The Gardener South Africa – September 2019

Symptoms of an aphid infestation are the appearance of colonies

of aphids on young plant stems, leaves and buds, as well as black

sooty mould on leaves and fruit, and yellowing leaves. Plant growth

is stunted, leaves eventually die off due to sooty mould fungus,

bud growth is prohibited, and the plant will die. Eradicate sucking

insects like aphids by spraying with a contact insecticide every two

weeks or by a seasonal soil drench with a systemic insecticide.

Trailing succulents in small hanging bowls are quite fashionable as

patio or indoor decoration. Two pretty and peculiar ones to look out

for are:

Curio radicans (string-of-bananas, baboon toes): An indigenous

succulent groundcover that will cascade lushly over the sides of a

container. The leaves are small and spindle-like, with claw-like tips

and a translucent strip along the side. They can turn red if exposed

to bright sunlight. Minute sweetly scented flower heads appear

throughout the year.

Curio rowleyanus (string-of-pearls) is a trailing groundcover native

to the drier parts of south-west Africa. It is shallow-rooted and forms

dense mats in the shade of other plants or rocks. The leaves are round

with a sharp point, resembling small peas, and also have a translucent

darker green strip down the side. In summer this off-beat succulent

produces tiny white flowers with colourful stamens, which smell like

spicy cinnamon.

Keep these plants in bright light indoors, or morning sun and

afternoon shade outdoors. Water only when the soil feels dry. As the

leaves have a slight toxicity, keep them away from small kids.

Patio^ strings

Curio radicans

11

12

Sucking

pests