Hi there: I've just purchased an Aeonium Schwarzkoph, and need some more information of how to take care of it. I'm quite familiar with the care of succulents, but the sites I've looked at have some conflicting advice. My understanding is that because of where it comes from, essentially my winter is its' summer. Do I therefore have to treat it as such (which some sites suggest)?. Other sites say that the plant will re-adjust, and that I should give it summer care during my summer. Some sites say that I could tell this by the growth of the florette, and that if it has stopped growing, that is the signal to slow things down. Mine is not in an obvious growth phase (greening in the centre of the florette), but it is hard to tell if it is dormant. So if anyone has experience with this one, and has some insider tips, I'd sure like to hear them.
I think the colouring has more to do with how much sun it gets. Mine has been growing all summer and is very dark in full sun. It does get much lighter when I have it indoors in poor light in winter.
I have one that I purchased about 5 years ago. It is taken indoors in the mid-Fall and outdoors at the end of Spring. I have several succulents, but this one is one of my favorites. The previous poster is correct in that the coloration is highly dependent upon the intensity of light it recieves, but the new growth does tend to come out with some light green around the stem. Mine originally had three stalks, but I lost one last year due to a little root rot. One thing that I have found with mine is that it is a little difficult to tell when it goes in and out of dormancy. Unlike most of my succulents that seem to have definite signs, this one is a little tricky, and I suspect that it is one to go in and out of dormancy more than once a year. Mine is dormant in the early-mid-summer and I really have to watch it so that it doesn't get too much moisture. It is difficult, because it is outdoors in a clay pot that does dry out quickly in the sun...so I do have to water it from time to time. The only sign that I have that it is going dormant is that it simply stops growing. Once it starts to come out of dormancy, I will see a burst of new growth, however it will also drop old growth. Indoors, if it is dormant, but a little dry, it will also drop old growth. Humidity trays help to reduce leaf drop. Historically, mine will come out of dormancy in the late Summer-early Fall, have a growth spurt, then go dormant in the early Winter until early Spring, and then dormant again in the early Summer. They do not have much in the way of a root structure and sometimes it will need support. It will take a relatively small pot with a quick-draining mix. A little long, but this has been my experience for what its worth.
I like long explanations. Detail person I guess. Well that is a bit trickier than your average succulent, but very helpful. I will watch for the signs of growth and dormancy. As I've just purchased it, I'll have to be extra observant. How wonderful to have you tip me about this, otherwise I may have thought myself going nuts with the in and out of dormancy routine. May I also ask what kind of location you have it in outdoors?
Full southern exposure right now. However, the first week outdoors on the north side of the house, another week or so on the east or west side, then its final summer location after 2-3 weeks of getting used to the increase in light, night-day temperature cycles, wind, rain, etc. I'll do the reverse in the Fall. That way I'll have less shock when I finally bring it indoors. Granular insecticide mixed in the soil goes a long way to reducing/eliminating any little critters from being brought indoors. I'll sometimes use a liquid insecticide a few weeks prior to bringing it indoors...the liquid insecticide smell can be intense, so I've found giving it some time to "air-out" helps.
Well, you've been very helpful, so thanks again. I'm gonna repot that sucker tonight, and hope for the best with my care routine.
