“Joe” Pachypodium Planting & Care

Plant Information:

“Joe” Pachypodium (Pachypodium lamerii) is a popular drought-resistant succulent and is known for its thick trunk covered with silver thorns and beautiful flowers. It grows fairly quickly and can attain a height of 3 feet in a few years. All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested (the plant is not toxic to fish) and the thorns are quite sharp, so please be careful when handling the plant.

Planting Seeds

1. Remove 2-3 seeds from the plastic bag and soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Rinse the Grow Media Pad in water and gently squeeze all water from pad.

2. Insert Pachypodium seeds into the center area of the Media Pad, sharp narrow end pointing down. Push seed into media pad until the top of the seed is flat with pad.

3. Insert larger grow wick into media tray until top of wick is level with top of grow tray. Place Grow Media Pad in the center of the Vita Grow Tray and cover seeds with clear dome.

4. Place smaller gravel/stones around edges of Grow Tray and Media Pad.

www.aquaticvita.com

Seeds will germinate anywhere from 5 days to 21 days. Be patient!

Soak 24 hrs. Rinse & Squeeze

Insert Wick

“Joe” Pachypodium Planting & Care

www.aquaticvita.com

Watering:Pachypodium is a drought-resistant succulent

and does not require a lot of water. Once seeds

have sprouted, you can remove the grow wick

and use it periodically to just keep the media pad

moist.

Lighting:Pachypodium does best in bright light, so

ensure your Vita aquarium receives plenty of

indirect sunlight or use our Vita LED light.

Temperature:Average room temperatures between 60-

75°F/16-24°C are ideal. Seeds will sprout

faster in warmer temperatures closer to

75°F/24°C. If you

transplant your Pachypodium into a pot and

have it outdoors for the summer, don't worry

-- it can take the heat. Just bring the potted

plant back inside when the temperature drops.

Transplanting:When your Pachypodium reaches 4” in height,

carefully remove the plant and media pad from

Grow Tray to a pot with soil. In warmer regions,

Plant Care & Growing

Note: Once seeds plants are 1/2” tall, remove clear

humidity dome and cover entire media with gravel.

Remove wick to avoid overwatering

Troubleshooting & TipsSeeds will not sproutDon’t give up, be patient. Pachypodium seeds can take up to 30 days to sprout. Warmer tempera

-tures above 75°F/24°C will decrease sprouting time.

Leaves turning yellow/falling offDuring normal growing season, this indicates overwatering or underwatering. If pad is wet (not moist),

remove the grow wick. If pad is completely dry, insert grow wick or spray plant/pad with water.

Do not let dry out and do not keep too wet. In winter, its OK to let it dry as the leaves will turn yellow

and drop off - DON’T PANIC! Leaves will grow back when the weather warms up.