first snow

We have an early winter this year. The city wasn't prepared at all: complete chaos on the streets. The cold weather came while I was away and the plants were without heating for several days but it hasn't done any harm to them. Even the 33-day-old lesliei v. mariae didn't seem to mind. They already look quite succulent!

100th post

I really want to thank you all for your interest in my blog! It means a lot to know there are other people sharing this fascination for lithops. Thank you for reading, commenting, helping and encouraging! I very much appreciate it. :)

This picture is from September. Dorotheae in a romantic light of the evening sun :)

bugs won't bring us down

Here is a quick update on the 'damaged' lesliei v. minor. One of them is completely renewed: it is small for its age (considering it is a 'minor' this might be normal) but finally shaped like an adult plant. The others seem to be doing well, too. In spite of their sad looks. Maybe in a couple of months they will also show their true faces :)

something's happening underneath 2

During the last two or three weeks I don't remember seeing any sunlight. Even the pictures all turn out grey and cold. But maybe it isn't a bad thing, because that's how it is this time of the year, it's almost winter after all.

The plants are keeping busy though!

This is my first ever flowering lithops. It's very dear to me.

All three of the ventergreens are already changing their clothes. And this one has actually developed a nice seed capsule, even though it was away from all other flowering plants and didn't have a partner. I'm very curious if it will have seeds inside. Also, there are probably two heads growing underneath.

Hm, I don't remember showing you this plant before. I got it together with the lesliei from todays pic 1. To make up for it, to the right is a picture from summer 2009. Not that it changed much :)

PS: You might have noticed that I've added lava (or clay) granulate into the substrate. It is just in the upper layer and doesn't have any purpose. I simply think it looks good, more natural, which is of course just my subjective opinion. :)

something's happening underneath

It has been at least a month since the adult plants got water for the last time and some of them already let me catch a glimpse of the new leaves. You might think it's early but it may take several months until they are fully developed and the old leaves have become dry shells.

The other dorotheae de Boer is at the same stage but the remains of the flower cover the view.


This gesinae finally has a container all to itself :)


And this one (featured here) is getting twins next season! :)

regeneration

The gracilidelineata seedlings should be around 21 months now. I don't know how often they changed their skin during the time I wasn't around but they've decided to do so now and the newest leaf-pairs almost have the features the adult plants would have. While the most of them are still small and their markings blurry (see the plant on the right on the group photo), four seedlings are larger and more adult-like. The one on the first pic just has the most beautiful face!

Back then I've sown C189, C261, C309 and C373 but they got mixed up so that I don't know which is which. It'll probably take a while before I can tell. But, don't the kids on pic 1 and 2 look like siblings? :)

PS: I finally have internet connection at home!

new homes for lesliei 2

Here is the rest of them: C342, C028, C364 and C029. I only have one hornii C364 left so it shares its container with C029 for now. C028 is a bit wrinkly but firm so I'm not worried. C342 has developed a cute girly color, haha.