Also known as plover eggs succulent or plover eggs plant, Adromischus cooperi is an attractive succulent from the Southern African region with dark-green leaves and small, red spots on the leaf surface.
It’s an easy plant to care for, making it perfect for beginners or those who don’t have much time to spend on plant maintenance. Plus, it makes an attractive addition to any succulent collection!
The Crassulaceae family consists of small, succulent plants native to Africa. These popular plants are known as living stones because they resemble stones with their hard leaves and granite-like appearance.
The Crassulaceae family is sometimes referred to as the apartment gardeners’ secret weapon because of their small size and adaptability. There are many species in the Crassulaceae family, each with unique care instructions specific to its individual growing needs.
Adromischus cooperi plants are unique succulents that grow well in sunny areas in pots and make excellent houseplants. They can be propagated easily from cuttings taken from the parent plant and will often begin to flower within just a few months of being potted up.
If you know how to take care of adromischus cooperi, they can quickly become some of your favorite houseplants!
Origin and distribution
The plover eggs succulent is a genus of succulent plants of the family Crassulaceae. The genus is named after James Graham Cooper, an American naturalist and surgeon. The plant is indigenous to the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. It has been introduced into cultivation in other parts of southern Africa as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
The plover eggs plant can also be found in South African mountain ranges and is hardy to USDA Zones 10-11. Adromischus cooperi is a monotypic genus. The name adromischus comes from two Greek words: adros meaning thorn and michos meaning little plant or shrub.
The common name of Cooper’s adromischus refers to Dr. Peter Alfred Charles Cooper (1871–1952), who was born in England but moved to South Africa as a child. He was an avid botanist who traveled extensively throughout southern Africa and collected numerous specimens of plants, many of which were previously unknown to science.
After his death, his herbarium was acquired by Kew Gardens in London where he spent most of his life working as curator at their herbarium for tropical plants.
In addition to being named after him, Adromischus cooperi honors his memory by bearing some resemblance to some of his other discoveries. It is not uncommon for new species within a genus to resemble each other, especially when they are closely related.
Adromischus cooperi propagation
Like many succulents, plover eggs plant is propagated easily from stem cuttings. If you want to start some new plants, use a sterilized knife or razor blade to cut 3-4 inch stems from healthy mother plants and place them into water immediately.
Cut just below a node to make sure you have at least two growing points on your cutting. Do not let any part of your cutting sit in sunlight or it will die quickly. Once you’ve prepared your cuttings, plant them in well-draining soil with plenty of sun exposure.
Water regularly until they begin to grow. It may take several months for your plant to sprout roots, but once it does, be careful not to overwater as its roots are delicate.
Adromischus cooperi care information
Adromischus cooperi is a succulent that originates from South Africa. It can be grown outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b through 11, but is usually grown as a houseplant and cultivated for its interesting leaves and flowers.
Adromischus cooperi plants require minimal care to thrive, but it’s helpful to understand their basic growing needs before bringing them home from a nursery or garden center.
Light requirement
Plover eggs plant care is a little tricky because these plants naturally grow in dappled light. While you can successfully bring your houseplant outside during spring and summer, it’s not necessary.
These plants thrive best in medium to bright indirect sunlight, so set them on a window sill near an east-facing window.
Soil/potting mix
Adromischus cooperi needs very porous soil that drains well. Use a peat-based potting mix that contains perlite or sand. The goal is to have soil that drains rapidly but retains some moisture because it can be tricky to water them enough without over-watering and killing your plant.
Additionally, adromischus cooperi doesn’t like its roots to be too wet for too long; excess moisture can cause root rot, which will eventually kill your plant.
Watering
While plants that grow in partial sunlight don’t need as much water as those that grow in full sun, plover eggs succulent care should include watering about once a week. This will help keep your plant healthy and looking great.
If you live in an area where it rains regularly, you can skip a few weeks between watering sessions; when it doesn’t rain enough to keep plants happy, they die because of drought stress.
Fertilizer
A well-fertilized plover eggs succulent will grow faster, but too much fertilizer will lead to more pests and less resistance. Once a month is sufficient for watering with liquid plant food that contains micronutrients.
To further enhance your plants, consider adding ground eggshells or fish emulsion to promote growth and fight disease. If pests are an issue, use organic pesticides such as pyrethrum or neem oil when necessary.
Temperature
Adromischus cooperi can handle a wider range of temperatures than many succulents; its ideal temperature is 65–75 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a great option for indoor gardens, living rooms, and offices, especially if you live in an area that experiences cold winters.
Just be sure to protect it from getting too cold when bringing it indoors in the fall or moving it outdoors in the spring.
Humidity
Plover eggs succulent plants are moisture-loving succulents and will do better in a more humid environment. To help keep humidity levels high, you can mist your plant once or twice a day and/or place it near a humidifier or fern pot.
Adromischus cooperi is also sensitive to fluoride and chlorine, so when you water your plants, use rainwater or filtered water.
The ideal humidity range is 40-70% relative humidity. Do not let your plants dry out completely, as they will wilt and die. When watering your adromischus cooperi, you want to make sure that it drains well but don’t let it sit in water for long periods of time.
Pruning the plover eggs succulent
Adromischus cooperi can be pruned if it outgrows its container or become too bushy. Make sure not to trim more than one-third of the plant or you can kill it.
When to repot your plover eggs plant
The ideal time to repot your Adromischus cooperi plant is in spring and summer. Spring repotting, while it is a great idea, in theory, isn’t always feasible due to weather constraints. If you are unable to perform spring repotting, try fall repotting as an alternative.
Also, bear in mind that you shouldn’t need to perform more than one repot per year.
Dormancy
Many succulents go dormant in winter, so if your plover eggs plant is not growing during that time, there’s no need to be alarmed. It will resume growth when conditions become favorable again.
While dormant, water only enough to keep it from shriveling up—no more than once every two weeks or so. It might also help to place it in a cool room where it receives minimal light (but not sunlight) for several months.
Flowers & Fragrance
Aside from their gorgeous appearance, Adromischus cooperi plants produce small white flowers that give off a sweet smell. It’s common for people to purchase these kinds of plants simply for how they smell.
Once you get your hands on an Adromischus cooperi plant, you can expect a fragrance strong enough to infuse your entire home with its sweet and pleasant aroma.
Growth rate
Plants are slow-growing and take approximately 8-12 months to reach maturity. Adromischus cooperi plants often take longer than that to reach maturity, so a long-term commitment is required. It may also be necessary to repot your plant as it grows, which can be done when its root system has filled its container.
Toxicity
This plant is generally considered non-toxic to humans, however, it has been known to cause some skin irritation in sensitive individuals. The sap of adromischus cooperi can cause a burning sensation when it comes into contact with human skin.
Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling adromischus cooperi and ensure that you wear gloves if you will be touching these plants on a regular basis.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Adromischus cooperi will thrive in USDA hardiness zones 9b through 11. In other areas, it can be grown as a houseplant.
Parasites and diseases
One of Adromischus cooperi’s most serious pests is spider mites. Spider mites are one of a handful of arthropods that prey on Adromischus, sucking on their sap and weakening them. Spider mites can be controlled with insecticides like Avid or neem oil.
Conclusion
Adromischus cooperi is an easy-to-grow succulent that thrives in lower light conditions. If you are interested in cultivating these plants for your home or business’s décor, we encourage you to follow the care tips in this guide to ensure the proper growth and development of your plant.
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