Time lapse of a summer hibernator

in succulents •  6 years ago 

I got a Phyllobolus digitatus or Finger and Thumb in October, which is Spring in the Southern hemisphere. Finger and Thumb is a succulent mesemb, and found in an area which receives rainfall in winter so it grows in winter and is dormant during the hot summer months.

This was how it looked when I got it, it was a little yellow from too much sun and starting to show the first signs of dormancy.

P digitatus .jpg

To my surprise, it flowered a month later. It was also a little greener because I put it in a less sunny spot.

P digitatus flower.jpg

3 weeks after flowers, it started shutting down.

dry p digitatus.jpg

If you aren't expecting this, panic could set in that you have killed the plant and the big mistake would be to water it at this time because when it's resting over summer, water would kill it.

Two months ago, as the weather cooled, it started to emerge and it was time to water it again

P digitatus new.jpg

How it looks now:

phyllobolus.jpg

I am watering it regularly now, about once a week and I look forward to a new crop of flowers in a few months

Mesembs are fairly difficult plants to keep alive because it's easy to kill them with the wrong watering schedule so it's an accomplishment to get through a complete growing cycle. Thereafter, it's easier to know where the plant is at and how best to care for it

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Finger and Thumb seems to be a good name for it.

Yes, local names are always descriptive here

It's cute and has a pleasing green color :-)

It's very cute

Funny shape plant!! They look like dried Chinese vegetables to me!

Yes, I know what you mean

The first few shots... looked like they were sticking their... errrr.... tongues out at me! :D

All it needs is a trenchcoat and sunglasses, right?

Hahahaa, and a dark alley.... :P

I keep telling my sis to stop watering her cactus and succulents everyday... that's why they are dying!

Yup. Once a week is plenty

Very interesting plant. I have never seen such a thing.

They are fascinating

Very interesting and fun plants!
It is a pity that they are difficult to care ...

If you can keep cactus alive, you can manage this, if you are aware of its habits

:-))

Kind of reminds me of my thumb when it got stung by a bumblebee.

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Que hermoso. El pago a su esfuerzo. Y ahora si tiene para rato.