It even kills cacti.
But I don't look back. If I do, I won't be able to keep my sanity...

My name is Suzuki and I've been gardening as a hobby for 13 years.
This is a section that introduces only plants that we have actually grown.

It's been nine years since Leuktenbergia principis came to our home.
The Japanese name is "Kozan."
It has not given up despite my still immature gardening skills, and I have come this far.

What kind of plant is Kozan?

It looks like agave or aloe, but it is actually a cactus. It is sometimes called "agave cactus" in English.
It has no thorns that can prick you, so it's safe to touch.
This is a very easy to care for cactus.

Its current habitat is Mexico, where it lives at altitudes of over 1,000 meters.
Cacti are often associated with scorching heat and deserts, but there are also many varieties that live in cooler places.

It produces large yellow flowers. It has bloomed twice in my garden.

Time seems to stand still

Maybe I'm just not good at raising them... They just grow so slowly...
It grows by far slower than other cacti.
Even though he's grown in nine years, he's probably only about two sizes bigger than when he first started.

I once saw information online that said, "They grow faster if grown from seeds."
I actually grew it from seed, but it seems like time has stopped for the Kozan in my garden, remaining at its miniature size.

lone wolf

Kozan does not like to be in groups, and rarely breeds or grows in groups.
I have no intention of letting humanity enjoy division, one of the joys of gardening.
There is a method called "cutting the trunk" to propagate cacti. However, when I asked Google, I could not find any information about cutting the trunk of Kozan.
The growth point may not be structured in a way that is suitable for cutting the stem.

There are also variegated ones

Everyone loves variegated plants. Of course, we also have them at Kozan. Their name is "Kozan Nishiki."
However, it is rare to see them.
Ways to obtain them include attending specialized events, visiting hobbyists, joining a club, or importing them.
Even on Yahoo! Auctions, it is only seen very rarely.

I really wanted one, so I grew one from seed.
It seems that it is more difficult to care for than the regular Kozan, as although it did sprout, it then melted away...
I despair...

Plant Gachimeter

Finally, I'll give " Akiyama " a score based on my very personal opinion.

Ease of growing: 19 points I gave it this score because even though I was ignorant about it, it grew without dying and it can withstand the extreme heat.

Ease of training: 18 points. It is important that it gets plenty of sunlight. It grows slowly, so it doesn't seem to bend towards the sun.

・Growth speed: 1 point
I've grown over 300 different types of plants, but this is by far the slowest. It's almost frightening.

Osaka compatibility: 19 points. It's fine in Osaka Prefecture. Be careful of the summer heat.

・Likeability: 20 points. The root of my obsession with cacti.

Total score: 77 points

That's all, Editor-in-Chief.

Author: Suzuki Edited by: Kambara