Complete Care for a Red Apple Ice Plant

Climate

• Native to South Africa, red apple ice plants thrive in warm climates. Elsewhere, they are cultivated as annual plants or even as indoor plants. Grow them outdoors as perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 and grow them as annuals in cooler climates.

Soil and Water

• Red apple ice plants have succulent leaves. They grow better in dry conditions than wet. In fact, overly wet soil causes root rot, a fungal disease that destroys the roots of the plant and eventually kills it. Only water this plant when the soil is completely dry. Outdoor plants should be located in sandy or rocky soil that is well-draining. Grow indoor plants in planting medium that contains a large percentage of sand and perlite as opposed to loam.

Light and Fertilizer

• Aptenia cordifolia plants thrive in full sunlight. The succulent leaves may scorch, however, if exposed to relentless afternoon sun. For this reason, plants grown outdoors in the hottest growing zones benefit from afternoon shade. Indoor plants grow best when given bright but indirect light. Red apple ice plants are not heavy feeders and grow slowly, so regular fertilizing is not recommended, according to the University of Oklahoma Department of Botany and Microbiology website. Still, they will benefit from being fertilized once or twice a year. Use a fertilizer designed for blooming succulents.

Other Considerations

• Red apple ice plants are salt tolerant. For this reason, they make excellent ground covers in warm, coastal climates. Do not plant them where people walk, however, as the plants will not tolerate foot traffic, according to the City of Burbank's Water and Power website.