Aptenia Aizoacea : an exotic indoor flower

Aptenia is a popular indoor flower among gardeners. It is pretty and looks good when it is flowering and after.

This houseplant is a succulent. Its green stems grow fast. The plant recovers quickly if stems break. Small, fleshy leaves cover the stems. The leaves are heart-shaped and bright green.

In nature, these plants can grow several meters long. At home, they are usually cut to stay between 20-40 centimeters.

This indoor flower blooms from mid-spring to the end of summer. This long bloom is why it's well-liked. The flowers only open fully in well-lit rooms. In winter, the plant rests. It uses these cold months to get stronger.

There are a few main types of aptenia that grow well indoors.

This type is very popular. It grows fast. The plant quickly becomes big and spreads out. Its branches are fleshy, and the leaves are large and juicy. The leaves are shaped like small hearts, which gives the plant its name.

Small but pretty flowers grow on the stems. They can be light pink or dark crimson.

This type has smaller leaves and shorter stems. Its leaves have small spots. It is sometimes called variegated.

This flower is harder to care for than other types. It also gets sick more often.

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