africa. However, they can thrive indoors anywhere under the right conditions.
Below are some instructions on how to care for your ribbon plant:
Plant Trachyandra Tortilis on Acidic, Porous Soil
Trachyandra tortilis thrives in acidic porous soil. The porosity of the soil makes it easy for the plant to absorb and drain water. It also allows air to enter and reach the plant’s roots more easily.
You can get suitable planting soil at a gardening store. You can also make your own potting mix using equal portions of pebbles, compost, and perlite. Note that ribbon plants cannot thrive in regular garden soil.
The soil pH should be around 5.1-5.5. You can use a pH meter to check the soil’s acidity level.
Use a pot with proper drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Poor soil drainage often results in stunted growth or plant death.
Expose Trachyandra Tortilis to Indirect Sunlight
Ribbon plants need bright light to stay warm and facilitate their growth. However, they don’t need direct light. If you want to grow them outside, plant them close to a wall or provide shade.
Direct sunlight can cause sunburn on the plant. If left under direct sunlight for too long, Trachyandra tortilis can burn and die.
Low light is as bad as too much light for this succulent. The plants will begin to spread and bend looking for a light source. As a result, they will lose their aesthetic appeal.
Therefore, it’s best to grow them next to a curtained southern window to reduce the intensity of the sunlight. Window blinds can also help regulate the intensity of the light.
If planted outside, ensure the shade isn’t made of a material that completely blocks the light.
Furthermore, when moving your plant outside for the first time after winter, allow it to gradually adjust to brighter light. You can bring it out for 2-3 hours in the morning and bring it back inside. Repeat the process for a week before leaving the plant in a suitable outdoor location.
Keep the Temperatures Warm for Trachyandra Tortilis
Trachyandra tortilis are succulent plants but are not frost-hardy. It’s best to grow them in USDA Hardiness zones 9-11. If you live in colder zones, you must grow your ribbon plant indoors.
A suitable temperature for the plant is around 41 – 59 °F (5 – 15 °C). Higher or lower temperatures can be harmful to the plant. At extreme temperatures, the ribbon plant might not grow at all or die early.
During winter, move your plant indoors and provide it with artificial light. Keep the indoor temperatures stable to prevent plant damage.
Avoid Excess Moisture for Trachyandra Tortilis
During cool weather, water your ribbon plants once every 10-14 days. They need to stay hydrated to survive. However, they shouldn’t stay in overly wet soil.
Ribbon plants become dormant during summer. You should water them once or twice a month in this case. You can also move them indoors to prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.
Before watering your plant, check that the soil is completely dry. You don’t want stagnant water in the roots. Excessive watering can cause root rot, and it can sometimes be hard to tell until the plant’s foliage dies.
Ideally, you should water the soil gradually. Allow the soil to soak up the water before adding more. Let the excess water drain out of the holes from the bottom of the pot.
Remember that lack of water can also cause the plant to wither. You need to water your ribbon plant deeply. Allow the soil to dry completely before watering again.
Pro-tip: don’t pour water on the leaves when watering. Water on the leaves can cause mold. Therefore, you should pour the water directly into the soil.
Keep Low Humidity Levels Around Trachyandra Tortilis
Trachyandra tortilis does not require a damp environment. A hot environment with high humidity keeps the air unnecessarily moist and may damage your plant.
As long as your ribbon plants receive sufficient water, indoor relative humidity levels of around 30% should be enough.
They also need fresh flowing air to keep them dry. If possible, keep them completely away from a humid environment. They need a dry environment to utilize the water contained in their roots and foliage.
Fertilizers Are Not Necessary for Trachyandra Tortilis
Trachyandra tortilis can thrive better with proper fertilization. However, they can live well even without fertilization as long as they’re well cared for.
If you must fertilize, use an organic fertilizer diluted at half-strength. You can fertilize the soil once or twice a year. The best time to fertilize your plant is during winter when it is actively growing.
Ensure you don’t add too much fertilizer. The fertilizer can change the soil’s pH level and harm the plant. Therefore, you should fertilize sparingly.
Check for Signs of Insect Infestation
Trachyandra rarely gets infested by pests when grown indoors. You don’t have to worry too much about diseases and insect infestation.
However, your plant may also become susceptible to common pests like mealybugs. These insects find a home in the curls and curves of the ribbon plant. Large populations of mealybugs can lead to stunted growth in your plant.
Therefore, you need to inspect your plant routinely to check for bugs. You can use a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol to rub off visible insects.
Remember that a ribbon plant is too tender for strong chemicals. Using strong pesticides may end up causing more harm than good.
Trachyandra Tortilis Propagation Tips
Trachyandra tortilis is a rare and expensive beauty. It can last for decades, so once you’ve got it, you can enjoy it for many years.
There are two proven and easy ways of propagating ribbon plants:
- Planting the leaf cuttings
- Planting the seeds
Planting the Leaf Cuttings
Propagating your ribbon plant through leaf cuttings allows it to grow faster. This method is highly recommended, as it allows you to enjoy your plant sooner.
Here are steps to plant the ribbon plant’s leaf:
Cut Fresh Full Leaves and Allow Them to Callus
- Choose healthy leaves. A healthy leaf has sufficient nutrients, aiding in root development. The leaves should have no signs of pest infestation, sunburn, discoloration, or withering.
- Cut the leaves using sterile scissors. It’s best to use scissors instead of knives or blades to avoid damaging the plant.
- Leave the leaf cutting to form a callus for 4-5 days. You can place it on a paper towel or dry soil away from sunlight. It’ll get dry and begin to grow tiny roots. Once the roots are out, it’s time for planting.
Plant the Calloused Leaf
- Choose a pot with good drainage. Terracotta pots are breathable, improving the drainage of excess moisture from the soil.
- Find a location that provides shade from direct sunlight. Indoors, a curtained east or south-facing window is the best spot. A roofed balcony or patio is good for outdoor plants.
- Plant the calloused leaf in porous soil. Bury half an inch (1.27 cm) of the lead into the soil.
- Water lightly and leave for some days before watering again. The tender plant doesn’t need much water. However, it will grow roots faster if the soil remains moist.
When done right, you should see tiny pink roots growing out after one to two months.
Ribbon plant propagation yields better results if done in late fall or early winter. Potted plants must be transplanted into slightly larger pots when they grow bigger.
Planting the Seeds
Ribbon plants take a longer time to grow when planted as seeds. The seeds will germinate after 3-5 weeks if the conditions are right.
Here’s how to propagate the plant using seeds.
- Prepare a terracotta or unglazed clay pot around 3 inches (7.6 cm) deep.
- Fill ⅔ of the pot with moist acidic and well-draining soil.
- Cover the seeds with ⅛ inch (3.2 mm) of soil.
- Spray the soil with enough water to keep it moist.
- Place the pot next to a curtained south-facing window. If you’re using artificial lighting, keep it on for 12 hours daily.
- Fertilize with diluted liquid fertilizer once every two weeks.
- Check on your plant regularly to prevent the soil from drying out.
- Re-pot the seedling when it grows 5 inches (12.7 cm) tall.
Conclusion
Trachyandra tortilis is a rare and tender but extremely beautiful succulent plant. It requires specific conditions similar to its native environment to thrive. Under optimal conditions, you can propagate your ribbon plant through seeds or leaf cuttings.
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