Monanthes lowei are yet another beautiful set of succulents which you may come across. They belong to the family Crassulaceae and to the subfamily Sedoideae. They are renowned for their cute attractive looks.
To briefly explain to you the genus Monanthes, it has only about ten species of plants. Most of those succulents would be very fragile.
These are native plants to the Savage Islands. Most of them are perennial succulents.
If you are a curious succulent grower, It would be worth reading this article since we are going to cover the right care tips you should provide for them and the pests attacks, they may come across etc.
How do I identify Monanthes lowei?
Monanthes lowei are small succulents which develop compact rosettes. Those rosettes would be either flat, loose or compact.
Those rosettes would consist of about 15-45 leaves. Those leaves would be green and slightly papillose also. Monanthes lowei leaves would be round in shape.
Moreover, they would be 0.6 inches ( 1.5 cm ) in length. Further Monanthes lowei blossom with flowers in pale yellow as well. They would further carry stripes in red brown.
One look care guide
| Botanical Name | Monanthes lowei |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Mature Size | maximum width of 1 inch ( 2.5cm) |
| Sun Exposure | Full sunlight to partial sunlight |
| Soil Type | Well draining |
| Soil pH | Neutral |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Flower Color | Pale yellow |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA hardiness zones 11a-11b 40-degree Fahrenheit – 50 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Native Area | Salvage island |
| Toxicity | Non toxic |
| Average price | $ 7 |
How do you take care of Monanthes lowei?
Light Requirement
Monanthes lowei would perform well given that they get full sunlight in the morning and filtered sunlight during the intense hours of the day.
In fact, you need to protect the Monanthes lowei plants from direct sunlight during hot summer days as it would even kill the plants.
If you have grown them in pots, the best is to locate them in a spot where they can gain some shade during the intense summertime.
On the other hand, you may grow them as houseplants as well. A bright sunny windowsill would suit them the best as then the plants can gain sufficient sunlight.
Temperature and humidity
Monanthes lowei need to have warmer temperatures throughout the year to grow to their best ability.
Hence, if you have planted them outdoors and if there is any forecast frost condition, the best thing you could do would be to bring them indoors.
In fact, just like the scorching sunrise, colder weather could also affect them badly. It may even result in the death of the plants as well.
Is it cold hardy?
Monanthes lowei are not cold hardy plants.
Zone
Monanthes lowei’s preferred hardiness zone is 11a-11b from 40-degree Fahrenheit – 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watering Requirement
Monanthes lowei grows well from early spring to late spring. Hence you need to water them moderately during this period.
However, make sure that no excess water is remaining in the pot after every watering session. Do not ever water them when their soil is moist as it would lead to over-watering.
if you accidently over water them, it would pave the way for diseases like root rot. It is very unlikely that you have to water during winter as they will be in the relaxing mode during winter.
These are fragile plants, and they hate to be in soggy and waterlogged conditions.
Soil Requirement Type / pH
A soil mix which has an excellent drainage would be perfect for the proper growth of the Monanthes lowei plants.
Moreover, it would be even better if it has a proper aeration too. If you end up using a poor draining soil mix, it will keep the water within the potting medium and lead to waterlogged conditions.
The easiest would be to go ahead with a commercially made succulent soil mix or with a cactus soil mix.
Pot size Potting and Repotting
A small pot which has ample drainage would help the plants to grow optimally. Best is to use pots which are made out of a porous material as they would help the excess moisture to evaporate faster.
When it comes to repotting the Monanthes lowei plants, Best is to do it once every two to three years. When you repot them it would allow you to observe the plant roots well.
If you come across any rotten plant parts and if you find any you can treat them as well. However, make sure that you do not harm any of the roots of these plants during this process.
Fertilizer and time of year
I recommend using a diluted liquid fertilizer to feed the Monanthes lowei plant during their active growing phase. Never feed them when they are dormant.
Flower
Monanthes lowei plants blossom with pale, yellow-colored flowers. Their flowering season would fall in spring.
Dormancy
Monanthes lowei plants are dormant winter plants.
Toxicity
There are no records to emphasize on the toxicity of the Monanthes lowei plants.
Common bugs and illnesses
Regular pests are quite attractive towards the Monanthes lowei plants.
Having said that, if you grow them whilst providing them with the right care tips, it is very unlikely that you will ever come across these pests’ attacks.
Pests such as Mealybugs and scales could be troublesome for them. Over watering could be the biggest culprit for most of these diseases.
In addition to that it would also lead to root rot too. If the plants go through a root rot condition and if it has spread on a massive scale, it is very unlikely that you can save the plants despite what you do.
If it has spread severely, what I would recommend you do is to obtain the healthy plant parts and use them for propagation.
Monanthes lowei benefits
Monanthes lowei could be handy as houseplants. Moreover, if you are someone who lives In USDA zone 11a-11b, they would be great picks for outdoor gardening as well.
How to propagate Monanthes lowei?
You may propagate the Monanthes lowei by using the stem cutting method and the division method.
Conclusion
So, I hope this article gave you a broader view of how to grow the Monanthes lowei plants well and I trust that now you are much more confident in handling them. Happy cultivating with Monanthes lowei!
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