The Sand Rose (Anacampseros Rufescens) – less popularly recognized as the ‘Sunrise Succulent’ is a beautiful, low-growing succulent with multi-coloured leaves. Endemic to South Africa, this genus is a perennial family of succulent plants that are tiny in size. There are about 100 species native to South Africa.
The Sand Rose is a low-growing succulent, known for its rose-colored foliage. The leaves are rainbow colored featuring green, yellow-green, purple, and pink foliage. Thin white hairs sprout around the plant, which looks attractively unusual and utterly charming.
How to Grow the Sand Rose (Anacampseros Rufescens)
The Sand Rose can be grown and enjoyed both indoors and out. The most important thing is to give it a well-draining potting mix and enough light.
Allowing this plant to sit in moist soil while receiving insufficient sunlight is one definite way of killing it.
1. Soil Requirements
The Sand Rose plant requires aeration and well-drained, gritty soil. A DIY mixture can be made by mixing cactus potting mix with perlite in a 2:1 ratio.
In places with higher humidity, a 1:1 ratio might be preferable to maximize drainage. A 2:1 blend of cactus mixes or potting soil with sand is another option. Additionally, you can mix equal parts cactus mix, perlite, and coarse sand.
2. Sunlight Requirements
In the presence of bright light, the plant displays lovely colored foliage. The Sand Rose plant thrives in partly bright sun to partial shade. Make sure to put it in the brightest room if you are growing it indoors.
Moreover, West and South facing windows are also suitable as the second option. For healthy foliage, a minimum of 4 hours of bright light necessary. However, in the absence of natural light, you can keep the plant around a fluorescent bulb to fulfill its requirements.
A. Lighting Requirements in Planting Indoors
If you are keeping the plant indoors, make sure it is in the brightest part of the house. Consider a window that faces east.
Windows with a south or west orientation may also function. You may have to move the plant around a few times to find the optimum position for it.
Move the plant to a brighter spot if it begins to suffer from a lack of light. If the plant begins to elongate and stretch out, it is indicating that it is not receiving enough light.
Etiolation is the term for this procedure. The plant is physically reaching to reach the source of light. This results in stunted and poor growth.
It requires roughly 4-6 hours of strong light per day to be truly happy. For long periods, this plant will not tolerate insufficient lighting. It would lose its vivid colors and turn a bland green color instead.
Consider employing a grow lamp if your indoor space does not receive adequate lighting no matter where you relocate the plant.
Grow lights can augment your plants’ lighting needs, particularly during the long, dark winter months. Here are some of our suggestions for grow lights.
B. Sunlight Requirements in Planting Outdoors
Moderate shade is preferable to full sun for the Sand Rose. It thrives in regions with a lot of bright, partly sunlight. It may also endure full sun but must first be acclimated to avoid burning.
Young plants are more susceptible to harsh sun rays than the more mature plants. However, when kept in the shade for too long, the plant loses its vivid hues and turns greener. This is because the plant’s brilliant coloring is brought out by the sun.
You should condition the plant by gradually increasing the quantity of sunshine it receives. Until it is fully accustomed to the more intense sun before bringing it outdoors or increasing the amount of sunlight it receives.
Start with the morning sun because it may be brighter, but it has less intensity of heat than the relentless afternoon sun. Succulents are certainly more tolerant of it than the more powerful afternoon sun.
Remember that even though the plant is used to full sun, it might still get sunburned during a heatwave or extremely hot weather. Sunshades are a lifeline for plants during the hot summer months, especially when temperatures are above 100°F (37.8°C).
3. Water Requirements
The plant has a medium to low water demand. In the summer and spring, simply water the plant when the soil becomes semi-dry. On hot days, watering only once or twice a week is sufficient.
However, in the winter, allow the soil to dry. In these days of inactivity, once every two weeks seems to suffice.
The Sand Rose plant hates being in moist soil. As a result, don’t overwater it or it will decay.
4. Temperature Requirements
The Sand Rose plant prefers temperatures between 70- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit (21 and 26 degrees Celsius).
This plant can withstand a light frost of roughly 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 degrees Celsius). However, in milder climates, it is preferable to store it in containers.
On colder days, you should move it to a warmer location.
5. Propagation
The easiest and quickest way to get new the Sand Rose Succulent plant is to propagate from offsets or puppies. Propagation from stem-cuttings is also an option.
However, it is a time-consuming process that is best suited to those who are patient.
6. Fertilizer Requirement
Although fertilization isn’t required, providing your plants with the nutrients they require will help them grow properly and bloom.
Plants expend a lot of energy to develop flowers, therefore supplementing their nutritional needs during the blossoming season will help.
Fertilizing during the active growing season, or during the spring and summer months, is the most popular recommendation.
The fertilizer should be administered every two weeks at a quarter or half strength. Becoming less near the end of the fall season and throughout the winter months. A balanced fertilizer blend diluted to half strength is appropriate and widely used.
Blends of fertilizers designed specifically for cactus and succulents can also be used.
Sand Rose (Anacampseros Rufescens) Origin and Name
The Sand Rose (the most popular common name), Sunrise Succulent are popular names for Anacampseros rufescens.
The term ‘Anacampseros’ relates to an ancient name for a certain type of herb. Typically, these plants are under-shrubs or sprawling herbs that can form dense mats.
They develop in small clusters that gradually spread out through offsets. The leaves are a rainbow of colors, featuring green, yellow-green, purple, and pink foliage. The upper surface of the leaves of this mini succulent is green, while the underside is purple.
Around the plant, thin white hairs may be seen sprouting. This unusual-looking plant will undoubtedly bring charm and color to any setting.
The succulent leaves are small and alternating. In addition, the form is either round or lanceolate. These herbs are associated with the re-establishment of lost love in folklore.
Furthermore, representatives of this genus have employed it in medicine, beer production, hydrolysis, and the production of medicinal drugs.
Folklore would have us believe it’s a love charm that brings back lost love.
Final Thoughts
The exquisite hues of pink and green on the leaves, which change depending on the amount of light, add to its attraction.
The plant is relatively simple to maintain. Bright indirect sunshine and water on dry soil are the two most basic requirements.
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited By
Patricia Godwin
