Gasteria - Cow Tongue Cactus, Lawyer's Tongue, Ox Tongues, Warty Aloe
(Gaste'ria)
DESCRIPTION: This group of succulent plants is native to South Africa. These plants are commonly known as Ox Tongues, Cow Tongue Cactus and Lawyer's Tongues because of the shape of their leaves. Their long, slender, fleshy leaves form two facing, erect rows when young, with some varieties spiraling into a rosette with age. Their dark green leaves are often spotted, mottled, or striped with white. The name Gasteria is derived from gaster, belly, and refers to the swollen middle of the flower, which resembles a stomach. In the spring, long, branched stems, which grow up from the center of the rosette, are covered with these tiny, orange, red, pink, or white flowers. Mature plants will flower until winter. Green seedpods, which eventually turn brown, follow the flowers. They make wonderful houseplants because they will tolerate low levels of light as well as hot, bright indirect light. G. armstrongii grows up to 9 inches high with a spread of 2 feet. It forms small fans consisting of a few rough, tongue-shaped leaves. The foliage varies in size and shade of green from plant to plant. In the spring, spikes of small red flowers are produced. G. armstrongii var. variegata is a lovely hybrid that varies in color. Some may be completely green to completely yellow, and the more yellow they have, the slower their growth. Solid yellow offsets are short-lived because of malnutrition. This variegated variety will withstand less sun that a normal plant, though it develops the best colors in as bright a light as it will tolerate.
POTTING: In warm climates where the temperature stays above 40º F, these plants can be grown outdoors; otherwise, they can be grown in a home or greenhouse. A mixture of two parts loam and equal parts of sand and crushed bricks is the best to use. Repotting, which is done in February, isn't necessary every year. It should only be done when the plant's growth is slow. When you do repot, however, you should remove some of the crocks and old soil and replace with fresh compost. Keep the soil moist throughout the summer, but only give water when the soil becomes quite dry in the winter. No shading is required except a little during the summer when the sun's rays are most severe.
PROPAGATION: Offsets may be detached in the spring or summer. Set them in small pots until well rooted. Seeds may also be sown in the spring or summer in pots of finely sifted soil. Cover the pots with a pane of glass until the seeds sprout. Carefully water and when two leaves have formed, they are planted an inch apart in a seed pan.
VARIETIES: G. fuscopunctata; G. armstrongii & var. vareigata; G. verrucosa (Warty Aloe); G. lingua; G. pulchra; G. acinacifolia; G. trigona; G. obtusa; G. batesiana; G. maculata.
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