Adromischus Maculatus ( Calico Hearts )

Adromischus Maculatus is an adorable succulent that when grown in a pot might resemble an order of baked purple yam chips inside a serving bowl.

And who can blame you if the sight of this succulent makes you hungry? The leaves of Adromischus are flat, oval-shaped, purple-colored, and accented with white spots.

If saying ‘Adromischus Maculatus’ is a mouthful, you can ask the nursery for either ‘Calico Hearts’ or ‘Chocolate Drop’.

This variety of succulent grows well as an addition to an outdoor garden or as a houseplant to adorn your home. You will get your guests talking about Chocolate Drop when they see this charming succulent grace your living room.

A fully-grown Calico Hearts can reach a height and width of 20cm (8”). This succulent is native to South Africa and is a member of the Crassulaceae family.

General Information

Also known as: Calico Hearts, Chocolate Drop
Plant Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: South Africa
Height: 20cm (8”)
Exposure: Up to 6 hours of partial to full sunlight.
Water Needs: Use the soak and dry method; give the soil a good soaking then wait for it to be completely dry out before watering. This might mean 7 to 10 days between watering schedules.
Soil Type: Well-draining soil such as cactus mix with added gritty materials like coarse sand and perlite.
Soil pH: 6.0

How to Grow and Care for Adromischus Maculatus ( Calico Hearts )

If you decided to grow Adromischus Maculatus in your garden or as a houseplant, then you’ve made an excellent choice because this succulent is easy to care for.

The best time to plant Calico Hearts is during the spring and fall months. This isn’t a cold-hardy succulent and might not survive the frosty weather when planted outdoors.

Plant Chocolate Drop in a ceramic or terracotta pot that can be moved indoors if the temperature in your area falls below -6.7° C or 20° F.

Sunlight

Calico Hearts needs at most 6 hours of morning or late afternoon sunlight every day to stay healthy and to bring out its colors.

You can plant Chocolate Drop in an area of your garden that gets partial or full sunlight. Always avoid the scorching rays of the midday sun as they will scorch your succulent plant’s leaves.

The same lighting rule will apply if Adromischus is grown indoors. Place it near a window that gets 4 to 6 hours of partial sunlight. If the amount of sunlight is an issue, buy Calico Hearts a Grow Light.

Watering

Maintaining the proper watering schedule is perhaps the most important part of growing and caring for Adromischus Maculatus. This is where many first-time succulent hobbyists make a mistake because they water the soil before it has gone completely dry.

Similar to most types of succulents, the soak and dry method works best for Calico Hearts. The soak and dry method means that when watering, you give the soil a thorough drenching.

If Chocolate Drop is grown in a pot, you’ll know that you’ve given the soil enough water when you see the drain holes at the bottom leaking out.

The ‘dry’ aspect of the method means you only water the soil when you can prove it has 100% dried out. Well-draining soil usually will dry out within 7 to 10 days. A big factor would be the season.

Soil retains moisture longer during the winter months and therefore, less watering is required compared to the summer and spring months.

To be sure, insert a stick into the soil. If the stick comes out dry, the soil is ready for soaking.

What happens if you overwater Adromischus? If you give the soil water while it’s still wet, the roots of Calico Heart will rot and could make your plant sick or die.

Don’t worry about missing watering dates for Chocolate Bomb. Like typical succulent plants, it stores water in its leaves and stems. Adromischus Maculatus can survive extended periods without water.

Pot and Soil

As discussed in the previous section, keeping Adromischus Maculatus in a moist environment for a long period of time can be fatal.

Your choice of pot and soil for Calico Hearts must be ones that allow fast drainage of excess water.

Pots made of ceramic and terracotta are ideal for succulents because the materials make it easy for moisture to escape from the soil. The pot must have drain holes at the bottom to enable excess water to leak out.

Place a tray underneath the pot to catch the water that comes out. It’s very important to throw away the excess water to keep the roots from sitting in a moist environment.

Cactus soil mix is a good choice for Adromischus because it drains very well and promotes air circulation. It’s a good idea to add gritty materials such as perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to further improve drainage.

How to Propagate Adromischus Maculatus ( Calico Hearts )

Adromischus Maculatus can be propagated by using its leaves. The important thing to remember is that when you remove the leaf, make sure no part of it is left on the stem.

A clean removal of the leaf from the stem will assure you of a successful propagation of Calico Hearts.

Method 1 – Leaves

Step 1: Perform a clean twist and pull of a healthy leaf from the stem. You can also cut it off with a sterilized knife or garden scissors.

Step 2: Place the leaves in a warm area where they can dry out and develop calluses. This process will take around 2 to 3 days.

Step 3: Once the leaves are covered with hard calluses, you can place them on top of well-draining, fresh cactus soil.

Step 4: Keep an eye out for the roots. Until such time that the roots have sprouted, make sure the soil is frequently moistened with light misting.

Step 5: When the roots have fully sprouted, apply the soak and dry method and water the soil only when it’s dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated on June 9, 2022 by Sofia Lara