My Tylecodon cacalioides: how I got its caudex to fatten up

Ever since I got hooked on caudiciform plants, Tylecodon cacalioides has become one of my favorites. It comes from the arid regions of South Africa, and what draws me in most is its thick caudex and those branches that look like living sculptures. On top of that, its cycle is the opposite of what you'd expect: it grows in winter and rests in summer, so you have to learn to read it well.

The first thing I learned is that it loves light. At home I keep it next to a very bright window, with gentle direct sun or bright indirect light. Watering depends on the season: during its growing period, from winter to spring, I water moderately and let the substrate dry out between waterings. In summer, when it goes dormant and drops its leaves, I almost stop watering: once a month or less. Overwatering is enemy number one for these plants.

For the substrate I use a cactus and succulent mix with added coarse sand or perlite so it drains well. It handles heat without any trouble, but not hard frosts: in winter I make sure it doesn't drop below 5 °C. I only fertilize during the growing season, with a cactus fertilizer diluted to half strength.

What I'm most obsessed with, like every caudex lover, is getting the caudex to fatten up. Here's what works for me: regular watering during the growing season without ever leaving it soggy, plenty of light for compact growth, pruning weak branches so the energy goes to the stem, and a pot that isn't too big. At each repotting, every two or three years, I expose the base a little so it gets light, and I use a fertilizer that's low in nitrogen and rich in potassium and phosphorus.

Caring for a Tylecodon is an exercise in patience, but watching that thick trunk gradually take shape is one of the most rewarding things this hobby has given me. If you like caudex plants, I highly recommend it.

Source: Caudexista