Curio radicans (Blue Pickle)

Southern African range and dry habitats

Curio radicans is native to Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa, where its range includes the Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Provinces.

It grows in dry, open habitats, including rocky ground and sheltered positions among other vegetation.

Crown growth, trailing stems and Blue Pickle care

• Light: Place Blue Pickle close to a bright window and let light reach the top of the pot as well as the hanging strands. Introduce direct sun in short periods and increase the exposure gradually to keep growth compact.
• Watering: Allow the mix to dry through between waterings. Once the pot feels light, water the whole root ball thoroughly and let excess water drain fully.
• Keeping the top full: Pin a few healthy nodes onto the surface when you want a fuller crown. Rooted nodes can grow new shoots and help fill the top of the pot while established stems continue to trail.
• Potting mix: Choose a coarse succulent mix and a pot with a drainage hole so excess water can escape quickly.
• Temperature and humidity: Indoor temperatures of 10–25 °C suit Blue Pickle. Average to dry household air with gentle airflow helps the pot dry evenly.
• Repotting: Move it into fresh mix once roots occupy most of the pot, the mix becomes compacted or some areas stay wet much longer than others. Choose a container only a little larger.
• Feeding: Feed lightly with a dilute succulent fertiliser while the plant is actively growing.
• Propagation: Stem sections root readily when several nodes touch fresh gritty mix.
• Handling: A high shelf or hanger keeps the plant safely beyond the reach of children and pets. Wear gloves when cutting stems, as Curio sap can irritate skin.

Blue Pickle symptoms and first checks

• Leaves becoming deeply wrinkled: Deep wrinkling usually follows prolonged dryness. If the leaves remain wrinkled after a thorough soak, root damage may be involved. Check the roots and potting mix; water thoroughly after the mix dries, provided the roots still feel firm.
• Dark soft stems or translucent mushy leaves: This usually means the plant stayed wet for too long and started to rot. Cut decayed tissue away with a clean disinfected blade, working back to firm healthy growth. Discard the affected sections and re-root healthy stems in fresh gritty mix.
• Long thin stems with wide leaf spacing: Low light can stretch the stems and increase the gaps between leaves. Gradually give the crown more light so new stems grow with closer leaf spacing.
• Dry beige patches on exposed leaves: A rapid jump in direct sun can scorch recently shaded foliage. Place it in bright diffused light, then increase direct sun gradually.
• Cottony clusters, sticky new growth or firm scale-like bumps: These signs can point to mealybugs, aphids or scale insects. Inspect the crown, leaf bases and stem junctions closely. Isolate the pot, remove visible pests and apply a treatment labelled for the identified pest. Follow the repeat interval on the label.

When several signs appear together, Foliage Factory support can prioritise the next check.

Curio radicans is toxic to cats and dogs

• Keep this plant away from cats and dogs that may chew it.
• It may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can damage the liver after enough plant material is swallowed.
• Possible signs include vomiting, weakness or delayed liver problems. Contact a veterinarian promptly after suspected ingestion.

Why is it called Curio radicans?

Curio is linked to the Latin curiosus, meaning curious, in reference to the group's unusual forms. The epithet radicans is Latin for taking root and refers to stems that form roots where their nodes touch suitable ground.

Paul V. Heath established the genus Curio in 1997 in Calyx, volume 5, page 136.

Carl Linnaeus the Younger first described it as Cacalia radicans in 1782 in Supplementum Plantarum, page 354. Paul V. Heath later placed it in Curio as Curio radicans in 1999 in Calyx, volume 6, page 55.