Brazilian Edelweiss | Queen of the Abyss | Sinningia leucotricha

'Sinningia Leucotricha sprouts out of a giant, woody, potato-like tuber (the caudex) and pumps out leaves so densely coated in silver-white trichomes that they look and feel like plush velvet or soft kitten ears. Just when you think the silver foliage is cool enough on its own, it throws out clusters of vibrant, tubular salmon-orange blooms that pop like crazy against all that frosty goodness. 

The common name 'Queen of the Abyss' is the direct English translation of it's native common name Rainha-do-Abismo. The name comes entirely from the plant's extreme natural habitat. In its native home within the state of Paraná in southern Brazil, Sinningia leucotricha grows as a lithophyte (a plant that grows on rocks). It anchors its heavy, water-storing tubers directly into narrow crevices on sheer, vertical cliff faces, steep rocky outcrops, and deep canyons. Because it clings to these precarious drop-offs and looks down into the deep gorges below, locals poetically crowned it the "Queen" of those dramatic abysses. 

• LIGHT: Provide very bright, indirect light. A south facing window with no obstructions is ideal!
• WATER: Allow soil to dry COMPLETELY between thorough waterings.
• CARE LEVEL: Easy to moderate
• POT SIZE: 3 INCH
• DORMANCY: DONT PANIC! It goes dormant as the days begin to get shorter and temperatures get cooler. Leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off,  once this begins to happen, cut back on watering DRASTICALLY. Only provide a splash of water every 6 weeks to keep the caudex from completely shriveling up. Overwatering your dormant plant is the quickest way to cause root rot. Keep it in a relatively cool room that doesn't get above 70 degrees. You can also move it to a spot that doesn't receive as much sun, as it does not have leaves to photosynthesize. 
• WAKING UP IN SPRING:  In late winter or early spring, you will notice tiny, fuzzy green or pink buds starting to push out from the top of the caudex. When you see this new life, move the plant back into its bright, indirect sunlight and give it a thorough watering. Be sure to let it dry out completely between waterings as it is reestablishing it's root system!
  

Notes: Images are a representation of the plant you will receive. Each plant is unique, and small variations in leaf and plant size, color, etc. is to be expected. 

To make sure your new green friends don't get stuck spending the weekend in a dark transit warehouse, we ship all of our orders out on Mondays! Any orders placed during the previous week will head out first thing Monday morning, ensuring they make a swift, safe journey straight to your doorstep all in the same week. 

While we always strive to send out the most vibrant, beautiful plants possible, blooms are not guaranteed at the time of arrival.