Tanquana hilmarii
Family: Aizoaceae
This is a small soft-skinned succulent mesemb much like a Pleiospilos. Tanquana hilmarii is the smallest species of the genus. In its native habitat it tends to remain unmbranched but often clusters in cultivation.
Sowing instructions: The small seeds can be sown in pots of fine, well-drained sand, any time during the summer months when temperatures are warm. Cover the seeds with a very fine layer of grit and water from below with a fungicide to prevent damping off. For the first 3-4 days cover the pots with a sheet of glass/clear Perspex to keep the humidity levels high. Remove the glass and replace it with light shade cloth and mist once or twice a day for the next two weeks after which most seeds should have germinated. From then on misting can be reduced to every second and then every third day as the little plants grow.
Locality: Laingsburg. Harvest: January 2024