BajaNomad

Ice plant

SFandH - 5-24-2023 at 07:43 AM

Ice plant, the green ground cover stuff. I'm wondering how it's said in Spanish. I know the literal translation - "planta de hielo" but I bet that's not the name of the plant in Spanish. I want to hire a gardener to plant some and I don't want an ice-making facility built in my front yard. ;)

So, "ice plant" como se dice en español?

mexicali-kid - 5-24-2023 at 07:56 AM

I've always known it as "Dedos de moro". Moor's toes

SFandH - 5-24-2023 at 08:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mexicali-kid  
I've always known it as "Dedos de moro". Moor's toes


Interesting, I'll give it a go with the gardener and see what happens.

4x4abc - 5-24-2023 at 08:50 AM

Google is your friend - great pictures too https://www.google.com/search?q=dedos+de+moro&oq=Dedos+d...



[Edited on 5-24-2023 by 4x4abc]

SFandH - 5-24-2023 at 09:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
Google is your friend - great pictures too https://www.google.com/search?q=succulent+ice+plant+in+spani...


Of course, I tried google and it gave the literal translation, planta de hielo. Maybe it works.

I've also found: "hierba del cuchillo"




[Edited on 5-24-2023 by SFandH]

Uña de gato

David K - 5-24-2023 at 01:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
Google is your friend - great pictures too https://www.google.com/search?q=succulent+ice+plant+in+spani...


Hmmm... It just gives varieties and photos but not the Spanish word. I bet because you are in Mexico, your Google is Spanish?

The large/ heavy ice plant we have along our freeways and beaches, called here "pickleweed" is Carpobrotus edulis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpobrotus_edulis

When I change Wiki to Spanish: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpobrotus_edulis and it says the comon name is uña de gato or Cat's Claw.

Of course, that is for the old common and large leaf ice plant that most want to get rid of. Smaller-leaf varieties are more popular, like red apple (Aptenia Cordifolia) or 'Disneyland ice plant' (Iceplant Disney white trailing).

4x4abc - 5-24-2023 at 01:48 PM

https://www.google.com/search?q=dedos+de+moro&oq=Dedos+d...

SFandH - 5-24-2023 at 02:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
https://www.google.com/search?q=dedos+de+moro&oq=Dedos+d...


Thanks, dedo de moro looks like what I want. I'll check with the local vivero.

mtgoat666 - 5-24-2023 at 02:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
https://www.google.com/search?q=dedos+de+moro&oq=Dedos+d...


Thanks, dedo de moro looks like what I want. I'll check with the local vivero.



Ice plant easy to grow from cuttings. If neighbors have, get cuttings.

BajaBlanca - 5-25-2023 at 10:58 PM

Indeed it is very easy to grow from small cuttings.

pacificobob - 5-26-2023 at 06:39 AM

Ground cover plantings create an environment that easily hosts a variety of life.
Insects,rodents and reptiles to name a few. Without ground covering landscaping a home will have fewer mice, snakes and scorpions as well as other unwelcome species.

surabi - 5-27-2023 at 07:32 PM

Without ground cover landscaping you will also have more watering to do, as the bare earth dries out quickly. And the variety of life that ground cover hosts can be beneficial. Why would I care if insects and reptiles are enjoying the environment provided, anyway? As long as they aren't in my house or on my terrace, they are welcome to enjoy the garden, as far as I'm concerned. And scorpion habitat is generally in and under dry material, not vegetation.

mtgoat666 - 5-28-2023 at 06:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
Without ground cover landscaping you will also have more watering to do, as the bare earth dries out quickly. And the variety of life that ground cover hosts can be beneficial. Why would I care if insects and reptiles are enjoying the environment provided, anyway? As long as they aren't in my house or on my terrace, they are welcome to enjoy the garden, as far as I'm concerned. And scorpion habitat is generally in and under dry material, not vegetation.


Some people like to landscape with nothing more than dirt, gravel, concrete, and perhaps one or two succulents or a palm tree. I guess they like it. Go figure.

In baja I have noticed that many properties are scraped bare, just bare soil fence to fence, no mas.

Here in SoCal there was a trend 30+ years ago of converting landscape to colored gravel. Now people cover their yards in plastic that they call artificial turf. There is no accounting for taste!

SFandH - 5-28-2023 at 06:27 AM

I'm transplanting some dedos de moro today. My neighbor said to take all I want. It has deep red blossoms now.

Perfect ground cover for Pacific coastal property. I think (hope) it's minimal care and water.

Don Pisto - 5-28-2023 at 03:13 PM

my ice plant story. I love the beauty of a well maintained yard...but im not that guy, i've always hated yard work just not my thing. half my yard had some kind pretty ground cover with purple flowers but weeds were winning that race sooo I tore it all out and planted ice plant, when I say planted all I did was fling two foot sections every 4 or 5 feet on the ground. in a few weeks I had full coverage...but it kept growing. all I wanted was something I didn't have to deal with but oh no, now its a full time job keeping it off my deck and walkway:(

there's reason its an invasive species.....can't win!

surabi - 5-28-2023 at 05:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


Some people like to landscape with nothing more than dirt, gravel, concrete, and perhaps one or two succulents or a palm tree. I guess they like it. Go figure.

In baja I have noticed that many properties are scraped bare, just bare soil fence to fence, no mas.



It's actually ecologically responsible to landscape with plants that are native to the area, and in a desert environment it's ridiculous to try to have a lush tropical garden or a lawn. Desert-type landscaping is referred to as xeriscaping. Succulents, palms, groupings of rocks, etc. But you can still make a place plenty attractive using those methods, I certainly don't understand the scraped bare, dirt yard thing.

But lots of people just don't care. A friend has a bunch of casitas she rents out long term, she's an avid gardener, and made lovely little gardens in front of each place, telling the tenants all they had to do was water it every couple days, she'd take care of pruning, weeding, etc.
But her tenants would hang on their front porches all day while the gardens dried up and died in front of their eyes, because they couldn't be bothered to spend 5 minutes every 2 days watering it. Finally she just said f-it, if they don't care, I'm not expending the energy- they can live in a dirt patch full of weeds.

I love gardening and prefer lush vegetation, which is why I live on the mainland in a tropical area. But I have noticed that all Mexican gardeners tend to go for the raked bare style, a plant, dirt,another plant, dirt, repeat. While I do all my own gardening aside from hiring someone once a year to trim tall stuff, I have occasionally hired a "gardener". Once when I had, I turned my back for 10 minutes, only to find he had raked out all the mulch I had spread around my plants to conserve moisture and keep the weeds down. He thought he had done something good. I made him put it all back.

[Edited on 5-29-2023 by surabi]

pacificobob - 5-28-2023 at 06:06 PM

I have 4acres of mostly tropical landscape in south baja. After 17 years it is a beautiful oasis. 35 types of palms, 75 fruit trees. It is what i like to do.

mtgoat666 - 5-28-2023 at 06:14 PM

I see many neighbors put in plastic grass. The stuff is hot in the summer unpleasant to walk on in bare feet.
I love my lawn. I did make it smaller, but I won’t give it up. Pool. Lawn. BBQ. Alcohol. Sunshine.

stillnbaja - 5-28-2023 at 06:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
I see many neighbors put in plastic grass. The stuff is hot in the summer unpleasant to walk on in bare feet.
I love my lawn. I did make it smaller, but I won’t give it up. Pool. Lawn. BBQ. Alcohol. Sunshine.



I seem to recall "sunshine" :coolup:

surabi - 5-28-2023 at 06:38 PM

My daughter had a home in Canada with fake grass around the pool area. She didn't put it in, it was like that when they bought the place. Most of the fake grass I'd seen before was unpleasant to walk on, and looked fake, but hers wasn't- it was quite soft and almost felt and looked like real grass. I guess there's all different types, depending on how much you want to spend.

She was sure happy about not having to mow it, after the previous place they'd lived with lots of grass to mow.

My other daughter who lives in BCS also has a tropical garden, but they live where there is lots of water.

[Edited on 5-29-2023 by surabi]

SFandH - 6-1-2023 at 03:22 PM

I just started using ChatGPT, I guess I'm late to the party. Anyway, here's what I asked and the chatbot's answer:

Q. what is the spanish name for the plant "ice plant"

A. The Spanish name for the plant "ice plant" is "planta de hielo" or "planta de escarcha."

Also

Q. what is dedos de moro?

A. "Dedos de moro" is a Spanish term that translates to "fingers of the Moor" in English. It is a common name used in Spain and some Spanish-speaking regions to refer to a specific plant called Carpobrotus edulis, which is also known as "edible ice plant" or "Hottentot fig" in English. Carpobrotus edulis is a succulent plant with fleshy leaves and colorful flowers that is native to South Africa but has been naturalized in many coastal areas around the world.

ChatGPT is truly incredible. Ask it anything. I asked it what gravity is and got a thorough answer. Impressive.

https://chat.openai.com/




[Edited on 6-1-2023 by SFandH]

JDCanuck - 6-2-2023 at 11:40 AM

We had planted Iceplant in our courtyard as a slope stabilizer. It exploded in size and area immediately with minimal watering, sections out very easily, stores water well for the surrounding fruit trees and Bougainvillea, and shows a lot of colour. Hadn't known it was an invasive species as we see it in a lot of local planned gardens where slopes are steep around other plantings.

surabi - 6-2-2023 at 04:58 PM

As an avid gardener, I consider a plant invasive if it's hard to get rid of and if it does damage. Shallow rooted plants that are easy to dig up aren't the same kind of problem as plants with deep root systems. The Brits introduced Scotch broom and blackberries to Canada and they are hell to get rid of. And plants like spreading bamboo, that has tough roots that travel underground and pop up new bamboo shoots everywhere and break up walkways and foundations, are undesireable.

JDCanuck - 6-3-2023 at 09:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
Ground cover plantings create an environment that easily hosts a variety of life.
Insects,rodents and reptiles to name a few. Without ground covering landscaping a home will have fewer mice, snakes and scorpions as well as other unwelcome species.


The biggest change we noticed in our courtyard since we planted was a large increase in birds, bees and other pollinating insects. This was followed by increased spottings of Geckos. Ants, termites, scorpions, moths and spiders were always around, not sure we have noticed an increase in their numbers. Also haven't noticed any increase in snakes, but its early days yet.

pacificobob - 6-4-2023 at 12:32 PM

I once installed a yard light,on at dusk off at dawn.
An huge change took place as a result. Night flying insects, bats, birds that eat the dead insects, scorpions and other crawling predators.
In other words it's easy to create/modify a micro environment with minor changes.
I removed the yard light.

JDCanuck - 6-4-2023 at 01:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
I once installed a yard light,on at dusk off at dawn.
An huge change took place as a result. Night flying insects, bats, birds that eat the dead insects, scorpions and other crawling predators.
In other words it's easy to create/modify a micro environment with minor changes.
I removed the yard light.


Yes, we noticed last fall right after the rains hit a huge increase in moths and other insects attempting to get in our windows as long as we had the interior lights on in evenings. At one point the windows in lit rooms were about 1/3 covered with moths beating their wings on the glass. Neighbours also had reported it was the worst fall they remembered for flies , mosquitoes, etc. and I believe someone here mentioned the mosquito issue and resulting sickness. I also saw a lot of rattlesnakes last fall, far fewer this winter and spring. I am tempted to think it was the unusually high volume of rain that made the biggest changes.

[Edited on 6-4-2023 by JDCanuck]