Gasteria 'Frosty'
21st September 2017
Gasteria is one of those genera that attract the attention of specialists. Nutters. Specialists.
I have a passing attraction. If I had a warmer greenhouse if could become the perplexing fascination of tiny pots
and wrinkled elephantine skins, but I haven't. From time to time I have had entire collections destroyed
by a hard winter. Sadly, I think it is a process that will continue.
So this is 'Frosty', a fun, milky leaved cultivar. Originally thought to be a form of
G. obtusa but now thought to be a hybrid or possibly cultivar of G. brachyphylla.
It was introduced about 50 years ago,
details of its origin are now obscured.
I am growing all of my forms in pure gravel. This keeps them very dry in winter
and ensures the summer growth is hard and compact. I also hope that the stone will act as a heat resevoir in winter
and perhaps help to protect them from a light frost. Time will tell.