Lesliei v. venteri 'Ventergreen' C1A have digested their old leaves and are reacting to water very well. They are all two-headed now making me hope for flowers this year. Last season they were weakened by the bugs and have dried up the coming flower buds. I'm still fascinated by the color - so much lighter than other lesliei greenies! I'd love to have more of these.
I have some seeds and seedlings from them, and there are several really nice specimen growing up, but since it was some case of selfing or crossing (there was only one flower) I'm not sure about the heritage. It would be nice to have some "pure" seeds this year.
Очень милые ростюшки, я особенно люблю ярко зеленые литопсы. Поздравляю с двухглавостю :)
ReplyDeleteСпасибо Ирина, я тоже, зеленые в частности и lesliei вообще :)
DeleteRika, I agree with you - really beautiful lithops.
ReplyDeleteThanks! They're special :)
DeleteHello! I have a seedling question... Mine are 9 weeks old and undergoing their first change. I'm not sure how much I should be watering them at this point. What would you recommend? You've got some great looking plants! Hopefully mine will look as good some day :)
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen! Thank you~
DeleteWith 9 weeks they should be too small to completely stop watering, especially if it's sunny and warm and the soil dries out quickly. You may water less though. Just watch them closely and you'll know when they need it. :) I normally just keep watering as before at this stage.
9 weeks old... H'm, aren't they too young for the first change?
DeleteThese lithops are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAn indiscreet question: Where do you find a lithops so pretty?
Congratulations!
Thanks a lot :)
DeleteI've got this particular plants from Yasuhiko Shimada in Japan two years ago. Most of my plants are from Uwe Beyer, Kakteen Haage or Atomic Plant Nursery. The seedlings are mostly from seeds I bought from Francois Hoes and Uwe Beyer but also some others.
Rika: Thanks for the information.
DeleteUnfortunately Japan is too far from me (not only physically).
I have also bought lithops and lithops seeds in the Uwe Beyer’s Cono’s Paradise.
Another important source of lithops seeds for me is the British Cactus & Succulents Society that, once a year, offers a list of seeds to the BCSS members.
And exactly today, for the first time, I’ve received an shipping (some dinteranthus vanzylii, some lithops and some lithops sedes) from Steven Brack (in Mesa Garden, in New Mexico). This nursery has a huge variety of species. I am very happy with them.
By the way, I had solicited to Mesa Garden six lithops verruculosa "Rose of Texas" seeds packs, but they only sent me one! I think right now it's a little late to sow seeds in Spain. What do you recommend me: Do I plant it now? Or must I wait to next year?
Thank you very much
You're welcome :) And thanks for the heads-up on BCSS. I didn't know they sell seeds as well (I got the Treasures of the Veld book from them). Oh and I also have some seeds packs from Mesa Garden, but haven't tried sowing them yet, no room. They say the seeds are of a good heritage there.
DeleteHm, I've tried sowing all year around. They germinate well but it's often too hot for the young summer seedlings or they get too little light during their first winter. If you grow them under artificial light it shouldn't matter though. If you're worried I'd say just sow less rare seeds now and the cultivars next year :) My last year's summer seedlings (natural light conditions) have had some tough times but are doing well now anyway.
wich artifical light do you use???
DeleteSonia, was the quastion for me? I don't use any artificial light.
DeleteAHHH!! ok, I understood wrong then. I think that I will need an artificial light for my lithops in Sweden during the winter so I have started to check now and see if I can get something cheap. Thanks you =)
DeleteManolithops, the Brack's deside themselves which seeds are rare. "... very rare seeds, at our option, are limited to 1 pkt per order"... That is why we sometimes receive only single seed packet instead of several, unfortunately. Last autumn I got only about a half of my order (((.
ReplyDeleteRika, how have you ordered seeds from Mr. Hoes? I failed to find in his Wysiwyg catalogue anything except plants...
yes, and inside the packs with rare cultivars there are not many seeds..
DeleteI've been buying seeds from Mr. Hoes a couple of times ca. two years ago back when he was selling lots and lots of them (cole numbers and many cultivars). I think he sells only plants now, but you _might_ have some luck if you email him and ask about lithops/other succulents seeds. :)
Right now I have seedlings of 12 species of lithops "in progress" . . and 25 adult lithops. . . I know that it is only a small collection! . . . But they take up more room than I initially thought (I have each lithops in an individual pot). . . specially the seedlings give me a lot of work! . . . Definitely I will sow the new seeds next year! . . . Thanks Rika!
DeleteRika: Thanks for your answer, it has cleared the question. I won't email him cause he surely had his reasons to stop proposing seeds.
DeleteAnd those scanty seeds of rare cultivars often germinate badly or the seedlings are weak... I returned to the thought that it was more reasonable in that case to buy just exactly adult plants and try to propagate them.
@Monolithops, Your collection isn't that small :) And you're right about the seedlings: even if you don't do much you still have to be there to check on them (no longer vacation can be planned etc.). I grow mine in 5x5cm containers, 2 grown-up plants/1 two-headed plant each, with a couple of exceptions. The recently transplanted 1-year-old seedlings also grow in 5x5cm pots, 15-17 plants in each! I try to use all the room I have even if it gets cozy for the plants. Room is always a problem..
Delete@Eugene, you're welcome :)
DeleteI haven't tried the Mesa Garden seeds yet, will keep this in mind. Even though I've no idea when I can properly sow lithops again. There are a lot of seeds lying around, own and purchased, for the better times.
Oh, no, Rika, I meant some cultivars seeds and seedlings in general, not from Mesa Garden especially! The seeds from there are of the best quality! But it's believed the cultivars' seeds germinate worse than ones of 'regular' stable lines and the seedlings sometimes less viable. And, of course, the quality of the certain seeds portion depends on the batch of factors and varies. I'd say lesliei seedlings were strong and vital usually. But optica cv. 'rubra', for instance, germinates worse and the seedlings are more vulnerable.
DeleteMy problem is the same. A greenhouse is required...
Eugene: I'm not complaining because I have received a single package. It seems logical (and correct): if there are few stocks, the best option is to try to distribute it to all who want them.
ReplyDeleteMesa Garden only sent me 70% of the lithops I asked, but I liked the experience and certainly, I will shop there again. It confirms my impression that the Brack's are one of the best options to buy lithops.
My only fear was the distance between Belen (New Mexico - U.S.) and Madrid (Spain). But everything has arrived correctly.
I also liked ordering seeds there, good parent-plant descriptions, service and price. Keep us posted on the germination :)
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