Everything You Need To Know About Anacampseros Rufescens

Anacampseros Rufescens is a small perennial succulent, it grows up to 4 inches or 10 cm in height. Anacampseros Rufescens produces colorful foliage with shades of green, yellow-green, pink, and purple. This makes it an excellent choice for adding color in your garden full of green plants. This succulent has thin filament or white hairs around its stems. You can add this gorgeous plant in your succulent collection. This plant is the largest among the Anacampseros species.

This plant has narrow, pointed, fleshy leaves that form a spiraling rosette as it grows. When the plant is placed in shaded or dark areas, it’s leaves turn green. On the other hand, if exposed to sunlight, the leaves turn reddish-brown to purple.

While the plant is growing, it produces more rosettes and spreads out like a mat or clumps and develops a thick base that grows roots, which serves as an anchor of the plant. Anacampseros Rufescens blooms pink to rose-purple that grows from 4 inches stems. This plant grows slowly and needs to be at least 21 cm in diameter before it blooms flowers.

Anacampseros Rufescens is hardy in Regions 9a-11b. It prefers growing in areas with temperatures that range from 20 degrees Fahrenheit up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This succulent can tolerate mild frost but not for long periods. For individuals living in USDA hardiness 9a-11b, you can leave your plant outdoors for the whole year.

For those who live in areas with extremely low temperatures during wintertime, it is best to plant this succulent in containers or pots. The plants can be brought outdoors during summertime and during the winter months, you can place them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, you can use frost cloths like this or place them in a mini greenhouse if you have one, so they can survive the cold winter.

Light conditions

The Anacampseros Rufescens can be kept in shaded areas or areas with sunlight. Do not keep it in a dark area for a long time as they tend to become greener as a result. If exposed to bright light, this plant produces colorful foliage, it also encourages the plant to flower. Keep the plant protected from too much sunlight; you can place it in an area with bright filtered light so it will not have a sunburn.

When the plant is kept indoors, you can place it in an area exposed to bright sunlight like the east-facing window in your home. South and west-facing windows can also work. If the plant does not receive enough sunlight, it may suffer from etiolation. It will elongate and stretch towards a light source. You can use grow lights like this. To keep your Anacampseros Rufescens succulent happy it needs at least 4-6 hours of sunlight exposure daily. It will not survive if it does not get enough sunlight.

When growing this succulent outdoors, it prefers light shade to full sun exposure. They grow best in areas that receive bright partial sunlight. They can tolerate full sun exposure but it needs to be acclimated gradually to prevent it from getting sunburnt. Younger plants are more prone to sun damage compared to fully grown plants. It is better to expose your succulent to the morning sun because intense afternoon sun can be quite hot. If there is a heatwave in your area, keep your plant in a shaded place or you can use sunshades like this.

Watering

Avoid overwatering as it can cause the plant to rot. During wintertime, you must allow the plant to rest as it undergoes winter dormancy. Keep it dry and avoid watering it during the winter months. During early spring, you can water the plant gradually until late spring when the plant is in full growth. It is best to soak the plant during watering and allow the soil to become completely dry before watering it again.

Watering this succulent will depend on the climate where you live. The Anacampseros Rufescens can survive in dry conditions. While it needs watering to thrive, it does not need too much. During summer months, you can water it every 7-10 days. You can also water every 10-14 days when the weather is cool during fall and springtime.
You must check the top part of the soil and allow it to dry thoroughly before watering again. Always remember that you can always underwater a succulent and compensate with increased watering as needed. Overwatering can cause fungal diseases, root rot, or even death.

Soil

The Sunrise succulent requires gritty well-draining soil and organic material. You can use a succulent/cactus potting mix with perlite for better draining of water. You can also use sandy soil, by mixing the cactus soil mix with coarse sand, 2:1 ratio. You can also try combining succulent soil mix, sand, and perlite.

You can use a terracotta container because it has drainage holes and it will drain water properly. You must keep the plant from staying in water for a long time. Do not place the plant with a tray of water as it can cause the plant to have root rot, fungal infections, and scars.

Feeding or Fertilizer

You can apply fertilizer with high potassium during the growing season and dilute it to 1/4 potency and mix it in a watering can for better application.

You can repot the sunrise succulent once a year so you can check its overall health and prevent it from outgrowing its pot. Just make sure to be careful when transferring it on a new container as its roots can be damaged easily. Remember to use new potting soil when repotting it.

Pest and diseases

The Sunrise Succulent can be attractive to different types of insects, but if properly taken care of, it can be pest-free. Make sure to grow in a cactus/succulent soil mix rich in minerals with good ventilation and preferable light conditions. If the plant suddenly exhibits any signs of health decline, check it for any pest infestation. Pests can cause stunted growth, scarring, or even the plant’s death.

Mealybugs – Mealybugs are often seen in the new growth of succulents, they can be seen hiding among the leaves and it causes disfiguring of the plant. When they are found on the roots, they can multiply and if not removed immediately, they can cause the decline of the plants. The common sign of mealybugs infestation is withering of leaves and if not caught as soon as possible, it can even cause the death of the succulent. Get rid of these pests by applying isopropyl alcohol on the affected areas.

Red spider mites – Red spider mites are an eighth of an inch long. They live on the underside of the leaves or the areas where the leaves and the stem meet. They spin webs to protect them from predators. They feed on the succulent’s body by puncturing the top layer of the plant’s skin and suck on its juices. A whole colony of red spider mites can cause a plant to wither in just a few days. You can use neem oil or insecticidal soap to get rid of these pests.

This succulent is easy to cultivate and propagate. You can propagate it through leaves, stem cuttings, or seeds. Seeds grow within 14-21 days after planting it, and it must be kept in temperature around 21 degrees Celsius or 69.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a container with drainage holes to allow better draining of water.