Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Cheiridopsis candidissima

These Cheiridopsis are new tenants on my windowsill. Thanks to Bob Stewart for pointing out that their proper new name is Ch. denticulata. :) I'm always very excited to grow new Mesembs so I'm looking forward to hopefully not killing them. These are winter growers and I'm still not sure about the watering schedule. It says you start watering in the fall when the old leaves have dried up and the new ones emerge. As I understand the old leaves are almost digested on these plants. But am I allowed to water them before fall or not? Many things to figure out... At the moment I just enjoy the view: beautiful velvety leaves with slightly see-through tips, very unusual rib-like shape and the shining cyan blue color.

7 comments:

  1. Beautiful plants. Winter growers are tough because our winter light is not very good, but you seem to be able to adapt your cultivation methods to your environment. You'll probably do fine. Here's a link to a photo of Cheiridopsis denticulate in habitat.

    http://www.butbn.cas.cz/hajek/africa/Photo%20Gallery/Northern%20Cape/Namaqualand/Springbok%20area/slides/Cheiridopsis%20denticulata.html

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    1. Great photos, thanks! :)
      I'll certainly try... Even though with my job search I can't be sure what conditions I'll be able to give my plants in the future. I might end up in a dark appartment somewhere where I can't grow anything but fungi...

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    2. But they would be attractive, well-grown fungi. :)

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  2. Very beautiful! And big enough! Like it!

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    1. I like them, too! They're really pretty, I've never seen anything like this "live". Hope to be able to give them a good home.

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  3. hi rika.
    I have bought some CHEIRIDOPSIS and they are growing from August until...I will know next year. I will treat them like my CONOPHYTUM. Fog or misting them in our winter would be ideal to mimic the natural climate conditions. But on the windowsill...fog...mist...? I will cultivate them in a little greenhouse on my windowsill. Time will tell...

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    1. Treating them as conophytums is probably best. I'm still figuring them out. I don't mist on my windowsill at all. Maybe I'm wrong but I'm watering my Cheiridopsis when they get soft and wrinkly this time of the year...

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