Glossary

Areole

The point where spines connect to a cactus.

Base Fertilizer

Fertilizer applied before potting a plant. Either add slow-release granular fertilizer on top of the bottom layer of gravel or mix it directly into the soil.

Cheesecloth/Shade Netting

A sheet woven from black or white fibers. It can block and soften direct sunlight, and is available in varieties that block 30%, 50%, or 80% of sunlight.

Chlorophyll

The pigments inside the leaves of plants. These pigments use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make the carbohydrates that nourish the plant.

Crossbreeding

Pollinizing to collect seeds. You can also crossbreed two varieties together to create a new one.

Dormant Period

When the plant stops growing in the summer or winter. Conophytum and Lithops are representative genera that go dormant in summer.

Etiolation

When a plant stretches out too long and narrow due to a lack of sunlight. To return the plant to normal, remove the top part as a cutting, plant it, and grow it again from scratch.

Extra Fertilizer

Fertilizer added after a plant has already grown considerably.

Fasciation

When a plant has multiple points of growth and becomes misshapen.

Grafting

Raising a variety that is hard to cultivate by attaching it to a robust, fast-growing stock plant.

Gravel Layer

The layer of large-grain soil at the bottom of a flowerpot. Refers to materials like large-grain Akadama and pumice.

Immersion Method

To fill a container with water, place your flowerpot in the container, and let the soil absorb water through the hole in the bottom of the pot.

Irrigation

Supplying water to the soil inside the flowerpot.

Leaf Cutting

A leaf removed from a stem that can be used for propagation by being placed on top of soil to produce roots.

Liquid Fertilizer

A fast-acting, liquid version of fertilizer containing the three fertilizer components of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium. Dilute the prescribed amount with water and use the solution as extra fertilizer by pouring it in from the top of the soil.

Misting

Using a plant mister to cover a plant in water. This method of watering is suitable for Tillandsia plants that can absorb water through their leaves.

Mulch

Sufficiently fermented fallen leaves. It has good water retention and drainage.

Offset

A daughter plant that grows from the side of the mother plant.

Offset Propagation

To breed a new plant from an offset that was cut with a knife off the side of another plant’s stem.

Organic Fertilizer

Fertilizer made from organic ingredients like compost, food dregs from oil extraction, and fish meal.

Partial Shade

A place untouched by direct sunlight, like under the gentle light filtering through the trees. You can soften the sunlight by using cheesecloth, creating partial shade.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose.

Planting Soil

Soil for raising succulent plants. Composed of ingredients with good drainage, water retention, and breathability.

Root Cutting

A thick root removed from the stem of a plant like Haworthia that will sprout when planted in soil and can be used for propagation.

Rosette

An arrangement of leaves to look like a round elliptical or polygon-shaped flower.

Seeding

Taking seeds from a plant after it flowers, planting them in fresh soil, and letting them sprout.

Self-pollination

When pollen from a plant attaches to the pistil of a flower from that same plant.

Shade

A place completely untouched by sunlight.

Shedding

When plants of genera like Conophytum and Lithops from the Aizoaceae family shed their old skin.

Slow-release Fertilizer

Fertilizer with effects that appear slowly and are long-lasting.

Softening Sunlight

Using cheesecloth or shade netting to weaken strong sunlight.

Soggy Soil

Soil that is always wet and warm. When wet soil heats up, the inside is similar to hot water and will damage the roots.

Stem Cutting

A branch or offset cut from the side of a stem that can be planted in soil to create a new plant.

Sun

A place that receives direct sunlight.

Tuber

A stem that has grown round and thick to store water.

Tuberous Root

A root that has become extremely swollen to store water.

Variegated (“Variegata”)

When a plant’s green leaves have areas without chlorophyll, creating patterns of other colors like white and yellow.

Ventilating

Opening the cover of your greenhouse and improving air flow so the temperature inside does not rise too high.

Watering

Pouring water into the soil, as from a watering can.