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Cultivation: It is a fairly easy plant to grow, both
grafted or on its own roots. During the summer it is best to keep the
plants outside, where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm
to the plant. Furnish good drainage and use
a an open and free draining mineral compost that allows therefore roots
to breath. They like only a short winter's rest, and should be kept
almost completely dry during the winter months. If the soil is allowed
to be dry for too long, root loss could follow but equally the same
result would occur if the plants were both wet and cold. From March
onwards the plant will begin to grow, and watering should be increased
gradually until late May, when the plant should be in full growth.
Water regularly during the summer, so long as the plant pot is allowed
to drain and not sit in a tray of water. During hot weather you may
need to water the plants more frequently, as long as the plant is
actively growing. From late September watering should be reduced, to
force the plant to go into a state of semi-dormancy. By October you
should be back in to the winter watering regime.
It needs full sun, avoiding only the harshest summer sun. If kept too
dark, plants may become overly lush and greener, and could be prone to
rot, due to over-watering.
Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh. Then feed
in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed
the plants from September onwards, as this can cause lush growth, which
can be fatal during the darker cold months. Grown specimens resist to
-4°C for a short time, but it is best to keep above 0° C to avoid ugly
spots on the plant's epidermis.
Propagation: By vegetative propagation grafting or stem cuttings from
adult plants.
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Cultivation
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