Crazy lithops

[Marcel]

I got a little lithops at Hamilton's a few weeks ago and it's just now starting to open its little lips.

So exciting!

Not surprisingly, I'm now nuts about lithops and their dirty, sexy, chubby, little lips.

In my internet browsing, I came across this nut-case of a plant.

It's apparently a Lapidaria margaretae, but I can't find any other pictures of this species that look like this.

Amazing!

[gerbil]

looks like something outta le planete fantastique,

i think the whacked out nature of the shot is from the angle of the ribs and the shadow forming in the decussate growth, grouped with the textural skin and strikingly odd colours, quite a stunning visual phenomenon, bloody good shots when you can capture those sorts of things, it's the elements that excite you in real life but when tried to be captured on film, tis elusive and frusting for a hobby photographer, gold when you hit it though!

[devance]

They are hardy and artistically interesting, water only every 2 months.

I just keep them in a sidewise aquarium, keeps the birds off and frost and rain.

As long as the soil instantly drains the root medium doesn't matter.

They store water like a cactus every 2 months.

Root rot occurs from over watering.

Its a sad thing having 3 years old lithops picked at from a bird.

Birds think might its might be a berry, Like a blackberry [vine].

I don't think its flowering, the outer coat is used for water and supposed to shrivel naturally.

Edited September 3, 2011 by devance

[Philocacti]

does the one in the 2nd picture look always like this or is it a little bit dehydrated?

These edges makes it look like a stone (diamond)

very attractive

[devance]

The 2 outer leafs shriveling store water and nutients back to the succulent plant.

So to much water or fertlizer stops that and the outer leaves can't dry up as normal.

Also not a cactus so must under a tree shade not direct sunlight,.

They have many colors.

Each match a dry foothlll in africa to match the gravel .

And grow in shade underneath desert type foothill shrubs.

So direct sunlight and overwatering is best way to kill a lithops.

[mutant]

they still need good light though, or else they will etiolate.

and they can take much more water than once in 2 months in the growing season. someone with great knowledge said all they need is 300 ml of water per season, but it does depend on how freedraining the soil is and the container

but as soon as wet season comes, cease all watering. Also do not water during the splitting season, which occurs usually early in season, which I am guessing is now.

so marcel you lithop must be splitting.

protect from birds, yeah, I have had my share in damage by birds. I think some bird like magpies see it as a game, telling them apart from gravels. frustrating isn't it?

the triangular one is a fantastic plant, it looks plastic / spacey

[mutant]

here are some of mine among gravel in clay pots

[Marcel]

Very pretty, Mutant. Did you grow those from seed?

[cactuscarl]

Cool pics ppl I've looked at that 2nd pic like 10 times I'm having so much trouble believing that's real. Does anyone have anything that looks like that

[mutant]

no marcel, I was lucky to buy many lithops seedlings per little pot as a collector's item. They must have been 1-1,5 y.o then. I am expecting some of them to flower this year and hoping to get some seed! I am ceasing watering nowadays...

[devance]

Snails and slugs got mine, so out of reach,

[Jonstn]

Anyone on here dealt with ozlithops.com? I've been looking around where to buy some and that site looks pretty good, quite a few to choose from and the prices seem reasonable.

[devance]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mixed-Lithops-100-seeds-Living-Stones-/260835595816

http://www.ozlithops.com/pictures.asp

It very easy germinate the seed.

In shade

plastic tray with the glass in top works best for 100 percent germination.

Trying to pick out the very small green plants to another place when not fully developed I think is lethal as not ready to survive,

On the other hand too long can get a fungous wipeout as too humid .

A good draining soil medium such as supersoil, [a good draining wood product soil] will keep the small lithop upright I don't think sand will as they will fall over.

A ultrasonic humidfier fogger might be best for such a young delicate plant as they are used to partial fog not rain.

Edited September 12, 2011 by devance

[devance]

They are mesembs.

And so is sceletium and nananthus

The Nananthus is easly divided for 6 plants.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Aizoaceae/Nananthus/none/cultivar/0/

No ones interested, but for effects, much better that sceletium in effect and since buying one plant means 6 plants by subdivision and the roots [look and tastes like a ginsing root] is only harvested.

So the interesting african plants are interesting.

Edited September 12, 2011 by devance

[Jonstn]

Just ordered a pack of 100 mixed lithops woop woop can't wait!