Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Lithops don't waste time (5 pics)

Winter has started very early this year. It's gloomy and cold. The plants feel it and react to it: winter growers waking up, seeds germinating eagerly, and lithops are already recycling their resources. I've stopped watering most of them a month ago. They will get water again once they regenerate and it's warm and sunny again outside the window. April maybe. Yes, this means even if they fully regenerate earlier they still won't get water if there's not enough sunlight. No need to wake the roots if the light is not sufficient, unless absolutely necessary (young or small plants that grow visibly thirsty).
In my experience, it will take them a long time anyway :)



10 comments:

  1. They're TRICKY those Lithops, trying to entice you to water (look new growth has begun) when no water should be given. Such wily creatures. o__O

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    1. And yet I am unmoved! :D

      As lithops growers we have to be strong.

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  2. Wooh! Your plants are regenerating very soon. My Lithops are struggeling between their flowering period with very low light this year and falling asleep for winter. So signs for new leaves or shrinkeling yet. I watered them at least at the end of September. (Sorry for bad English - deutsch geht's besser. ;-))

    Regards from / Grüße von Antje

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    1. You English is just fine Antje and you can write in German here, no problem ;)

      It's still very early and it will late them a lot of time to complete the process. My goal growing lithops is to keep them as small as possible. Small plants regenerate quicker. If your plants are bigger, it might take them longer but it's all within the norm, even if they are finished as late as May. No worries :)

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  3. Good to see you get new leaves, that's fun to wonder what will them look like :) Mine are still trying to open their flowers with the short days, I only have new leaves coming out on steineckeana (never grows like the others), but I let them next to an opened window that makes them grow slower I guess.

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    1. Mine are all finished with flowering. Winter came early this year and I guess they react to that. It takes them a very long time to finish even if they start early. I've had lithops starting regenerating in Summer and finishing around April with all the others.

      Enjoy the rest of your flowering season! The regeneration will come soon enough :)

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  4. Hi Rika,

    Could you post a picture of a lithops that is "visibly thirsty" just to get an idea?
    Also, check your mail!
    Cheers
    KM

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    1. Posted ;)


      I'm a bit behind on emails, sorry...

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  5. Here in Southern Spain the situation is the opposite. Summer has been excepcionally hot, and cold is long overdue. Some of mine (karasmontana, marmorata) are still flowering at the end of November and no sign of regeneration!
    Cheers
    David

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    1. It's nice to get some flowering at such a late time :) I did' have many flowers this year.

      Some of mine are actually already 60% done with the regeneration

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