greenovia

Cause: Greenovia (Spring/Fall type) is a small genus of rosette succulents native to the Canary Islands, closely related to Aeonium and once classified within that genus. They form tight, jewel-like rosettes of overlapping leaves that often turn golden or pink in response to environmental stress. Greenovia are noted for their spectacular golden rosettes when grown in full sun. Unlike Aeonium, Greenovia do not form tall stems but remain low-growing and are perfect for rock gardens or alpine troughs.

Solution: Water when soil is dry — every 7-10 days during active growth in spring and fall

Prevention: Water regularly during growth; provide full sun to partial shade; use well-draining gritty soil.

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Cause: Basal-stem rot in Greenovia and other Crassulaceae rosette succulents closely mirrors Black rot and is associated with foot damage, excessive watering, or growing the plants too cold, conditions that let the stem base blacken at or just below the soil line because the rosette-forming Crassulaceae tissues cannot outpace the decay once it starts.

Solution: Take clean cuttings from above the rot line, dust the cut surfaces with sulphur powder, and allow them to callus before setting the pieces to re-root in a fresh, well-drained gritty mix.

Prevention: Keep Greenovia on the dry side during the summer resting period, use a sharply draining inorganic mix, and never let the crown sit in cold wet compost so the basal stem does not rot from the foot up.

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Cause: Mealy-bugs appear as small woodlouse-like insects about 2mm long covered with a white mealy substance, with their eggs held in the white tufts close to the colony, and they settle into the tight cup-shaped rosettes and resting crowns of Greenovia where the bloom-coated leaves hide the infestation until the population is well established.

Solution: Dab a small camel-hair brush dipped in methylated spirit, or better still 1 part nicotine to 30 parts methylated spirit, directly onto each mealy-bug tuft so the white waxy coating is removed and the insects are killed on contact.

Prevention: Inspect the tight resting-season rosettes of Greenovia regularly for white tufts, quarantine any new acquisitions, and maintain a routine systemic drench during the active spring and fall growth periods to prevent colonies from establishing in the crown.

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Cause: Sciara fly, sometimes called Mushroom Flies, lay their eggs in damp peat-based seed and cutting mixes, and on hatching the small white grubs tunnel into the roots and basal tissues of fleshy seedlings such as Greenovia, eating their way into the base of the plant where the succulent tissues offer little resistance.

Solution: Switch Greenovia propagation and growing mixes away from peat-based soil-less composts toward a coarse inorganic gritty blend so the sciara fly adults do not find a suitable egg-laying medium around the roots.

Prevention: Use a top dressing of sharp grit on Greenovia pots, allow the surface of the compost to dry between waterings, and avoid leaving soggy peat-based seed trays standing since the moisture is what draws the adult flies to lay.

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