Othonna capensis - Little pickles - Ruby necklace is found growing in dry, rocky scrublands, often in the partial protection of surrounding vegetation
Othonna capensis, also called as Little pickles, Ruby necklace, Othonna crassifolia, Othonna filicaulis, and its scientific name Crassothonna capensis, is a species of the genus Crassothonna. This species was described by Bertil Nordenstam in 2012.
IDENTIFY OTHONNA CAPENSIS - LITTLE PICKLES - RUBY NECKLACE
Othonna capensis is native to Cape Provinces. It is found growing in dry, rocky scrublands, often in the partial protection of surrounding vegetation or rocks on the southern coast and the Little Karoo region.
Little pickles is a low-growing, succulent, spreading ground cover with a trailing, mat-forming habit with branched, slender, purplish, glabrous, much-branched stems. The leaves are finger-like, blue-grey, spirally arranged, which become tipped with maroon in dry conditions. The leaves can also be purple, or deep red, the more light they receive the more red they become. The elegant shape and beautiful red color of these bean-shaped leaves look like gem pendants on a necklace, giving it the common name Ruby necklace.
Ruby necklace blooms mainly from Spring to Autumn in temperate areas, but mostly from Autumn to Spring in warmer climates from the slender, 5 cm tall stems that arise above the foliage. The yellow daisy-like flowers tend to remain closed on cloudy days without direct sun.
OTHONNA CAPENSIS - LITTLE PICKLES - RUBY NECKLACE CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light and exposure:
Othonna capensis can thrive in both bright direct light and low indirect light. The more direct sun the plants get the brighter purple and red their color becomes. In lower light conditions they maintain a more greenish hue with purple stems and highlights. In summer, it go into dormancy, so protect the plants from direct sunlight and give they more shade.
Temperature:
Little pickles are hardy and can grow outdoors year-round in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11. It grows best at temperature range of 15-28 °C and not less than 10 °C in winter. If you live in a colder environment, where temperature can go below 20 °F (-6.7 °C), You should plant it in a pot (better with a drainage hole). Because it is not cold hardy and you'll be able to bring it inside in winter.
Soil:
Ruby necklace can grow as a groundcover, in a dry border, container or scattered in with other succulents in a well-drained rock garden. But they do best in hanging baskets, and is also suited for green roofs.
Crassothonna capensis requires a very free draining enriched soil, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline but is very tolerant of poor soils. A good mix consists of 2 parts of coarse river sand, 1 part loam, 1 part sieved compost, and add about a half part of vermiculite and some bone meal. The principal is that the soil should not become compact and have good drainage. Repot every 5 years.
Watering:
Othonna capensis could be watered once every fourteen days in the growing season. Reduce the water gradually in spring so the plant can begin its resting period. Cease watering in summer (rest period). Start watering gradually in autumn. In winter, when the temperature are lower, watering should also be reduced to avoid root rot.
It is best to water thoroughly and then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Make sure the plant has plenty of good drainage so it is never standing in water.
Fertilizer:
Little pickles doesn’t need to be fed in cultivation. But you can fertilize it slightly with a succulent fertilizer once a month in active growing season (spring, fall). But as it dormant in the summer months (rest period), so hold off on fertilizing in those months. Reduce fertilizer in winter (cold months).
Rest period:
Ruby necklace must have a complete resting period during summer. Stop watering, place them in a shaded, cooler, relatively dry area, away from getting direct sunlight and with good air circulation. In the fall, when nights cool down, the plants may start growing on their own, but a good soaking will help them to leaf out.
Pruning and grooming:
The flower stems need to be removed to keep a tidy appearance. These species do tend to get sort of leggy, which is particularly a problem if grown as a potted plant, and yearly trimming back when they get too long is often necessary.
Pests and diseases:
Crassothonna capensis may get caterpillars, mealybugs, spider mites and fungus gnats. Use an insecticide to prevent your plant from these bugs. Caterpillar is the worst bug it can suffer from. These are particularly common in summer and autumn and can destroy the plant quite quickly. So do care asap. Mealybug appears on plants as tiny, soft-bodied insects surrounded by a fuzzy, white mess around the stems and leaf nodes, that have a cotton-like look to them.
Propagation:
Othonna capensis is easy to propagate. Simply take stem cuttings, let them air dry for a few days (this allows the cut to callous over and prevent rotting), and then insert the cuttings in a pot of soil. Keep your pot in bright indirect light, but a little direct sun is ok as long as it’s not mid-day sun. Keep the soil barely moist as the cuttings are rooting. This only applies to when you’re trying to root succulent cuttings. When you have rooted plants, you’ll want to let the soil dry out completely before soaking again. Once the cuttings have rooted and growth has started, place the plant in the brighter light.
The plant can also propagated by seeds. Sow seed in autumn. Use a seed tray, place gravel or stones at the bottom to ensure sufficient drainage and fill it up with at least 10 cm of mixed soil suitable for succulent plants. Place the seed tray in a warm, sheltered area. During this time, the seed trays must be kept constantly moist, but must not be overwatered. It takes more or less fourteen days to germinate.
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