Aptenia cordifolia (heartleaf ice plant) is the most budget-friendly balcony potted plant; it can grow 3 m in two months, and you can enjoy its flowers every day and even eat it

Aptenia cordifolia (heartleaf ice plant) is an extremely tough potted plant. Snap off a piece of stem, stick it casually into a flowerpot, and in three or four days it will recover from transplanting and start growing and blooming. It is simply an indestructible little cockroach.

Aptenia cordifolia is very suitable for growing on a balcony, with emerald-green leaves and small rose-red flowers in full bloom. As long as the temperature is suitable, it can bloom all year round. It is a very good balcony potted plant. What should we pay attention to when growing Aptenia cordifolia?

1. The soil should be relatively loose and breathable. Aptenia cordifolia is not very picky about soil, but the soil must be kept loose and breathable. If the soil is compacted, it will cause the leaves of Aptenia cordifolia to be small, stop growing, and become dull in color. As long as the roots spread out fully in the soil, the plant will grow very quickly.

2. Sufficient light and good ventilation. If you want Aptenia cordifolia to grow vigorously, sufficient light is essential. If the light is insufficient, the internodes will lengthen and it will become leggy, and it will not bloom, losing its ornamental value. Usually it can be placed in a semi-shaded environment. In summer, when the light is too strong, appropriate shading is necessary.

3. Do not lack water. Aptenia cordifolia grows quickly, so water must not be lacking. Keep the potting soil slightly moist. Frequent lack of water will cause leaves to turn yellow, fall off, become dull in color, and produce small flowers.

4. Fertilizing. Many people who grow Aptenia cordifolia do not fertilize it at all, and it still grows well, so its demand for fertilizer is not too great either. If you want it to grow quickly, then give it some multi-element organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer, and your Aptenia cordifolia will grow desperately. In one summer it can grow to two or three meters long and be covered with small rose-red flowers. Even beginners can grow it well, with a full sense of achievement.

In recent years, many places have begun to eat the tender leaves of this Aptenia cordifolia, also called edible Andrographis paniculata (creat), which can be served cold or blanched in hot pot. I hear the taste is not bad, but I have never eaten it. No matter how it grows, I have never been willing to snap it off and eat it.

If we want to grow this, we can spend a few yuan at the vegetable market to buy a bunch, and it can be propagated into several pots. Isn't that very money-saving?