The story of the Senecio Aquarine (Mount Everest)
The simple and easy-care houseplant is called Senecio Aquarine by its botanical name. Often it also has the nickname Mount Everest. This once more describes their kind more precisely.
In addition to this exotic name Senecio, the plant is also known as groundsel or ragwort Senecio in German-speaking countries. Senecio Aquarine belongs to the ragweed genus, which has over 1400 species.
The expressive houseplant is also characterized by its easy care. Nevertheless, you can still do something wrong here. So that this does not happen, we give you some tips on proper care when it comes to watering, repotting, fertilizing or even propagating with.
The appearance of the Senecio Aquarine
The houseplant draws the viewer's attention to its prominent cylindrical leaves. These grow upright and shrub-like and are covered with a grey-blue layer of wax. This makes it appear as if it were beginning to glow, like the stunning mountain that gave it its name.
In the spring months of April and May, the flowers, which appear in a light yellow tone, grow between the grey-blue leaves. This makes the Senecio Aquarine even more of an eye-catcher in your home.
The right Senecio Aquarine care: location, cutting, fertilizing etc.
Even if the Senecio Aquarine is a very easy-care houseplant, you should always keep an eye on it. Because even with plants that are relatively easy to care for, you can still do something wrong. So that this doesn't happen, but that you take good care of them from top to bottom, we're giving you a few tips here.
The correct Senecio Aquarine location
The Senecio Aquarine likes it very warm. A south-east or south-west window is ideal for them. There she can enjoy the sun in the morning and afternoon hours.
Because she can stand very well in the blazing sun, high temperatures don't bother her either. Even at 40°C she keeps her leaves. And between 5 and 30°C it blooms in the spring months in its light yellow flower colour.
Less is more: Watering Senecio Aquarine
The wonderful thing about this elegant houseplant is that it also tolerates temporary periods of drought and is also suitable for people with a less green thumb. You can also go on vacation without worrying that your plant will dry up.
Because it belongs to the water-storing plants (succulents), it does not need much water. Every one to two weeks is sufficient here. When the summer months are particularly hot, she tends to prefer a weekly watering.
Tip: Always let the top layer of soil dry well before you give it the next water supply. You should avoid waterlogging in any case, as this leads to rotting of the roots.
Fertilize the Senecio Aquarine
You should only supply your houseplant with cactus fertilizer. In the months from March to September, a monthly supply of fertilizer is sufficient. This keeps it strong and thrives in your home, either alongside other flowering and green plants or alone as an eye-catcher on the windowsill.
The right Senecio Aquarine soil
The plants of the Senecio genus prefer a pH between 5.8 and 6.5. So it is best to always look at the packaging when buying to see which pH value (degree of acidity) is indicated. A loose to medium-coarse potting soil is usually sufficiently enriched with the necessary nutrients.
If you want to make the soil yourself, then it is best to use a humus-rich substrate, which you mix with a little soil and perlite (small volcanic rocks). This makes the Senecio Aquarine resistant to pests, if you have problems here, we recommend Check out our article on Identifying plant pests.
Repot the Senecio Aquarine
Since the plant belongs to the Senecio genus, it is best to plant it in wide, flat plant pots. Half-height pots or hanging baskets are also suitable for this. If you want to repot the Senecio Aquarine into a larger pot, then do this preferably in spring.
It's enough if you take care of it every two to three years, since this type of plant doesn't develop large roots and therefore doesn't need that much space.
Once the old flower pot has properly rooted, pull the plant carefully out of the pot and gently shake the soil out of the plant ball. Now you can plant them in a new pot with fresh soil. A margin of about four centimeters should be left if possible.
Tip: Always hold the Senecio Aquarine by the bottom of the ball. That way you don't damage the sensitive wax layer on the leaves.
Increase the Senecio Aquarine
You can use two different methods for propagation, depending on how big your plant is. You can always use the cuttings method when you cut off a shoot that has become too long.
Always allow the interface to dry well for a day or two beforehand. Then you can plant them in a suitable container. After a few weeks, the first roots have formed and the Senecio Aquarine can appear in all its glory.
Tip: If you plant five to ten cuttings per flower pot, you will get a nice bushy plant.
You can also share larger plants in spring. Simply cut the root ball into two or three pieces and then plant them in new flower pots. Since these pieces of plants already have roots, they can immediately thrive beautifully in the fresh soil.
Is Senecio Aquarine (ragweed) poisonous?
The Senecio Aquarine is one of the poisonous wild plants and indoor plants. All species of the Senecio genus are poisonous. So make sure that dogs or cats, but also children, do not come near the plant and eat it. In the worst case, the substances contained can be liver-damaging and carcinogenic. Since the symptoms of poisoning can often only appear after weeks, one may not always draw the conclusion that one's own houseplant is the trigger.
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