Living Stones/Linthops / Succulents

Hi all,

Been looking around the web and you see all sorts of potting mix formulations for Lithops.

Any recommendations of any brand of ready made packet mixes or of a simple mix to make myself.
Can get perlite locally in fine or medium sizes, but cannot say I have seen Pumice that quiet a few sites mention, or is that more an American thing, or really what we know as Vermiculite?

Am looking for a suitable pot for make a small display of them, so likely it will be clay or glazed rather than plastic, again any preference here ?

Going to go to a different branch of the place where I got those three plants the other day, hopefully they will have a selection as well ?

thanks

 

I've used all kinds of stuff as compost, they will grow in anything that has good drainage.
I've used sharp sand alone, and something called seramis, (clay granules), I just give a dilute liquid feed maximum of twice a year, when in growth.
But you can get away with 75% sharp sand and 25% soil based compost.

They have more root system than you might think, so deeper pots are good if you want to grow a few in a large pot.

 

Hello ricky101
Just read your post ; you can buy terra-cotta (clay) 'bulb-bowls' or pans in GCs ; these are about one-foot across and 6-8" deep . Have you looked online @ the growing conditions of Lithops in habitat ?
My own 'homemade' mix would consist of aquarium grit combined with a coarse sand ; organic matter I would keep to a minimum (if any at all) , especially if liquid feeding .
The negative factor here will be the sheer weight of the bowl when filled with a grit mix (!!) .

Perlite and coarse sand would be an alternative again , but the former has the dubious habit of rising to the surface over time . Display pots are a personal preference ; I would opt for different species in individual pots , as I like to pick up and examine the plants periodically .

Good hunting for different species ; PS Have you tried a cactus-nursery ?

 

cacti societies do periodical exhibitions selling plants quite cheap. You can try there

 

Out of my depth here.......however, fascinating and tempting. Will follow this thread with interest

 

Can't think of an easier plant to grow, you can forget them completely from November to March, even in Summer on a full sun conservatory window sill I only water once every two weeks.
Like Aspidistras and Sanseverias, you can only kill them by over watering.

 

the study of the Cactaceae in their habitat | cactusinhabitat
Some amazing photography here showing the true habitats of many S.American cacti . Go onto A&M at the top , but make sure you click 'english' at the bottom of the opening page . To attempt to emulate natural growing conditions is difficult , but many of the 'S.Americans' are more amenable to cultivation than the 'N.Americans'; obvious exceptions being the notorious Uebelmannias , Discocactus and Buiningia etc . ; These are typical dry-hot forest dwellers often growing on nothing more than pure quartzite !
We used to have partial success at Whitestone years ago ; seedlings using the perlite method were OK , but the few imports available had no chance . Gladly bringing these gems into the UK from their native climes has (hopefully) been abolished .
The same rule applied to imported Copiapoas from Chile ; a totally edaphic species 100% evolved for its unique habitat (Atacama desert); imports ALL failed and died ; seedlings grown in the UK seem to grow well .

 

Many thanks for the link, what amazing, odd plants! It gives me Attenboroughgian shivers to see organisms so well adapted to their conditions.

Thanks Paul

 

Selleri
Thanks for your response to my link ; there are a great many misconceptions regarding cacti . Having worked with and grown for many years , what I find amazing is the ability of tiny seedlings ( the Browningias for example) to gain a precipitous primary foothold in such a rainless , desolate and forbidding landscape (!) .
The Copiapoas have evolved to rely completely on the 'Garua' fog , which rolls in daily and condenses on special grooves in their spines , which in turn drips down to the roots .

I find all plants fascinating , all genera having adapted to their particular niche in nature .

 

PS Maybe people will realise that a 'windowsill' is not particularly ideal !

 

Growing quite a few echeverias and aeoniums now.....some quite large......aeonium zwarskopf for example, for a few years, and it usually survives the winter outside. This and last summer aeoniums have featured in the border here as bushy metre plus tall specimens.
Having visited a local specialist succulent nursery, Surreal Succulents, in the summer I have been captivated by the myriad of varieties available; truly beautiful plants. They grow quite fast in a single season many doubling or even tripling in size esp when repotted.
For such minimal maintenance too I think they will be more widely grown.....even bought a couple of echeverias today in my local lidl store.....£1.99 each!

 

Hello guys, I've just bought a selection of cactus, only had the 'living stone' one a week, when I bought it, it was all tight together. But it is now opening up as in pic, what is happening could it be a flower. I am in Spain for the winter so am putting them outside during the day.

 

Yep, I think it might be.
Do you know which species it is?

 

No Pete I don't know which species it is. I popped into the garden centre primarily to purchase geraniums when I saw the cactus display and couldn't resist buying a collection.