Karon's Garden: November 2011

This plant was purchased at Bakers in Fargo for $3.99.

(dick’ ea)
Dyckias, are generally one of the most cold hardy of all of the Bromeliad genera.
Dyckia is one of the genera in the subfamily Pitcairnioideae. This subfamily contains some of the most primitive Bromeliad species. Most Pitcairnioideae genera are saxicolous (living on or around rocks) or terrestrial (growing in the ground). The majority of the approximately 120 different species of Dyckia are native to central Brazil, with some being found in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia. Most are found growing among rocks in warm sunny areas ranging in altitude from sea level to 2000 meters.
The genus was introduced into Europe during the nineteenth century, and was named for Prince von Salm-Dyck, an early expert on succulents. Although Dyckias have no internal water storage tissue like true succulents, they are xerographic and survive long periods without water by going dormant. Their rosette of thick succulent leaves will eventually wilt, but recovery is rapid when watering is resumed.
Although the flowers aren’t large, bees, wasps and hummingbirds find them attractive. The plants themselves come in a range of colors (green, rose, maroon, tan, or silver), and a variety of leaf shapes (long and thin, short and fat, deeply lobed, or almost smooth).

	Light:	They like full sunlight. 5000 foot-candles, 50% shade, is probably the least amount of sun that they can have and still flourish.
	Temperature:	They prefer temperatures in the range of 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit, but they will withstand much lower and higher temperatures.
	Fertilizer:	Use full a dilute fertilizer solution (¼ strength or less) with every watering spring through fall, but eliminate fertilizer during cold weather. When plants are actively growing in strong light, it is hard to over fertilize an established plant, but they don’t appear to suffer if they are not fertilized, they just grow more slowly.
	Water:	Although they will tolerate drought, they thrive on frequent watering while actively growing, however keep plants on the dry side during cold weather or during periods of reduced light. In the summer time they tend to dry out rapidly; it is helpful to keep them in a shallow container of water.
	Medium:	Grow in a heavy mix that contains water retaining polymers and a large quantity of organic matter.
	Containers:	Dyckias probably do best when they are grown in the ground. If you do choose to grow them in pots, use one that will accommodate the plant’s large root system. This is one plant that appreciates a pot that is about as wide as or wider than the plant itself.
	Propagation:	Most Dyckia species have leaves armed with sharp spikes that make working with the plants painful. It is often difficult to separate pups from the mother plant. It is helpful to remove the plant from its pot and try to work on it from the bottom. You want to bring out the heavy equipment when dealing with your Dyckia collection. Leather gloves, a sturdy knife, a small saw, and, in extreme cases, a hatchet could all come in handy when it is time to separate and repot large clumps of plants. When you separate a pup, try to preserve as much of its root system as you can. If it has no roots, treat its base with rooting hormone.