Adromischus mammillaris f. blue

Retaining the exact evolutionary programming of its wild ancestors, this blue selection carries out its primary vegetative growth and root exploration during the cool, temperate months of autumn and spring. It slows its metabolism down significantly during the intense heat of mid-summer, relying on its exceptionally water-dense, turgid foliage and light-reflecting waxy bloom to withstand intense light and prolonged drought. In late summer, it pushes up a tall, slender, unbranched inflorescence bearing small, inconspicuous tubular white-to-pink flowers. In cultivation, it has an absolute intolerance for damp, suffocating potting media, which can cause its root system to instantly collapse; it thrives best in an aggressively lean, porous mineral substrate (such as 85% to 90% premium pumice, fine granite grit, and crushed quartz) and must be watered with a highly disciplined hand only when the medium is completely bone-dry.