Pleiospilos NELII 'ROYAL FLUSH'

Pleiospilos NELII 'ROYAL FLUSH' - Red Split Rock, Living Granite, Pleiospilos nelii 'Royal Flush', Pleiospilos nelii 'Rubra'.

'Living Stones' seed series.

Pleiospilos is a genus of compact succulent plants in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae), comprising several accepted species and natural forms distributed in the Cape Provinces of South Africa. In nature, the plants are found in dry shrubland communities, the Karoo, rocky semi-desert habitats, and on open mineral soils, where precipitation is erratic and most moisture arrives in the form of seasonal rains and dew.

Representatives of the genus form a very short, almost hidden stem and one or several pairs of fleshy opposite leaves, partially fused at the base. The leaves are thick, triangular or hemispherical, gray-green, brownish, or bluish-gray, with a rough surface and numerous dark dots. Due to their resemblance to pebbles, the plants camouflage among gravel and rock debris, reducing moisture loss and protecting themselves from being eaten by animals.

The flowers in Pleiospilos are solitary or few, large relative to the size of the plant, daisy-like, with numerous narrow petals of yellow, orange, or copper hue. The fruit is a dry multilocular capsule that opens when moistened and gradually releases small seeds. The seeds are very small, light brown or brown, dispersed by raindrops and water over the soil surface.

Pleiospilos nelii 'Royal Flush' is an ornamental reddish-colored form. The main species originates from the arid regions of South Africa, primarily the Karoo and the Cape Provinces, where the plants inhabit open rocky and clayey areas, well camouflaged among soil and rocks.

The plant is almost stemless, very compact, usually consisting of one or several pairs of fleshy opposite leaves. In the 'Royal Flush' form, the leaves are colored not in the usual gray-green or brownish tones, but in more pronounced reddish, purple-brown, or bronze-burgundy shades. The leaf surface is covered with dark dots and fine irregularities, and the deep central fissure gives the plant the appearance of a split rock.

The flowers are solitary, large relative to the size of the plant, most often yellow, orange-yellow, or a warm apricot hue, opening from the central fissure between the leaves. The contrast of the bright flower with the reddish leaves makes this form especially expressive in 'living stone' collections. The fruit is a dry capsule with small seeds, opening when moistened.

Pleiospilos seeds are very small, light brown or brown, rounded or slightly angular.

Sowing is carried out in spring or early summer, and year-round with stable supplemental lighting and temperature control. A sterile, fine-textured, well-drained substrate with a predominance of mineral components is used: fine sand, perlite, pumice, or fine gravel with a small addition of sifted leaf soil. The seeds are distributed over the surface or barely sprinkled with a layer of washed sand up to 1 mm (0.04 in). The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or biofungicide, if necessary with the addition of a weak solution of a growth stimulant: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon. The container is covered with a transparent lid or placed in a greenhouse.

Germination is carried out in bright diffused light, without direct sun and overheating. Daytime temperature is maintained around 22-26 °C (72-79 °F), nighttime may drop to 15-18 °C (59-64 °F), mimicking the natural diurnal variation in arid habitats. The sowing is aired daily for 10-15 minutes, condensation is removed, and the surface is kept slightly moist, but not wet. Overwatering is especially dangerous for seedlings and quickly leads to damping-off.

The first seedlings may appear after 6-7 days; the usual germination time is 10-21 days, and the maximum possible time under cool conditions or uneven germination can reach 4-6 weeks. After seedlings emerge, the cover is gradually opened and humidity is reduced without sudden drying out. The seedlings grow slowly and remain very small at first. Pricking out is performed only after noticeable strengthening of the plants, usually at a height of about 8-10 mm (0.3-0.4 in) or after the formation of a stable pair of true leaves, preserving a small clump of substrate around the roots.

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Pleiospilos requires the brightest possible lighting year-round. The plant needs at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, with south, southeast, and southwest windows preferred. Under conditions of insufficient light, coloration fades, leaves stretch unnaturally, tissues become soft, and flowering does not occur. After winter or an overcast period, the plant is accustomed to direct sun gradually.

During the period of active growth, a temperature of 18-25 °C (64-77 °F) is maintained; with good ventilation, a short-term increase to 28-30 °C (82-86 °F) is permissible. In heat above 30 °C (86 °F), the plant may temporarily slow down growth, so shading, air movement, and dry mineral soil are especially important. Overwintering is carried out in a bright, cool location at 8-15 °C (46-59 °F). The minimum safe temperature for a container plant is about 5 °C (41 °F) with a completely dry substrate.

Watering is carried out very cautiously, taking into account the seasonal cycle and the condition of the leaves. During the growth period, the soil is completely dried out between waterings, and subsequent moistening is carried out only after slight wrinkling of the leaves. During the formation of a new pair of leaves, watering is drastically reduced or temporarily stopped so that the old pair of leaves gradually transfers its moisture to the new one. Excessive watering at this time causes cracking of the leaves and rotting of the base of the plant. Soft, settled water at room temperature is used; excess water from the tray is drained immediately after watering. Spraying is not required, and high air humidity and stagnant condensation are undesirable.

For planting, a very loose, organic-poor, and fast-drying mineral substrate is used: coarse sand, fine gravel, pumice, perlite, brick chips, and a small part of leaf soil or ready-made succulent soil. A high layer of drainage is placed at the bottom of the container, and the surface of the soil is covered with mineral mulch, which reduces contact of the leaves with moist substrate. Pots are chosen sufficiently deep, with large drainage holes, since the plant develops a thickened root system. Repotting is carried out rarely, usually once every 3-5 years, before the start of active growth and only after the soil has completely dried out.

Fertilizing is applied very moderately, no more than once every 4-6 weeks during active growth, with a weak solution of fertilizer for cacti and succulents with low nitrogen content. Excess nutrition, especially nitrogen, causes unnatural bloating of tissues, loss of compactness, and increases the risk of rot. Pruning is not performed. Drying old leaves are not removed mechanically until completely dry, as premature removal damages the young pair of leaves.