Saturday, March 28, 2009

'Green Ice' Acquisition



I said I wasn't going to get any more plants when I attended this season's garden shows and sales, but that resolution had lasted about 10 minutes when I saw this beautiful Gasteraloe 'Green Ice' succulent. It is a bigeneric hybrid of Gasteria and Aloe. I loved the fat, light green leaves with their random dark green markings, and the fact that I've never owned a Gasteraloe before.

This plant makes a good windowsill plant. It is slow growing, long lived and needs light shade, but can get some morning sun without damage. In the summer, it should receive enough water to keep the soil moist but not wet, and in the winter, it needs water only when the soil is completely dry. Who wouldn't want such an attractive, easy-care plant!

I liked this plant well enough to plant it in a fancy Mark Meridian pot, and I plan to keep it on my patio table year-round, unless there is a danger of frost. This Gasteraloe hybrid will turn to mush in frosty temperatures.

As April begins, most of the garden tours, shows and sales will be over for the season. If I make it through one more tour without more purchases, it will be a record. However, I did see several creative garden ideas that I'm going to try, and I added several plants to my wish list for fall sales.

15 comments:

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Aiyana I would not be able to pass that one up either .. it is beautiful !
I need to rethink some of my window sill plants .. they are looking a wee bit haggard .. hum ? what can I find next now ? LOL

Jean said...

I can see why you wanted this beautiful plant. The leaves are so interesting and I love the color. Would like to see the pot. Jean

NotSoAngryRedHead said...

Oh my gosh, I absolutely love it! I can totally see why you couldn't resist. It looks like a grown-up version of chalk fingers.

Also, you were correct about the "Clubfoot Madagascar Palm". I checked the label again, and bingo! Great catch on that!

Unknown said...

I don't blame you, Aiyana. I would have given in to it too! What a handsome plant.

verobirdie said...

I could not have resisted either! it is beautiful indeed.

Ashraf sharif said...

Wow... it is great ,i dream have this plant .
I see it only in web ,you are lucky .

Nice day with it Aiyana.

Kim said...

That's really beautiful...I had never heard of those before.

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Can't blame you a bit Aiyana. That is a handsome succulent. I like its blue green leaves.~~Dee

Claude said...

I don't even bother swearing that I'm not gonna get a plant... I know I'm gonna get a new plant. I've seen me do it...

But this is a nice one...

Lythrum said...

Congratulations on your new acquisition. Our season is just starting up and I don't think that my resolution to not buy much this year is going to last long. It never does. ;)

Julie said...

Oh Aiyana...this Gasteraloe is drop dead gorgeous!!! LOVE IT SO MUCH! I must find one somewhere!!! I am going to my first So. Fl. Cactus and Sux meeting in April...can hardly wait!!! They are having a show and sale in May as well. Maybe I can find one then!!!

Jennifer AKA keewee said...

enjoy your new plant. I came home with a couple of new plants from our local show., after telling myself I wasn't going to buy any.

Tira said...

I could see why your resolve melted. Oh, the gardeners bane..

Phoenix C. said...

Lovely plant! Interesting to read that succulents turn to mush in frost. We get frost for a few months yet, so I'll stick with fully hardy plants!!

Carla said...

I wouldn't have made it 10 minutes. I say this every spring and fall season, my family justs laughs, and rightly so. This is a neat plant, I know your glad to have all that information to go with it. BUT no more houseplants for me (LOL)!