Ceraria

Its name comes from Greek and literally means "little horn", referring to the forked branches, similar to a horn. They are very slow growing succulent shrubs, provided with few branches with bark, often papery and, depending on the species, a woody base, which allows the plant to store water (this global aspect gives it the common name of "elephant bush"). Its leaves are ovoid and very small to minimize evaporation and retain as much water as possible; they often fall off at the slightest touch, but soon they grow back. In summer, however, to reduce transpiration even more, the plant loses all its leaves and goes into vegetative rest - a necessary period - so that in the following season it can reinvigorate itself and embellish your environments with its unique and unmistakable appearance! Here are some tips for its care and cultivation: It requires an exposure to full sun, however you can also place it in partial shade if it still receives a lot of light throughout the year. It is preferable to keep it at mild temperatures and never below 6 °C, for this reason it is recommended to shelter it during the winter period. Water moderately and only when the soil is completely dry. It is enough to water it once a week in spring and summer, reduce it to once every two months in autumn and to suspend it completely in winter. A well-draining and mineral-rich substrate is an optimal solution, for example a soil suitable for cacti, to which pumice can be added. They do not need frequent fertilization, it is sufficient to dilute the fertilizer with watering once a year.