How to care for Albuca spiralis ‘Frizzle Shizzle’ indoors

Albuca spiralis or ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ is an unusual and amusing plant. It is great as a quirky addition to your collection of favorite plants. In addition, this succulent is relatively easy to care for, making it an ideal plant for beginner florists.

Overview of Albuca spiralis

Albuca spiralis belongs to the Asparagus family and is a small geophyte, growing singly or forming small groups by division. Under natural conditions, the succulent grows on the territory of South Africa. According to the 2014 International List of Recognized Plant Genera, the genus Albuca has about 160 species. Its species name is derived from the Latin word albucus, “royal curls”. The flower belongs to the perennial succulents, being a bulbous plant. Succulent has several names. We are all familiar with the most common one – ‘Frizzle Shizzle’, it is also called a helicopter plant because of its twirling leaves. The name ‘Spiral grass’ is common. Sometimes you may hear Albuca called a ‘Slime Lily’ because of the mucilaginous sap it secretes.

Frizzle Shizzle has a round bulb, colored with a white hue. It is slightly pole-shaped and up to 2 in (5 cm) in diameter. The root system is fibrous type, colored in a white shade. Leaves on the flower from 15 to 20 units, they form an original root rosette. The leaves can reach no more than 6 in (15 cm) in height. The green leaves are fleshy, with an original linear shape and a pleasant greenish-gray color. They curl into a spiral, reaching up to 1 ft (35 cm) long when straightened. The main distinguishing feature of the succulent is that it rolls up all of its leaves in a serpentine shape. This occurs when the plant needs to prevent the loss of excess fluid.

Albuca flowering

The flowering stem reaches up to 2 ft (0.6 m) and has a bluish color. The inflorescence is of a brush-like configuration, with 10 to 20 flowers, up to 1 in (3 cm) in diameter. Each floret has a pedicel up to 2 in (4 cm). Small, pointed bracts can also be discerned. The beautiful petals have a greenish stripe with a yellowish border.

Note that there are varieties with fragrant flowers with a characteristic yellowish color. The fragrance is characterized by a vanilla and plum hue. At the end of flowering, fruits are formed, they have the form of a capsule, inside there are seeds with a glossy black hue.

Care of Albuca spiralis indoors

Let’s describe the tips for growing this succulent in more detail.

Soil

Sandy mixed soil is ideal for your succulent. Albuca spiralis is native to the sandy region of Africa, and its bulbs grow best in sandy soil. A little compost can be added to this substrate, but no more than 50% because it will hold moisture. You can also add perlite or pumice.

Light

Albuca spiralis can be placed in full sun or in a partially shady spot on the south side of the house. This unusual but attractive succulent requires a draught-proof location, away from heating batteries. The succulent’s attractive spiral leaves are greatly affected by the amount of sunlight. Simply put, there will be fewer curls on the leaves in low light conditions. But direct sunlight or very high temperatures can burn your little plant.

Temperature

In summer, the temperature should be between 77 and 86 °F (25 and 30 °C). In winter the succulent needs a cool temperature of 55 – 60 °F (13 – 15 ° C).

Wanting to get a full flowering Frizzle Shizzle, in late autumn the pot with the plant is placed in a cool room. The daytime temperature should not exceed 60 °F (15 ° C), and the nighttime temperature should not exceed 50 °F (10 ° C).

How to water Albuca spiralis

Albuca spiralis is a bulbous plant and is more at risk of bulb rot. Frizzle sizzles need to be watered differently than other succulents.
Most plants need more water when it’s heat season. But the creeping Albuca needs the least water during this period. From the beginning of summer to the end of the heat season, you want your soil to be barely moist to the touch.
As the cool season begins, start watering Albuca constantly. Keep the soil slightly moist, but not damp. Soil that is too moist can cause the bulbs to rot. Make sure excess moisture drains easily.

How and what to fertilize

Albuca spiraliform needs abundant mineral fertilizing during vegetation. Complex compositions that are used for succulents will be suitable. You will need to fertilize throughout the growing season with a balanced and diluted liquid fertilizer.

Repotting

Replanting a bulb plant is not common. Frizzle sizzle creates new bulbs, but it takes time. Most likely, transplanting can be done in its second year of growth. If you will not be dividing the bulbs, choose a pot about 2 inches larger than the current pot. Carefully remove the plant and remove excess soil from the roots to expose the bulbs. Carefully inspect and remove rotten bulbs and roots.
Add fresh soil to the new pot. Carefully place the plant in the soil at the same height as it was previously growing and tamp it down around the Albuca.

Propagation methods of Albuca spiralis

There are two effective methods of propagation – bulb and seed. Let’s consider them in more detail.

Propagation of Frizzle Shizzle by seeds

Seeds are taken exclusively fresh, because otherwise – it will not be possible to see sprouts. Sow them on the surface of the soil used for succulents. Then the container is covered with a plastic. To germinate the seeds you will need a bright and warm place (air temperature should be 80 – 84 °F (27-28 °C). You will be able to see the first sprouts after 15-20 days. Watering is done very carefully, so as not to overwater the soil. At first, the leaves will be straight, and then begin to acquire a spiral shape. After a year, the young plants will form a small bulb. Such Albuca will flower only 3 years after sowing.

Propagation of the succulent by bulbs

Albuca spiralis bulbs are carefully separated from the mother plant at the time of transplanting. After that, they are planted in a specially prepared container, its diameter should be up to 3 inches (8 cm). This method of propagation allows the new plant to retain all the properties and features of its parent (this applies to the smell and curl of the leaves).

Problems in growing Albuca spiralis

Frizzle Shizzle is considered fairly resistant to various diseases, but still problems can occur in cultivation.

Albuca diseases

Most often, flower growers are faced with rotting of the bulbs. This occurs with excessive moisture in the soil. Save such a plant is problematic, so it is better to perform prevention of such – carefully moisten the soil, do not allow stagnant moisture.

Indoors, Albuca sometimes suffers from fungal diseases of bulbs:

• Root rot – During the disease, the bulb becomes soft and rots;
• Grey rot (Botrytis) – the bulb and the base of the leaves are covered with a grayish coating;
• Fusariosis – during mechanical damage to the bulb, the bulb begins to darken, then the plant rots completely.

The succulent can also suffer from browning of the leaves. This is caused by rust. Convex spots appear on the leaves, which begin to increase in size, leading to the falling off of the leaves. To combat such a problem, it is better to use fungicides.

Sometimes Frizzle Shizzle does not curl the leaves. This is due to stagnant water. Give her enough light, and adjust the watering. Additionally, you should remove such factors as the presence of draughts, sharp temperature fluctuations.

Pests of the succulent Albuca spiralis

Sometimes the bush can be damaged by pests. The most common is the spider mite. To combat it, fungicides or Neem oil are used.

References epicgardening.com