When you hear about Ice Plants, you might think of a flora that can tolerate the frosty continent of Alaska. You may be surprised to find that it’s quite the opposite.
Ice Plants refer to a family of succulents that thrive alongside the coastal regions of Australia, South Africa, the Mediterranean, and California in the United States.
The Ice Plant family, or Aizoaceae, are all succulents. This name is Greek for “Stone” and “face,” according to Napa Master Gardener Column.
Contents
- 0.1 Ice Plant Care
- 0.2 Grow ice plant succulents (Delosperma)
- 0.2.1 Planting
- 0.2.2 Soil
- 0.2.3 Light
- 0.2.4 Watering
- 0.2.5 Temperature
- 0.2.6 Humidity
- 0.2.7 Fertilizer
- 0.2.8 Propagation
- 0.2.9 Growth
- 0.2.10 Potting
- 0.3 Flowering
- 0.4 Ice Plant propagation
- 0.4.1 Propagation Through Stem Cuttings
- 0.5 Ice Plant Pruning
- 0.6 Ice Plant Problems
- 0.6.1 Yellow Leaves
- 0.6.2 Failure to Bloom
- 0.7 Frequently Asked Questions
- 0.7.1 Do Ice Plants come back every year?
- 0.7.2 How fast does an Ice Plant spread?
- 0.7.3 Can you eat the leaves of an Ice Plant?
- 0.8 Ice Plant Care
- 1 Author Bio
- 1.0.1 Daniel Iseli
Ice Plant Care
To care for these plants provide well-draining soil. Full sun is ideal. Water once a week when the soil is dry to the touch. The optimal temperature is 50-75°F (10-24°C). Provide a humidity of 40% or less. Fertilize using a balanced fertilizer once a month.
Grow ice plant succulents (Delosperma)
Delosperma makes a great ground cover for rock gardens and can be grown as a perennial evergreen in drier climate. Learn about how to care for these hardy ice plants.
They are low maintenance.
Planting
Plant them in mid-summer and ensure substantial mulching before winter arrives. This is especially important in colder climates.
In very hot climates fall planting is advised.
Soil
Put your Ice Plant in a container or pot with well-draining soil with neutral pH levels. Use a mixture of sand, gravel, and loam.Aizoaceae plants do not grow well in dense soils.
They prefer well-draining dry soil. Especially throughout the winter the spil should be kept dry. Thy are less cold hardy in wetter conditions.
Light
Grows best in full sun.
Watering
Water your ice plant once a week when the soil dries out. Ice Plants are drought-tolerant plants. They are holding onto water in their leaves. They only need 18 inches per year (46cm) and prefer drought-like conditions.
Temperature
The ideal temperature is between 50-75°F (10-24°C). Make sure temperatures do not drop below 35°F (2°C). They grow in hardiness zones 5-9.
Some varieties are cold hardy, such as thePurple Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi).
Humidity
A humidity of 40% or less is best. Succulents aren’t fans of environments with high humidity. Root rot and other fungal problems are issues with too much moisture in the air.
Fertilizer
Use a balanced fertilizer of NPK 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 once a month in spring and summer. Apart from the main growing season, you do not have to fertilize.
Propagation
These plants can be propagated through division, cuttings, and seed germination. Stem cuttings are among the easier ways to get a clone. This process should be done in the early spring for the best results.
Growth
Ice Plants only reach about six inches in height (15cm) with a width of four feet (1.2m).Aizoaceae is close to a shrub. When all of their needs are met, they can reach this mature state in about a month.
Some species of Ice Plants can spread out and become leggy. This can be fixed with regular trimming.
Potting
These plants make great container plants and don’t require repotting. The roots don’t get crowded, and they stay rather small. Only repot in case the soil gets too wet to avoid root rot.
Flowering
The flowers of an Ice Plant sport a range of colors, from pink to orange to yellow.They produce daisy-like flowers.
Ice Plant propagation
Stem cuttings should be taken during the active growing months, generally between spring and fall. This will ensure that the new individual has a better chance of thriving.
Propagation Through Stem Cuttings
- Using sharp, clean scissors or shears, make an incision on the desired parent plant. This cut should be around two to four inches.
- Remove any leaves on the stem cutting, aside from the top two or three.
- Take your Ice Plant cutting and put it on the counter so it can air dry for at least a few hours. Leaving it out overnight can be more beneficial.
- Fill a container with fresh potting mix designated for succulents. This pot should have several drainage holes on the bottom. Prepare the soil by thoroughly watering and letting it drain any excess moisture before continuing to the next step.
- Place the stem cuttings into the soil, about two inches deep.
- Add water until the soil is completely saturated. Allow it to drain properly before watering again. New plants prefer more moisture than their adult counterparts but should not sit in water.
- Choose a spot to place your newly buried plant, preferably in a room that is warm, dry, and has plenty of indirect sunlight. Too much sun can burn the cutting.
- Continue to keep the plant evenly saturated and check back every few weeks.
- You’ll be able to tell if there are roots by gently tugging on the top of the cutting. If it doesn’t freely move, then roots have anchored it down.
- Once your stem cuttings have formed roots, move them to a bigger pot and implement a normal watering schedule suited for adult Ice Plants.
Ice Plant Pruning
These succulent plants can grow unruly, stretching out and becoming a bit leggy at times.
Prune after the blooms fade in fall.
Begin by carefully removing any flowers that have wilted. Dead foliage can also be trimmed back.
If Aizoaceae dies, you can clip away all of the foliage to the base, and it will likely grow back.
Trimming back even a little can contribute to more vibrant flowers for the next growing season.
The more sunshine these plants get, the less leggy they will grow.
Ice Plant Problems
Yellow Leaves
Cause: Leaves that take on a yellow hue and then proceed to fall off usually mean that the plant has root rot.
Remedy: Root rot is a serious problem for Ice Plants. They can’t sit in water for too long, or else the whole plant will take damage.
Remove the plant from the soil and let the roots dry out. After a few days, the Ice Plant can be repotted with a less aggressive watering schedule implemented.
Failure to Bloom
Cause: Adding too much or too little fertilizer is the cause of non-flowering plants.
Remedy: Overfertilization leads to too much Nitrogen. This will promote plenty of growth, just not with flowers. The solution is to stop using fertilizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ice Plants come back every year?
The Ice Plant is known for dying off if they live in an area that is too cold. In these situations, they can grow back, but fortunately you don’t have to worry about that for an indoor individual.
How fast does an Ice Plant spread?
These succulents can cover a fair amount of ground for their size. They can grow to spread out as much as four feet across. This generally only takes a few short months, but they won’t get much bigger.
Can you eat the leaves of an Ice Plant?
Succulents, such as Aloe have been used for a multitude of reasons. The Ice Plant is the same way. Their leaves are safe for both humans and animals alike. Some people will use them in salads, while others can make them into teas.
Ice Plant Care
These succulents are pretty hardy. They don’t require much attention and extra fuss. Even so, you’ll want to keep an eye on their daily needs. To make it easy for you, we’ve laid out the bare essentials.
- Stick your Ice Plant in a room with full sunlight to keep them happy.
- Choose a soil that drains properly and won’t allow your plant to sit in water.
- Water once a week
- Fertilize once a month
- Avoid placing your Ice Plant in a location that gets particularly cold.
Daniel Iseli
Taking care of houseplants and gardening are my greatest passions. I am transforming my apartment into an urban jungle and am growing veggies in my indoor and outdoor garden year-round.
