Water
This species is actively growing in spring and autumn, and that is when it will require the most water, so check it frequently during those seasons.
Throughout the year, allow the growing medium to dry thoroughly between waterings.
When you do water, water deeply by placing the pot in a bowl and using the bottom watering method.
Let the specimen soak up water for at least 10 minutes or so, then return it to its usual location.
Soil
As with most succulents it’s important to get the growing medium right.
Use a mix formulated for cacti and succulents mixed with plenty of grit.
I like to start with a medium such as Rosy Soil’s Cactus and Succulent Mix, available in four-quart bags from Walmart.
Rosy Soil Cactus and Succulent Mix
Use one part of this mix, with one part additional grit like coarse sand or small-grade pumice.
The pH range should be between 6.6 to 7.3.
Temperature and Humidity
The preferred temperature range for ice plant is between 60 and 80°F.
And while it can handle some frosty weather, it is only hardy down to 24°F.
Ice plant grows best with low to moderate humidity – a range of 40 to 50 percent is ideal.
If your humidity levels are higher than that, be sure to provide adequate air flow around the specimen and use a fan if needed.
Fertilizing
Fertilize once a month during the growing season, using a gentle fertilizer formulated for succulents and cacti, such as Dr. Earth’s Succulence Cactus and Succulent Plant Food.
Dr. Earth Succulence
It’s available in a 16-ounce pump bottle via Arbico Organics.
Repotting
Ice plants should be repotted or have their growing medium changed out every two to three years.
If yours is filling up its pot with roots, you may need to repot sooner than this.
Where to Buy
If your local garden center has an extensive selection of succulents, they may carry ice plant, but be aware that it’s not very widely available.
Ice plant tends to be easier to find from online succulent sellers.
Ice Plant
You’ll find D. lehmannii specimens in two- or four- inch, plastic or clay pots, available from the Succulents Box Store via Amazon.
D. lehmannii f. variegata is the variegated form and has beautiful, chunky, yellow and green leaves.
This variegated succulent is much harder to find than the straight species.
Propagation
You can propagate ice plant from seed or via stem cuttings. Unlike many succulents, you can’t propagate these from leaf cuttings.
From Seed
Growing from seed is easy but it’s pretty slow and you may have trouble finding seeds.
If you manage to lay your hands on some seeds, here’s how to sow them:
- Start by filling clean, sterilized seed starting trays or 3.5-inch nursery pots with growing medium. Make sure the growing medium fills the pots or trays to about an inch of the rim.
- Scatter the ice plant seeds on the surface, mist with a water bottle, and cover with a humidity dome.
- You can use a transparent plastic bag as a humidity dome for a small number of pots, or place several pots or a tray into a clear plastic bin with a lid.
- Place the covered trays or pots in a location with indirect bright light and keep it warm, between 75 to 80°F, using a heat mat if needed.
- Keep the potting medium moist but not soggy, watering from the bottom or with a spray bottle.
- The seeds should germinate within a couple of weeks, though there may be some stragglers that are slower to pop up.
- When most of the seeds have germinated or a month passes, start to acclimate the young seedlings to less protective conditions, gradually lowering humidity.
- Remove from the heat mat and gradually increase light exposure, but keep the soil moist.
Continue caring for them in the same containers until they reach their one-year birthday – after that point, you can consider transplanting.
Learn more about growing succulents from seed here.
From Stem Cuttings
If you’d like to propagate ice plant from cuttings, wait until spring or early autumn when the plant is actively growing.
Take stem cuttings that are at least three inches long, and remove the bottom inch of leaves.
Apply some rooting hormone and then set the cutting in a dry location to allow the stems to callus over for a few days.
Choose your pots according to the number of cuttings you’re starting. Three cuttings will fit nicely into a two- to three-inch pot.
