How to Grow Othonna capensis to a Full, Thriving Pot: A Detailed Care Guide

Othonna capensis, also known as the yellow flower new moon, is a succulent plant in the Asteraceae family, genus Othonna, and is often mistaken for the genus Senecio. It is usually green, and with sufficient sunlight it turns from green to purplish-red. In autumn and winter it blooms with small yellow flowers in capitula with ligulate florets, which look very beautiful paired with its own purplish-red color. Now let us take a look together at how to grow Othonna capensis into a full pot!

The ecological habits of Othonna capensis

Othonna capensis has almost no dormant season, but watering should be reduced during high summer temperatures. If it lacks water, the leaves will wrinkle, and after watering they will be plump again the next day. In the early stage of rooting it needs little water; as the stems increase and the root system becomes stronger and stronger, once the roots are robust it will grow explosively like crazy. In the later stage it needs a large amount of water, especially in spring and autumn, when large pots of Othonna capensis are basically watered every day.

Propagation methods for Othonna capensis

Othonna capensis can be propagated by cuttings or leaf cuttings, and it grows extremely fast. Cuttings are very easy: just cut off a segment and insert it into the soil, water it immediately, and then wait for it to root. In the early stage of cutting, because the roots have not yet grown well, absorption is much poorer, so the leaves often appear wrinkled and thin. But there is no need to worry; just observe its condition more often, and especially when you feel the soil inside the pot is almost dry, water it heavily at once. As long as you notice the leaves gradually becoming plump, it means the roots are growing normally; the leaf color will also turn green at first, and that is nothing to worry about.

How to grow Othonna capensis

1. Soil mix: When planting Othonna capensis, choose as deep a pot as possible to favor root development. For the planting mix, choose a primarily granular substrate; you can use 4 parts akadama soil + parts pumice + 2 parts peat. The choice of substrate can be flexible, but the principle is good drainage and air permeability.

2. Fertilizing: Othonna capensis has almost no dormant season, but watering should be reduced during high summer temperatures. If it lacks water, the leaves will wrinkle, and after watering they will be plump again the next day. At the same time, a small amount of slow-release fertilizer can be applied during the growing process.

3. Light: Othonna capensis needs sufficient light during the growing season; with sufficient sunlight it turns from green to purplish-red. In summer, avoid exposure to scorching sun and pay attention to ventilation. During cultivation, attention should be paid to controlling light to avoid leggy growth caused by insufficient light.

4. Temperature: In winter, Othonna capensis needs protection from the cold; the temperature should preferably stay above 5 degrees, and preferably not below zero degrees.