I love succulents and have quite a few different mesembs that I'm managing to keep alive. I think of mesembs as goldilocks plants: You have to get everything just right, but they are relatively resilient and I have learned to pick my battles. Then we come to the ones that are like The princess and the pea. No matter what, they refuse to get comfortable. Not for beginners and sometimes, not even for experienced growers, unless you become the slave of your plants and even then... Most of these plants grow in extremely arid climates, some of them have evolved to the point where they get most of their moisture from the dew and are mostly just water storage containers that will rot at the drop of a hat
The Split Rocks and Stone Plants
Lithops can be deceiving because some species are relatively easy because they aren't all found in semi-desert areas - some even grow in grasslands. These can tolerate more watering than others although all of them will swell and swell until they burst if you leave them outside in the rain. I was getting relatively good at keeping lithops alive until I got a cat who thought that sinking his claws into them was just the best thing ever. Although that particular cat met a sad end on the road, I restrain myself from getting more.
I killed the first split rock I got by overwatering it and I have another but I have learned my lesson. It wasn't doing well, the roots weren't happy but I didn't water it and seems to have turned a corner. It's making a new set of leaves, anyway. Maybe it will reward me with a flower.
Image: Alan Rockefeller, Wikipedia
Plants like Dinteranthus: I'm not even going there. Google that: they look amazing but aren't easy to keep alive
Babytoes aka Fenestraria
Image: Stan Shebs, Wikipedia
This one rotted on me within 3 days of bringing it home. Apparently, that's not uncommon. I think next time, I will just get Frithia, aka. fairy elephant's feet, which come from grassland areas near to where I live, although they are relatively rare in the succulent trade.
Conophytums
Image: Wikipedia
These want full sun, but only for a few hours a day as they normally grow in cracks or between rocks, which keep their roots cool. They get their water from the dew as it seldom rains where they are found. Beyond goldilocks but maybe one day I'll try it, If I find the perfect spot. Fortunately, these are also relatively rare in the succulent trade so novice growers can find something else to disappoint themselves over
Oh geez... I have one Pleiospilos nelii. One, because the other two died already. It grew one set of leaves last year, and now it is growing another. Never bloomed. I think I killed the other two by overwatering.
Now I keep this one outside and I basically do not water it. Whatever mist and a bit of rain it gets it will have. Still not sure what to do with it over the summer. It is very got and dry here. I think I will have to give him a few drops now and then...
Picky things!
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I'm convinced that mesembs only really do well if grown outside, even if it is only on the balcony. They are fresh air fanatics. The other thing that really helps is to collect rainwater and water with that. It makes a huge difference for succulents. P. Nelli is a plant that grows most in the cooler months, around spring and autumn and flowers in winter. It refuses to flower if it is kept too dry in summer. It should be lightly watered in summer and kept dry in winter
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So picky! I will have to remember those tips, Thanks!
Remove it from the spot where it can get some rain in winter, water a bit in summer. Rainwater in summer might be a problem. Sometimes id doesn't rains for 2-4 months. What about sun? My balcony is pretty sunny and hot in summer. Shade it?
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If you can put it somewhere where it gets full morning sun but is shaded in the afternoon as the sun moves, that will be ideal. It doesn't mind the heat but it is important not to let the sun bake the the soil and roots all day. The roots don't want to be cold and wet (in winter) and nor do they want to be cooked in summer. I like to put these into big clay pots which keep the roots cool but then it's important not to water it so much that the roots stay damp for days.
Try and use a little distilled water if you can't get rainwater, it isn't expensive and use it just for this one. Tap water comes from underground and contains many dissolved minerals that affect the ionisation (electrical charge) of the water, making it difficult for the plant to absorb water properly. Now we are getting complicated but it's those little things that make the difference when trying to grow the picky plants
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I think I have the right spot for it then :)
I keep it in a small clay pot, but it just one tiny thing, so I think it's enough. I will move it then and make sure it doesn't get the rain now.
At least I hope it survive.
I also struggle with Adeniums in case you have experience with those. I had 5 that I grew from a seed... and again - too much winter rain I guess. But I know it. Two of them got their roots completely rotted of. I chopped it off and will try to let the new roots grow. (And they had such beautiful fat roots already!)
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I don't grow Adeniums although they are on my wish list. What I do know about them is that they like it hot and sunny and dry. Winter rain will definitely rot your roots because they go dormant in the cold and then they don't want water. So long as you cut off all of the rot, they may well regrow their roots, I hope so.
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One question: which Adenium do you have? Did you know that they are very poisonous?
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Adenium Obessum. Yes I know and I am very careful with them :)
We had some constant rain (like every winter) and I think that's what happened. The soil didn't mange to dry fast enough :( and I just left it when it was getting the rain. It is the sunniest spot, but also the rainiest.
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That's good.
In winter, it's better to bring it inside, put it on a sunny windowsill if you have one and don't water it all
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All these types of succulents are really unique and beautiful. I took a photo of sommething that I am pretty sure is a succulent the other day. I will be posting it soon, maybe you might recognise what type it is because I have never seen it before. The flower is purple and truly spectacular.
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Please do, I'll take a look
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this looks awesome, like flower growing from rocks :), thx for informative well made post :)
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Thank you
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Great suculents, they are all so interesting.
Giong to make a terrium with sum.
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Do post pictures!
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I've never seen anything like these before. They are just as unique as their names are. lol baby toes & fairy elephant's feet
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Beautiful plants. I got to resteem it...
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Thank you!
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Very interesting plants. I've never seen anyone like that. Simply super.
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These would be rare to find in Russia because the climate is so different
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Your seedlings are very successful!
I will try the experience when it is warmer here, around May or June.
I will share the photos if it works.
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nature has very strange things, there is a great variety of things :)
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The color is so great, nice work with the caring!
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Its was soo nice to come across your post, i have just started growing succulents, or at least trying to grow them. As you rightly mentioned they are little difficult to grow & especially here in India, the climate changes everyday, so it would be awesome to get some tips & tricks off you.
Keep posting !!
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