Bring Sunrise Into Your Garden- Anacampseros telephiastrum variegata

If you’re looking for a succulent that will light up your home or outdoor dish garden, Anacampseros telephiastrum variegata, (Anacampseros telephiastrum “Variegata” or Anacampseros “Sunrise”) may be just a right choice for you. This succulent can be a real gem on its own or you can combine it with other succulents to make an eye-catching arrangement.

Rapsody of Colors

Anacampseros telephiastrum “Variegata” can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall, which makes it perfect for growing indoors. This is a dense mat and caudex forming succulent, with lanceolate shaped pink, green, yellow or cream colored leaves. When the Anacampseros is young, leaves can grow in compact rosettes. Trough the years, this succulent grows longer and forms a dense mat or trail over the edge of the pot. Considering this succulent is a slow- grower, with age it can form a small caudex as the base of the plant. Anacampseros blooms with pink flowers up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm). Flowers will appear in the summer afternoons and close back around sunset.

Grow and Care

Anacampseros has almost typical succulent needs. However, it doesn’t do well in cold temperatures, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 30° F (-1.1° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. This succulent loves full to partial sun. Having enough light and shade will keep the colors of the leaves vivid.

You should plant Anacampseros in well-draining soil with some organic material added. Also, this succulent is sensitive to over-watering, so you should water it from time to time. Make sure the soil is dried out completely before soaking it. By using the “soak and dry” method, you’ll avoid the roots rotting. You should also fertilize this succulent during its growing period. Use high potassium fertilizer in summer by mixing it with water.

Anacampseros can be attractive for various insects, but healthy plants are almost pests-free, especially if you grow them in a mineral soil mix and in a place with good airflow.

Propagation

Anacampseros can be propagated from stem cuttings or seeds. If you want to propagate this succulent from seeds, keep in mind that variegata is a slow-growing plant, so it may take some time before it blooms for the first time. You can harvest the seeds from flower pod. The best way to propagate from seeds is to begin to sow your seeds in the summer, in a warm place. Keep the soil damp, but not too wet, until seeds germinate.

If you decide to propagate Anacampseros from cuttings, you can just use a sterile knife to take a cutting from the stem, let them dry out for a couple of days and plant it in well-draining soil.

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