Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum)
Care, watering, light and tips for Ice plant on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Aizoaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 15 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Ice plant
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, known as krystallblad, is a small annual or short-lived perennial succulent native to arid regions. It is characterized by its fleshy, cylindrical leaves, often covered with small crystalline bladders that give it a glistening, translucent appearance. It is ideal for ground cover in rock gardens, xeriscaping, or in hanging baskets where its pale white or pink flowers can stand out.
Native range
Mediterranean region, including Southern Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia.
Care tips
It requires full sun to thrive and produce abundant blooms. Watering should be sparse, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings, as it is very susceptible to rot from overwatering. It prefers very well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils, with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Avoid waterlogging at all costs, especially in winter, to prevent fungal diseases.
How to save a dying Ice plant
- Warning signs
- Soft, watery stems, yellow or translucent leaves, rot at the base. Indicates overwatering.
- First aid
- Remove plant, check roots. Cut off rotten parts. Air dry for a day. Replant in dry, well-draining substrate.
- What kills it
- Overwatering is its worst enemy. Tolerates drought, not waterlogging. Avoid pots without drainage.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if rot isn't too advanced and healthy stems remain. Propagate healthy cuttings as plan B.