Curio ficoides
Blue chalk stick · Silver senecio · Blue Mountain Fingers
Description
Source: wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Curio ficoides, syn. Senecio ficoides, also known as skyscraper senecio, Mount Everest senecio or flat-leaved senecio, is a species of succulent plant, in the genus Curio (Asteraceae), indigenous to South Africa.
Care Guide
💧 Water
Blue chalkstick excels in dry conditions, showing remarkable drought tolerance and requiring water only once every three weeks. This versatile evergreen can withstand a wide range of climates and temperature fluctuations, making it suitable for both arid and humid environments.
☀️ Light Full sun
Native to arid regions, Blue chalkstick thrives in full sun, as its natural habitat is marked by intense sunlight and minimal shade. It also tolerates partial sun, providing some flexibility in its growth.
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C
Blue chalkstick grows best in warm environments, favoring temperatures of 68 to 100°F (20 to 38°C). To promote optimal growth, change indoor temperatures with the seasons so they stay within this preferred range.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 5-7
🌱 Fertilizer
Blue chalkstick only needs light applications of fertilizer once or twice a year during the growing season. Do not fertilize in winter or summer when it is dormant. Use less fertilizer for repotted plants and wait a couple of months after repotting before applying any fertilizer. Fertilizing promotes healthy growth and encourages blooms.
🪴 Pot & Repot Every 12 months
✂️ Pruning
Blue chalkstick is a low-growing succulent known for its blue-grey foliage. To improve its health and appearance, prune it in early spring by removing dead stems and any leggy branches. Regular trimming encourages dense growth, helps prevent disease, and maintains a compact shape. Be sure to use clean, sharp tools for effective pruning.
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Succulent
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Curio
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 10-12
- Mature Height
- 20 cm
- Mature Spread
- 40 cm
- Leaf Color
- Blue, Light Blue
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- Yellow
- Flower Size
- 1.02 cm to 2.03 cm
- Bloom Time
- Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Fall, Early winter
- Native Area
- South Africa