The Pickle Plant ‘Senecio Stapeliiformis’ (Kleinia Stapeliiformis)

Family	Asteraceae
Genus	Kleinia
Scientific Name	Kleinia Stapeliiformis
Other Names	Senecio stapeliiformis/ Pickle Plant/ Candlestick Plant
Growth Season	Spring and fall
Preferred Temperature	Its ideal temperature ranges between 62-85F
Hardiness Zone	USDA Zones 9b – 11b
Average Mature Height & Width	It is a reed-like structure and grows to an average of ten inches and a width of about 0.8 to 1 inch wide.
Dormancy	It is usually dormant in winter.
Toxicity	It is not toxic to humans or pets.

Pickle Plant’s Physical Characteristics

This is a unique house plant with an interesting structure. Its stems look like pencils and with soft spines and purple-green markings on the stem. Each of the stems has four to six groves along which the soft spines grow. There may be a sprinkling of pink on the spine. It produces large, showy flowers; they are red or orange and appear like hawkweed.

These stems branch at the base to produce several stems that may branch further as the plant grows upwards. The roots are shallow, and they are part of this succulent’s water storage system. They are vulnerable to root rot if you keep them on waterlogged soil. Too much water makes them easily attacked by bacteria and fungi.

Leaves grow directly from the stem. Large, light green, velvety, and almost circular fruits have feathery bristles that work as parachutes to carry the cylindrical fruit to disperse seeds when it is ready.

Kleinia Stapeliiformis Care

You should water the plant sparingly during its growth seasons and in summer when evaporation is rife. Reduce the water you give it in winter to just a little to keep it from drying. Only water the succulent after water from the previous drink has dried up.

The ideal pottage should be well-draining and contain a good amount of gravel and sand. You should add fertilizer lightly because too much can cause the succulent to be leggy. Add fertilizer only when you find your succulent showing signs of malnutrition.

DO YOU KNOW? Caring (propagating, pruning/trimming, beheading, watering, …) is a set of skills that is widely applicable to succulents. Read the in-depth guide here >>

Richard Miller – Succulent City

Pickle Plant Growth

This plant doesn’t have much vegetation, and it, therefore, doesn’t require a lot of trimming. Remove some branches if it becomes too top-heavy, as then it risks breaking. Also, the stems can get floppy if they grow too long, making it necessary to cut them back. The best time to prune is early spring so that they can recover during the growing season.

Repot it if you notice it getting root bound, the minerals in the soil are depleted, or the soil has become impervious due to loss of silt.