How to Grow Corkscrew Albuca
Native to South Africa, Albuca spiralis is a type of succulent that sprouts its distinctive, coiled leaves from a bulb-like base that sticks out a little from the soil. Like most succulents, this plant prefers things on the warm and dry side. It will be happiest in a clay pot with a drainage hole and in temperatures above 60°F. If you set it outdoors, you’ll need to bring it in whenever the weather gets colder than that. Corkscrew albuca also needs plenty of light, but if it’s moved suddenly into direct sun, this can burn the leaves. Indirect, bright light from a south- or west-facing window is best. If you’re into starting from scratch, get some Albuca spiralis ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ seeds. You can buy a 5 seeds on Unusual Seeds for $15. Place your seeds in a clay pot with a sandy, well-draining potting soil mix. It takes about 12 weeks to get a full-grown plant from seed. At first, it will sprout straight leaves, but they’ll curl as your corkscrew albuca matures. If you’d like a less intensive process or want instant gratification, you can just buy an already grown plant. Corkscrew albuca does most of its growing during the winter months. This is when it needs light watering about once every week or two, whenever the soil feels dry. If you see the leaf tips turning brown and dry, that usually means you need to water more frequently. As those leaves completely turn brown, you can carefully trim them off. Give your plant a shot of cactus and succulent liquid fertilizer once per month. If your corkscrew albuca is getting enough light, water, and nutrients, it will produce spikes of small yellow flowers that have a buttery vanilla fragrance. The blooms will last until mid-spring, right before your plant enters its dormant period. The leaves will naturally turn brown and fall off at this point, but the bulb remains alive. During dormancy over the summer, water less often and skip the fertilizer. Once you see new leaves starting to grow in late fall or early winter, you can start watering your albuca more and fertilizing again. Growing just 6-10 inches tall as a houseplant, your ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ will work well at your work-from-home desk or on a sunny window sill. Wherever you place it, your unique succulent is sure to make you smile with its amazing curled leaves.
