An annual plant from Brazil, used to decorate flower beds, planters and pots. It is a low-growing plant, as the stems spread horizontally, reaching 10 or 12 cm in length and are covered with cylindrical, opaque leaves full of juices. At the ends of the stems bloom quite large flowers, up to 2,5 cm in diameter. They come in a variety of bright, beautiful colors: purple, red, pink, orange, yellow and white are just a few of them. There are also varieties with single and double flowers.
Development conditions
The Clove or Silk it has no special soil requirements and can thrive even in poor calcareous soils, as long as they have good drainage. It can even be used in rock gardens or on road islands as a ground cover as it is highly resistant to intense sun. It needs abundant sunlight to give its rich and long-lasting flowering, while its flowers close at night as well as when it is in a shady environment or when it is cloudy. It is not at all resistant to frost, so it is planted in the spring when the weather has warmed up.
Care
In general, it has no special requirements for water, as its leaves resemble those of succulents. We water it when the soil dries, otherwise its leaves may rot. It needs fertilization once in spring and once in summer to be able to maintain its growth and flowering. We do not need to remove the mature flowers as if their seed falls, it will give new plants in our garden next year.
