Weird, peculiar, wonderful, strange, bizarre, fascinating, and of course, unique are the kind of words used to describe the Welwitschia. This plant is one of the few things on Earth that can truly claim to be one of a kind. There really is nothing like it.
Welwitschia mirabilis is the only member of the family Welwitschiaceae. It was named after Friedrich Welwitsch, an Austrian naturalist who explored Africa in the 1800s. Welwitschia is the most incredible plant that he encountered. It is native to a strip of land about 50 miles wide and over 500 miles in length along the coast of the Namib Desert.
This plant gets less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of rainfall per year in habitat. But because of a cold coastal ocean current, this area also gets a regular fog, adding almost another 2 inches (5 cm) of precipitation. As a result, this plant in nature is slow-growing and can live to be 2000 years old! It is a coning plant with male and female cones on separate plants. It produces only two true leaves in its lifetime, and those leaves continually grow from the base, all the while dying back and drying off at the tips.
Welwitschia is not a true succulent, but succulent growers and enthusiasts are most interested in it. It is caudiciform yet is not often included in accounts of these plants as it belongs in the "wrong" family!
Growing Conditions
When growing Welwitschia, there are a few important factors to consider: the long taproot, its dependence on extra moisture, and the soil used. Plants from arid regions are often lost to a fungal infection caused by soil with high organic content. Therefore, it is safer to use a sandy mixture, water more frequently, and give supplementary feedings. It is also recommended to use sterilized soil. Older plants tend to accumulate organic debris around themselves, which enriches the soil and acts as a mulch, helping to retain water in the upper layers of the sand for longer.
Propagation
Seed should be sown during the warmer months, spring or summer. In habitat, the seeds are dispersed in spring but have to wait for the rain to fall before they germinate. It is best to sow seed into a large, deep (at least 12 inches (30 cm), preferably more) container or into an open bed where the plant is intended to remain because the taproot grows quite fast in the initial stages. The soil must be sandy and well-drained, e.g., 2 parts sand, 1 part loam, 1 part compost (leaf mold) with ample bonemeal, well mixed and sterilized. Moisten the soil thoroughly before sowing. If using a container, sow two or three seeds per container near the center. If more than one germinates, it can be transplanted in its first month or left to form interesting graft complexes with its sibling. If you have an open bed, scatter them evenly over the surface. Place the seed on top of the soil and just cover it with a layer of sand. Water well and keep in a warm sunny situation. It is important to add a mild fungicide, like Captan, to the water during the first year to prevent fungal attacks. Keep the soil moist until the seeds have germinated.
The placement of the ungerminated and germinating seedlings is also important. Choose a well-aerated, warm atmosphere, preferably in filtered sunlight. The plants are very sensitive to sudden changes in light intensity. Never move a plant from a shady situation to full sun, the leaves will burn, and the plant may never recover and die. So when moving your plant, make sure that you gradually harden it off to brighter light.
Grower's Tips
At first glance, it would appear that Welwitschia would be almost impossible to grow, but this is only partly true. This plant can be grown easily, even as a pot plant and even on windowsills and verandas in cooler climates. Once established, the plant will grow steadily and is relatively disease-free. The most crucial stage is during its first eight months after germination when it is prone to fungal attack. Also, as it is not a true succulent, it should not be treated as one. It is dependent on additional water from its roots, and if grown in a pot, care should be taken that the soil does not dry out completely.
Links
- Back to genus Welwitschia
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus