The red ice plant is extremely frugal and doesn't require much effort. All she needs is support to get through the winter well.
The ice flowers owe their name to the fact that their flowers only open when the sun is in full position and thus at midday. The red ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) in particular conjures up a magical bloom in the garden bed at midday.
Origin of Ice Plant
The red ice plant is not alone with its stubborn flowering behavior. In fact, the genus of ice flowers is the namesake for an entire plant family of ice flowers. These are predominantly native to African countries such as Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa as well as Australia. Accordingly, ice plant plants are very spoiled by a tropical climate.
Now Delosperma cooperi also thrives excellently in Central Europe and with a frost resistance of up to -18 °C it is even relatively hardy. A perennial culture is basically possible, but the prerequisites are a suitable location and appropriate care.
Properties of Ice Plant
Despite its name as a "flower", the ice plant is actually a succulent. It is therefore more closely related to aloe vera and stonecrop than to conventional flowers. This has some advantages for the care of the plants, as succulents are generally much less demanding.
➔ Ice Plant Flowers
Thanks to its low growth height of only 10 to 15 cm, Delosperma cooperi is a wonderful ground cover for the flower bed. The red to purple-violet flowers bloom from June to August and promise long-lasting summer planting - also for window boxes and flower pots.
The center of the flower, usually yellowish to white, is characteristic of the red ice plant. It stands out clearly from the violet ray flowers, making the exotic flowering perennial a real eye-catcher in the bed.
➔ Different planting concepts for the ice plant
The bloom of the red ones is also a nice ideaIce plant for dry stone walls, rock gardens and green roofs. Here the sun-kissed flower gets the necessary light units that it is used to due to its origin. All in all, light open spaces, which are typical for stony and Mediterranean plant concepts, are optimally suited to the needs of Delosperma cooperi. On the other hand, shady and damp garden locations should be avoided.
➔ Ice Plant Evergreen
If you can successfully get your ice plant through the winter, you can look forward to evergreen leaves. Plantings do not bare in the cold season. So you have a green plant cushion in the bed even outside of the flowering period.
| Red Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | cushion-forming to mat-like, creeping |
| Growth: | 10 - 15 cm |
| Growth: | 20 - 30 cm |
| Flowering: | June to August |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | dry, well drained, poor in humus rich in stones |
Soil and location for the Red Ice Plant
As mentioned, due to its origin, the red ice plant prefers dry and sunny to full sun locations. A sandy-gravelly or gritty-loamy substrate that is well drained and therefore prevents waterlogging is best suited here. In addition, the soil should be low in nutrients and humus. Instead, a light lime content is recommended. The optimal soil pH for Delosperma cooperi is between 6.5 and 7.5 points in the neutral range.
Perennial flowering plants and dwarf shrubs that like to be in a sunny location are good planting partners for the red ice plant. These include, above all, rock garden plants such as
- Duftsteinrich
- Stonecrop
- Alyssum
- Candytufts
- Lobelias
The red ice plant also gets along well with Mediterranean herbs, as they have similar location requirements. Planting under trees or larger shrubs is not recommended, as Delosperma cooperi does not get enough sun here. This particularly affects the flowers of the plant, which are dependent on the midday sun.
Plant Red Ice Plant
It is advisable to plant ice plants after the last late frosts. The ideal planting time is end of May after the ice saints. If the ground freezes again after planting, this couldcause the exotic flowers to die off.
The easiest way to optimize the soil for Delosperma cooperi is to apply succulent soil. This includes all important substrate additives for succulents.
Alternatively, it is of course also possible to mix the substrate yourself. Simply work some gravel, sand and, if necessary, some lime into the garden soil. Good drainage made of perlite or potsherds also improves water drainage.
Delosperma cooperi has a growth width of 20 to 30 cm. Therefore, make sure that the planting distance is appropriate. In total there should be no more than 10 to 12 plants per square meter. Plantings of the red ice plant in small tuffs, which create a compact cushion, are particularly effective.
Tip: It can make sense to plant the red ice plant in the bed together with the planter. In this way, it can be easily dug up again in winter and placed in a place protected from precipitation. For this reason, the succulent is often cultivated in this country as a pot plant or in a flower box in a sheltered balcony location. Extended light units also ensure that the floor dries quickly.
Red Ice Plant Care
➔ Water the red ice plant
Like most succulents, the ice plant prefers to be dry rather than too wet. Waterlogging should therefore be avoided under all circumstances. Since the fleshy leaves of the succulent can store water well, watering is rarely necessary. Even in the hot summer months, Delosperma cooperi copes well with intermittent dry periods.
Tip: Instead of watering, succulents like the ice plant can be watered with a spray attachment. The fine drizzle is quite sufficient to keep the plant moderately moist.
➔ Fertilize Red Ice Plant
The plant is also undemanding when it comes to nutrient requirements. Even more, too many nutrients in the soil tend to cause the red ice plant to lose its willingness to flower. Over-fertilization also increases the susceptibility of succulents to diseases.
Please use fertilizers very sparingly or do not use them at all. If nutrients are given, a mineral long-term fertilizer should be chosen for succulents, which is only given to the plant in small portions once every 6 weeks in spring. The fertilization must then be stopped by July at the latest.
➔ Cut Red Ice Plant
Cut the red oneIce plant only to remove wilted plant parts or take cuttings. As an alternative to propagating cuttings, the red ice plant can also be propagated by sowing.
Propagate Red Ice Plant
➔ Multiply red ice plant by cuttings
To propagate cuttings, simply cut off a well-developed, approx. 10 cm long shoot and put it in a pot with potting soil. In contrast to other cutting cultures, the shoot is not watered, but simply placed in a light-rich place.
You can also pinch off the cuttings for a particularly bushy growth. After about two to three weeks, the cutting will be sufficiently rooted and will sprout. But leave the shoot in the pot for a while until it is strong enough to plant out.
➔ Propagating Red Ice Plant by Sowing
When cutting, simply leave a few withered flower shoots and wait until the fruit capsules start to ripen. The seed is then stored in a dark, cool, dry place until next spring before sowing. This takes place either in pre-cultivation from March to April or outdoors as soon as the temperatures constantly climb above 20 °C.
As with the cuttings, the cultivation should not be kept too moist, otherwise the seeds will start to mold. The young plants can then be planted as usual after the ice saints. The young seedlings are pricked out in the bed at a distance of 10 to 15 cm.
Winter Red Ice Plant
When it comes to waterlogging, the cold season is often a death sentence for red ice plants. Because what bothers them in winter is less cool temperatures. Rather, icy melt water and persistently cold, damp soil ensure that the succulent does not survive the winter. Kahlfrost then does the rest and lets the softened roots die off. So make sure that Delosperma cooperi stays dry under all circumstances during the winter months.
| Wintering in the bed | Covering with brushwood and garden fleece can help bedding crops get through the winter. The fleece insulates the floor and prevents it from freezing too much. A layer of twigs on top additionally repels meltwater. |
| Overwintering in a pot | In the case of Delosperma cooperi, overwintering in a pot is better than overwintering in a bed. You can either place it in the conservatory or turn it ona sheltered outdoor location (e.g. balcony or veranda). When kept outdoors, the pot must also be wrapped with coconut mats or garden fleece. In this way, the potting soil is well insulated and protected from frost. You should also place the pot on styrofoam or blocks of wood to keep out the cold from below. |
Damage to the Red Ice Plant
Damage to Delosperma cooperi is often caused by incorrect care. Above all, overwatering and the resulting waterlogging often lead to root rot. If the problem is recognized in time, some plants can still be saved by immediately transplanting them into a dry substrate. However, the root rot is often too advanced and the plant dies. Therefore, make sure that you never overwater the plant.
Fluffy succulent leaves are generally good food for snails in the garden. Young plants of the red ice plant in particular are susceptible to snail damage. Either a slug fence or organic slug pellets can help
Tip: Spraying with begonia manure or alum water can also help.