The title of Most Unusual Succulent has to go to Lithops .
Not only do they look wildly different from any other succulent – resemble stones , hoof , or flyspeck Einstein – they also have a engrossing structure and can come through with slight to no water for extensive period .
Because these plants are so unusual , many gardeners retrieve them difficult to wish for . However , once you translate the basics , Lithops can be one of the crushed maintenance ( and strangest - looking at ) industrial plant in your entire garden .
What on Earth are Lithops?
Lithops are aboriginal to southern Africa , where they can be found hiding amongst rock in grasslands or dry , sandy areas . They are unremarkably referred to by their scientific name which get from Ancient Greek – líthosmeaning stone andópsmeaning human face . you may call them stone - face if you like , but Lithops seems far easy .
Each plant has thick , fused leaf yoke with almost no stem , connect to a deep root system .
In the wild , the majority of the leaf is buried underneath the dirt to protect the plant from rough sunlight and predators ( their humiliated profile permit them to intermix in with other rocks , so much so that even biologists find them hard to spot ) .
The tops of the leaves – known as leaf windows – are semitransparent to leave light to arrive at all component part of the leaf underground for photosynthesis .
bloom go forth from the crevice between the two folio . Each plant produces one flower per lifecycle after 3 - 5 years .
Once the flower dies back , a cum capsule forms in the center of the leaves , which squeeze out seeds from the flora when exposed to moisture . New leaf pairs also go forth from the rip in the plant , lento taking up moisture from the dying leaves as they grow , to start the process all over again .
Lithops Care
When compare to the care of other family - grown plants , Lithops for the most part take care of themselves . unluckily , that ’s often where the problem comes in .
We ’re so used to niggle over our plants and inquire whether we are manage for them correctly , that we incline to exaggerate it sometimes . That can speedily result to a Lithops ’ demise .
Keep your space , follow these simple care tips , and you should have your Lithops for years .
Light
Like all succulent , plenty of sun vital for growth . Lithops need 4 - 5 hours of direct sunlight per twenty-four hours and partial Lord’s Day in the afternoons to prevent scorching .
Some ambitious gardener grow Lithops as houseplants . You may want to try it , but you ’ll require to see they have plenty of visible light throughout the day . Under modest light-headed conditions , Lithops ’ leaves will stretch toward the nearest light source and become distorted , known as etiolation . trivial Light Within can also dull the color of the leaves ( which is arguably the sound part of the whole plant ) .
stoneface are not fans of a change in environment . When propel your flora to a different area , alter the conditions gradually so it has time to adjust to the unaccented levels . These plants – like many people you probably screw – do n’t like surprises .
Water
stoneface are no strangers to drought . In some areas with petty rain , they often get no water for month on oddment .
To pull through in these conditions , Lithops ’ will act as tiny water reservoir , storing enough water to feed the plant . To keep your Lithops glad , mimic their natural seasonal rain conditions and balk the frightened urge to water all the time . If the grease is dry – full . They like it that style .
In the summer and winter months , do n’t irrigate your Lithops at all . They go abeyant or semi - hibernating at these times and watering is likely to cause radical rotting .
Only consider lachrymation during summertime if the upper side of the leaf start to wrinkle ( a sign of lack of water system ) . Be cautious when doing so and water as footling as potential . The smallest amount will be enough to return the parting to their plump , happy state .
During bound and fall – the growing seasons – pop water with a tiny amount of body of water every duo of weeks . In high - humidness areas , you may not involve to keep an eye on this footprint as the plant can imbibe enough moisture from the air .
It probably goes without saying after all the no - water talk , but it ’s life-sustaining to keep your stoneface out from rain or any drips overhead ( from toilet , for example ) . You do n’t want to go through the scrupulous trouble of not watering , only to have the conditions ruin your hard work for you .
Temperature
stone life face are not fan of winter . Or cold temperatures ( I run to agree with them ) . In their born environments , cold temperature are uncommon and cause serious damage to the plant .
When uncover to low temperature , the cell walls of the flora go forth break . Any exposed section typically moulder and die off .
stone plant like temperature around 65 - 85F , with some squirm elbow room above and below those room access for short periods of clip . Do n’t pass on them in temperature below 50F , or over 100F , for too long to deflect risking damage to the leaves .
Soil
The filth in Lithops ’ natural surround roam from sandlike to almost whole jolting . They are very tolerant of ‘ poor quality ’ soils – in fact , that ’s what they ’re used to .
A gritty , well - draining mix is idealistic ; the less water it obligate , the in effect . expend a stock cactus potting mix or make your own by combining 50 % potting intermixture with a mixture of sand , rock , and perlite .
Fertilizing
broadly speaking , it is best not to fertilize your Lithops – mostly because they do n’t ask it , but also because they are not used to it . Fertilizing is likely to do more scathe than good .
Some gardener like to apply fertiliser once over the growing time of year to promote unfolding . When apply fertilizer for this purpose , do so meagerly . Use a heavily dilute cactus fertilizer , not a regular fertilizer , as it will burn the leaves . If your plant life is not flowering , it could be the solution of age . Some Lithops will only flower after 5 old age of growth .
Pests and Diseases
When it number to Lithops job , gadfly and diseases are not common ace . In fact , most industrial plant diseases have no impression on Lithops , and pests are potential to ignore them in all in party favor of your tastier works . But , if you ’re one of the unlucky few that encounter a pest problem , here ’s how to combat them :
Lithops Propagation
The easiest way to propagate Lithops is by seed , but they can also be disseminate by naval division in certain circumstances . Although it ’s the preferred method of extension among many gardener , folio - cutting is not an option . Each industrial plant only has two of them – it would be like remove a branch .
you’re able to either buy Lithops germ or harvest time seeds from your own plant .
During the flowering time of year , grumpy - pollinate manually using a minor brush by transferring pollen from one plant to another . When the flush expire back , the plant life should bring on a seed capsule in the centre that will open when exhibit to water . Sprinkle the source over spunky territory in a separate pot and cross them with a low-cal stratum of sand . Keep the soil slenderly moist until sprouting .
A clump of Lithops can also be propagated by sectionalisation , although finding or growing a cluster large enough for separation is not particularly common .
Remove the flora from the jackpot and shake off any soil around the roots . Cut the roots between each leaf span gently to separate them into individual plant and repot .
Lithops are incredibly slowly - get plants . You may not see the fruits of propagation for several month or year . It ’s a foresightful - condition investment , but in spades a worthwhile one .
With blue - maintenance requirements , an interesting body structure , and a look that hit the non - gardener stop and ask , ‘ wait , are you uprise rocks ? ’ – it ’s severely not to want a garden full of Lithops .
There are almost 40 diverseness , each with its own patterns and quirks – the utter collector ’s point for gardener and houseplant lovers .
