Welwitschia.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Difícil

Tipo de planta

Gymnosperm

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 14 a 30 días

Tamaño adulto

1 to 2 meters

Ritmo de crecimiento

Lento

Rusticidad

USDA 9 a 11

Floración

Summer

Cuidados

Provide extremely well draining, mineral rich soil and avoid overhead watering to prevent crown rot. Watch for fungal issues if the environment is too humid or stagnant. It requires a deep pot to accommodate its long taproot.

Riego

Water sparingly and allow the soil to dry out completely between sessions.

Abonado

Use a very dilute, balanced fertilizer only during the active growing season.

Poda

Only remove dead or damaged leaf tips if absolutely necessary.

Trasplante

Repot rarely, as this plant has a sensitive taproot that dislikes being disturbed.

Suelo

Sandy, rocky, well draining mix

pH del suelo

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Temperatura

5 a 45°C

Humedad

10 a 40%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Alta

Longevidad

Perennial, can live for over 1,000 years.

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Alta

Seguridad

Personas

There is no known toxicity in this plant.

Niños

The plant poses no specific risk to children, though the sharp, woody edges of the cones should be handled with care.

Alérgenos por contacto

The leaves can be tough and fibrous but are not known to cause skin irritation.

Alérgenos en el aire

There is no known respiratory risk associated with this plant.

Comestibilidad

This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

Cómo identificarla

• Two permanent leathery leaves
• Deep taproot for desert survival
• Woody, low growing central stem
• Leaves split into ribbon like segments

Altura

0,3 a 0,6m

Anchura

1 a 3m

Hojas

green, brown, evergreen

Flores

red, brown, 2 a 4cm

Frutos

brown, Autumn

Problemas frecuentes

• Root rot — This occurs when the plant is kept in soil that remains too damp for too long.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed

Cuándo plantar

Spring

Cuidados en invierno

Keep the plant in a bright, warm location and reduce watering to a minimum during the colder months.

En maceta

It is best grown in a very deep, narrow pot to accommodate its long taproot.

This plant is best grown as a solitary specimen due to its unique and extreme environmental requirements.

Ciencia

Familia

Welwitschiaceae

Género

Welwitschia

Orden

Welwitschiales

Clase

Gnetopsida

Distribución natural

Namib Desert in Namibia and Angola.

Conservación

It is protected in its native habitat and wild collection is strictly regulated.

It relies on deep taproots to find groundwater and specialized leaf structures to capture fog.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas, escarabajos

Usos

botanical curiosity, xeriscaping

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Is it easy to grow?

No, it is notoriously difficult to maintain in cultivation due to its specific water and soil needs.

How often should I water it?

Very sparingly, as it is adapted to extreme desert conditions.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus is named after Austrian botanist Friedrich Welwitsch, while the species name mirabilis means wonderful.

Bueno saberlo

• It is the only member of its family.
• Some individuals are estimated to be over 1,500 years old.
• It survives in the desert by absorbing moisture from coastal fog.
• The two leaves grow continuously from the base while the tips fray and die.

También en

• Plantas resistentes a la sequía
• Plantas que los ciervos no comen