Aloinopsis schoonesii on 7-15-09.
This drought tolerant succulent is from the Aizoaceae family. It grows to under 6 inches and has these fat looking caudex’s. The description I read of these say they like sun to part shade. The tag that came with it says filtered light. They prefer to be watered thoroughly when they are dry in the summer, but sparingly in cooler weather or the roots will rot. Be careful when transplanting, and use a professional potting mix for cacti and succulents. As with all succulents, avoid putting them in to large of a pot… They may look crowded, but they like it that way! They are supposed to produce red or yellow blooms in late summer-early spring, but I have not seen a picture of one in bloom. They are supposed to be winter hardy in zones 9b-11 (25-40 degrees).
They are a very neat succulent to grow, but may not be the easiest. Be very careful with moisture because the roots can rot easily, especially in cooler weather Remember, don’t worry about transplanting them into a larger pot until the one they are in becomes completely filled up and then only increase size by 1/2 inch. Transplant in a quality professional type soilless mix specially formulated for cacti and succulents. I think these are dormant in the summer, so avoid transplanting them at that time. They grow a little during their dormant cycle, but mainly grow in the fall through spring.
