Senecio Vitalis — Narrow leaf Chalksticks
A succulent by the name of Senecio Vitalis aka Narrow leaf Chalksticks. It prefers full sun to light shade, its draught tolerant and also do best in sandy, dry to medium moisture well drained soil. Added bonus: easily propogated! What’s not to love??
Apparently it originates from South Africa and can grow up to 45cm to 60cm tall and spread as wide as 90cm to 150cm even though its actually a low growing succulent and mostly used as ground covers. — As stated by everyone’s best friend le Google.
I was browsing through the nursery i usually frequent, scanning through their myriads of succulents, cactus and tillys when it’s long yellowish green, upright thin leaves that spreads out in the sun caught my eyes, glistening as if beckoning me to take her home with it’s beautiful leaves. (I think it sound more dramatic then it seems. Lol! 😅)
And so, here we have my Chalksticks when I first have her
Doesn’t she look so pretty? I really loved her smooth leaves and the color of her leaves. From this picture, you can tell that her soil was filled to the brim if you look close enough. Along the way, the enemy of plants Koko the evil sweet kitty, decided to take a little nibble and topple it off the basket that I placed it in and lo and behold..the soil spilled out from its mini pot. Well it was kinda my fault too cus I placed it within reach from her kitty tower. 😓
Well, what’s done is done…so I scooped whatever remaining soil that’s left and planted the brave Chalksticks back into its mini pot all the while agonizing over the possibility of her dying within a few days from the trauma and the broken leaves... (PS: The scent given out when it’s leaves break is kinda funky😶)
At first nothing happened, all seems ok…A few days later, it seems like my Chalksticks were etoliating…the leaves were spreading out so much!! Panicking, I placed her directly outside at the window grill where she’d get ample direct sunlight, all the while hoping she won’t get scorched to death from the tropic’s killer afternoon sun while I went for the wait and see approach..
So fast forward to today, the sun actually help my little Chalksticks grow even better and more fuller leaves!!! I guess I finally figured out her needs by chance and I’m so glad I did! Look how lovely she is! 😍
Now I just place her right where she’s happiest most and water her twice a week maximum with added fertilizer at 1/4 strength or even less… In the near future, I’ll be repotting her to a bigger pot with fresh new proper cactus/succulent soil..Will definitely record it’s process!
