Native to South Africa, Red Apple Ice Plant (Aptenia cordifolia) is an attractive, drought-tolerant succulent marked by long trailing stems with bright green, heart-shaped leaves. Its low growth habit makes it an effective ground cover. Red Apple Ice Plant is suitable for growing in Sunset Climate Zones 12, 13, 15 to 17, 21 to 24 and H1 and H2. Propagate Red Apple Ice Plant by taking stem cuttings in early spring.
Cut a 2- to 4-inch length of stem from a healthy ice plant. Cut the stem with a sharp knife to avoid excessive damage to plant tissues.
Set the cutting aside in a warm, dry place for one to three days, or until the cut stem develops a firm callus.
Fill a pot with a commercial potting soil formulated for cactus and succulents. Alternatively, make potting soil by combining 90 percent clean sand, perlite or pumice with 10 percent compost or regular potting soil.
Water the potting soil thoroughly. Set the pot aside to drain until the potting soil is evenly damp, but not soggy.
Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting stem. Plant the bare stem in the damp potting soil, and then pat the soil around the stem to hold it upright.
Set the pot in a warm, dry room where the cutting is exposed to indirect sunlight. Avoid sunny windowsills, which are too hot and may scorch the cutting.
Water the cutting until water trickles through the drainage hole whenever the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. Allow the pot to drain thoroughly. Never allow the soil to become waterlogged and never let the pot stand in water. Like most succulent plants, ice plant rots quickly in over-wet soil.
Plant ice plant outdoors in a sunny, well-drained location when the plant shows healthy new growth and the roots are at least 1 inch long. Water the plant deeply whenever the soil is completely dry.
- The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Ed. Kathleen Norris Brenzel
- North Dakota State University Extension: Propagation of Cacti and Succulents
- University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program: Cacti and Succulents
- Learn2Grow: Aptenia Cordifolia