For a blog called Lithops Stories I sure don't show many Lithops pictures lately. It doesn't mean I've forgotten about them! There's just too much to discover among Mesembs that gets my attention between the two times in a year when Lithops "do stuff" - flowering and changing leaves. Still, summer is more or less the time to show off the plants themselves, without the distraction of old leaves or flowers. Since I do post seedlings pictures regularely the adult plants have barely been represented this year. That's why I'll be making a couple of posts to show you my grown-ups.
Firstly, there's a new plant I got at the C&S market 2 weeks ago. The seller didn't know the name but I knew very well what it was so I just grabbed it as soon as I saw it. I didn't have much luck with L. verruculosa so far but let's hope I've become wiser over the years and can give it a good new home.
Firstly, there's a new plant I got at the C&S market 2 weeks ago. The seller didn't know the name but I knew very well what it was so I just grabbed it as soon as I saw it. I didn't have much luck with L. verruculosa so far but let's hope I've become wiser over the years and can give it a good new home.
Secondly, the surprise I got this morning! One of the L. bromfieldii v. insularis 'Sulphurea' has unexpectedly grown a flower. Hopefully others will bloom in the fall.
Others are pretty much doing what they are supposed to do this time of the year - soaking up the sun.
I'm still calling these seedlings because they haven't flowered yet but they were sown 2008 and 2009 and are pretty much adults now. Maybe they will flower this year?
More photos soon~
Looking great! I really like the color of 'Ventergreen'.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Let's hope I don't kill it...
DeleteOh, gracilidelineatas!!!!!!! I know why I like them! So flat, so delicate!
ReplyDeleteConos has new seeds - but no gracilidelineatas, they seem to be rare these days. You have great plants, Rika!
Yes, they have such pretty faces!! :) Thank you.
DeleteReally?
I grew the plants above from his seeds back in 2009. You should maybe try Mesa Garden :)
Yay lithops - I've missed seeing them on your blog! Although I've been doing the same with my other plants while my lithops are quiet
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the post :D
DeleteLithops are starting to "do stuff" again so I'll be writing more about them. And I'm going to sow some in the fall again now that I could make room.
Sorry for writing so much about other mesembs lately. I'm just discovering them and it's too exciting not to share :)
How do you water a pot that has a plant that already flowered (and the flower dies). Do you keep watering lightly until the others flower too, or keep it dry??
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, btw. I'm very new to Lithops so it's good to have some tips and tricks from here :D
Thank you :) I'm happy you like it!
DeleteAs you see, growing several in one pot is tricky. Especially when it comes to watering and the plants are at different stages. I grow them is very small pots and in pure pumice. This arrangement is quite forgiving and a wrong watering rarely has irreparable consequences.
If the flower has died and it is already October I stop watering them all. If after flowering there is a seed capsule S. Hammer recommends one last watering but if in doubt - no water. If it's still summer you can water as you normally would. In fact with "when to stop watering" you can decide yourself (around October for me). With "when to start watering" it's up to the plants and you will have to wait until all regenerate no matter how wrinkly the one is that regenerated earlier than others.
If you have enough room you really should grow them separately. The pretty arrangement of several plants in one pot is not worth the problems you will face. Pot size 5x5cm (8,5cm deep) will do but not bigger. All plants on the pics above are in 5x5x8,5cm pots. That's the relation of how near they have to be planted to each other and to pot borders and the substrate they must have in order to allow them to grow in groups. Hope it helps :)
Thanks for the help! Yea, I think I will eventually have to separate them when I get some more space.. But hoping I can at least pull through this winter. Other than the one that flowered every other ones look like they're not doing much at the moment. Here's a picture of them few weeks ago.
Deletehttp://i.imgur.com/nK1WUjN.jpg
I don't think you have to worry yet. They look good and the pot size is appropriate. Just wait until next spring to see how they'll regenerate. For now just water less and less until October and then stop. Unless you see flower buds grow. Those will need support through waterings to fully develop. Otherwise all fine :)
DeleteThanks! That's a relief. I will keep an eye on them while trying hard to "ignore" them so I don't overwater xD. A few of them look quite wrinkly sometimes, and makes me feel like they need a drink...
Delete