Argyroderma care requirements
Quick answer
For Argyroderma, care requirements come down to this: Argyroderma (Winter type) is a genus of small, clump-forming succulent plants from South Africa's Western Cape, where they grow in quartz gravel plains. Their distinctive paired leaves form a 'body' similar to Lithops but more elongated, often with a distinctive cleft between the leaf pair. The plant bodies are highly variable in color from green to blue-gray to purple, often matching the surrounding gravel. Flowers emerge between the leaves in autumn and are white, yellow, or purple. Argyroderma are long-lived plants that can survive 20+ years in cultivation.
Start here:
- 1. Water in autumn and winter when plants are actively growing
- 2. Keep completely dry in summer — this is their natural dormancy period
What care requirements mean for Argyroderma
Argyroderma (Winter type) is a genus of small, clump-forming succulent plants from South Africa's Western Cape, where they grow in quartz gravel plains. Their distinctive paired leaves form a 'body' similar to Lithops but more elongated, often with a distinctive cleft between the leaf pair. The plant bodies are highly variable in color from green to blue-gray to purple, often matching the surrounding gravel. Flowers emerge between the leaves in autumn and are white, yellow, or purple. Argyroderma are long-lived plants that can survive 20+ years in cultivation.
How to meet Argyroderma care requirements
- 1
Water in autumn and winter when plants are actively growing
- 2
Keep completely dry in summer — this is their natural dormancy period
- 3
Use 90%+ grit mix — excellent drainage essential for these touchy species
- 4
Protect from temperatures below 45°F
- 5
Flowers emerge between the leaf pair — do not overwater during this time
Keeping Argyroderma in range
Water only in autumn/winter; keep completely dry in summer; use extremely gritty soil.