Scientific Name
Pachyphytum 'Captain Jessop'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Pachyphytum
Description
Pachyphytum 'Captain Jessop' is a small succulent with descending or hanging stems and leaves arranged in rosettes. The leaves are dark green to violet-red and up to 4 inches (10 cm) long. Flowers have red-orange petals surrounded by fleshy greenish-white sepals.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Pachyphytum will not tolerate frosts well. Temperatures below 20 °F (-6 °C) will kill the plant, and temperatures which may go below 45 °F (7 °C) during the extended period should be avoided. It tolerates high heat and intense sunlight. As with most succulents from the Crassulaceae family, Pachyphytum can tolerate (and even appreciated) poor soil conditions so long as it is well-draining. It can thrive in full or partial sunlight.
Allow the soil to dry out before watering, and avoid getting water on the leaves. The plants will require more water in winter as winter begins its active growth season. If you are unsure when to water your plant, watch the lowermost leaves for signs of drying and water them then. Pachyphytum is far more likely to survive under-watering than overwatering. The thick, fleshy leaves will appear wilted and a bit "under-full" when they need water.
One of the most common pests to houseplants is the mealybug, and your Pachyphytum may fall prey to this pest. The symptoms of a mealybug infestation are slowed or stopped growth (though in summer, this is a normal sign of dormancy). If this occurs without apparent cause, remove the plant from the pot and examine the roots or look at the leaf-stem junctions.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Pachyphytum.
Origin
This succulent is a hybrid created by Captain Jessop. It is a result of the cross between Pachyphytum bracteosum and Pachyphytum viride.
Links
- Back to genus Pachyphytum
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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