Gasteria

Gasteria, like Haworthia, relatively recently belonged to the Liliaceae family, and even earlier - to the Asphodelaceae (Asphodelian) family. And now, finally, in recent years, taxonomists began to distinguish the family Aloaceae (Aloe), which also included Gasteria. The genus Gasteria has about 70 species. These are perennial herbaceous, mostly stemless plants that form numerous basal shoots. Gasteria leaves are fleshy, lingual, varying in length and width, arranged in most cases fan-shaped, whole-edged, i.e. without denticles or cilia at the edges. The surface of the leaves can be smooth with a variegated contrasting pattern, it can be covered on both sides with warty tubercles, painted in the tone of the leaf or lighter or contrasting white. Some species (Gasteria verrucosa, G. disticha) retain a two-row (fan-shaped) arrangement of leaves until the end of life, others form spiral basal rosettes with age. Tubular drooping flowers of Gasteria, collected in racemose or paniculate inflorescences at the ends of long peduncles, have the shape of a jug with a swelling in the lower part, for which the genus got its name. The flowers are mainly painted in two colors: the bottom is pink or red, the top is green. More often than others in culture there is warty Gasteria (G. verrucosa), which has long leaves densely covered with white warty tubercles, for which the plant is called "deer tongue". One of the pearls of the succulent world is the slow-growing Armstrong Gasteria (G. armstrongii), popularly nicknamed "the devil's tongue". Miniature species (G. liliputana, G. baylissiana) are very attractive. But there are also large gasteria, reaching 40 cm in diameter and up to 50 cm in height, such as two-colored gasteria (G. bicolor), blunt-leaved gasteria (G. obtusifolia). Gasteria easily form hybrids both within the genus and intergeneric with closely related aloe and haworthia. More than two dozen cultivars of hybrid genera Gasteraloe and Gaster haworthia are known in the culture.

Gasteria, like Haworthia, relatively recently belonged to the Liliaceae family, and even earlier - to the Asphodelaceae (Asphodelian) family. And now, finally, in recent years, taxonomists began to distinguish the family Aloaceae (Aloe), which also included Gasteria.

The genus Gasteria has about 70 species. These are perennial herbaceous, mostly stemless plants that form numerous basal shoots. Gasteria leaves are fleshy, lingual, varying in length and width, arranged in most cases fan-shaped, whole-edged, i.e. without denticles or cilia at the edges. The surface of the leaves can be smooth with a variegated contrasting pattern, it can be covered on both sides with warty tubercles, painted in the tone of the leaf or lighter or contrasting white.

Some species (Gasteria verrucosa, G. disticha) retain a two-row (fan-shaped) arrangement of leaves until the end of life, others form spiral basal rosettes with age. Tubular drooping flowers of Gasteria, collected in racemose or paniculate inflorescences at the ends of long peduncles, have the shape of a jug with a swelling in the lower part, for which the genus got its name. The flowers are mainly painted in two colors: the bottom is pink or red, the top is green.

More often than others in culture there is warty Gasteria (G. verrucosa), which has long leaves densely covered with white warty tubercles, for which the plant is called "deer tongue".

One of the pearls of the succulent world is the slow-growing Armstrong Gasteria (G. armstrongii), popularly nicknamed "the devil's tongue". Miniature species (G. liliputana, G. baylissiana) are very attractive. But there are also large gasteria, reaching 40 cm in diameter and up to 50 cm in height, such as two-colored gasteria (G. bicolor), blunt-leaved gasteria (G. obtusifolia).

Gasteria easily form hybrids both within the genus and intergeneric with closely related aloe and haworthia. More than two dozen cultivars of hybrid genera Gasteraloe and Gaster haworthia are known in the culture.

Cultivation

The unpretentiousness of Gasteria and their ability to adapt to the surrounding conditions are simply amazing. They also do not require a special soil mixture, it is enough for it to be well permeable.

Location

Gasteria can grow both on well-lit windows and on northeastern ones, with insufficient sun. In summer, unlike haworthias, they can be kept in the open sun. In the spring, from the excess of light, the leaves of Gasteria can turn red, but this passes over time.

Temperature

The only thing that gasteria cannot tolerate is the temperature below 5 °C. The optimum wintering temperature is 10-15 °C.

Watering

During the growing season, it is necessary to water gasteria regularly and abundantly, waiting for the soil to dry completely before the next watering. In winter, water it occasionally to prevent leaves from drying out.

Transplant

Annual transplantation with removal of obsolete roots is desirable. Before this procedure, the plant must be dried for 2-3 days. Adult Gasteria can be transplanted every 2-3 years.

Reproduction

Gasteria can be propagated by seeds, as well as by separating daughter outlets, which, as a rule, are already rooted. Can also be propagated by leafy cuttings. For this purpose, leaves that are closer to the growing point are taken; older leaves do not take root well. The leaf should not be cut off, but broken off in such a way that part of the stem tissue comes off with the leaf. After separation, the leaf is treated with a growth stimulant and fungicide, dried and only then planted in slightly moist soil.

Diseases

Improper watering, especially in cool, cloudy weather, can lead to root rot. In general, gasteria is not predisposed to any disease. They can be attacked by mealybugs and scale insects.

Etymology of the name The name of the genus comes from the Greek word "gaster" - "belly", for the characteristic "swelling" of the flowers.

Etymology of the name

The name of the genus comes from the Greek word "gaster" - "belly", for the characteristic "swelling" of the flowers.