Once they get older, they do seem to run out of steam and become steadily more fussy in their requirements, so mature examples are rarely seen in glasshouses. They do enjoy generous treatment, but must also have the best drainage, which is more difficult to achieve with larger plants.

Back cover: A Shmoo-Plant, Muiria hortenseae and its cousin, Gibbaeum album. photographed by Rogan Roth in a quartz field of the Little Karoo, South Africa, its only known locality, to which it is very well adapted. It is quite a challenge in cultivation. Whilst easy enough to germinate from seed, it tends to be short-lived in Europe, the reasons for which have never been very obvious. Like their cousins the gibbaeums, they hate liquid feeds, and a tough, unfed regime is probably best. On the other hand, like most South Africans, they do not like to be dry for extended periods, so somehow we have to arrange for fairly continuous moisture within the pot without impairing drainage, a test of good growing skills. Composts comprising mainly or wholly grit are ideal for this purpose.

Gibbaeum album Is not quite so demanding but is still not the easiest of the gibbaeums to grow well. It is readily propagated from cuttings as well as from seeds. Although most South African plants are not in growth in our summer making most of their progress in our winter, the roots are still active, so it is wise to water them more or less normally throughout their period of dormant top-growth.