Dinteranthus PUBERULUS

Dinteranthus PUBERULUS - Downy dinteranthus, Dinteranthus puberulus.

'Living Stones' seed series.

A VERY rare, collector's plant!

Dinteranthus is a succulent plant in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae), which along with Lithops and Conophytum is classified in the group of 'living stones'. This is a small genus numbering only 4 species and 2 varieties. The plants are found in a small area in the Cape Province of South Africa, in the Orange River valley, where relatively much rain falls in summer.

The leaf color of dinteranthus, depending on the species, varies from greenish-gray to almost whitish ivory. In some species, the leaf surface is covered with a marbled pattern or translucent speckles. The flowers are solitary, on a short pedicel, emerging from the fissure between the leaves. The flowers are quite large, in some species up to 7 cm (2.8 in) in diameter, bright, typically light or dark yellow, less often white or yellowish-white.

Downy dinteranthus has paired leaves fused for more than a third of their length, rounded, slightly keeled, and pointed. The surface of the leaves is covered with velvety pubescence, brownish-gray-green in color with speckling. The diameter of the golden-yellow flowers reaches 28 mm (1.1 in).

The seeds are dust-like! The seeds are sown on the surface, moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun at a temperature of 22-25 °C (72-77 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. Overwatering and drying out of the sowings must be avoided. The first sprouts should appear after 30-35 days. Dinteranthus plants are considered not easy to grow from seeds. At least, if sown the same way as lithops and other mesembs, the result is usually unsatisfactory. Therefore, here are planting and germination recommendations from world-renowned experts.

Steven Hammer's method: (from his article 'The New Mastering the Art of Growing Mesembs') To achieve success, seeds should be sown in mid-summer using a sterilized mixture with added pebbles and sufficient peat to provide an acidic soil reaction. The pot with seeds must be placed in a water tray, cover it all together with a plastic lid, and place it in a bright spot. After three days, the pot is moved to the spot where germination of the seeds is planned; they must be sprayed at least twice a day. Small seeds and small seedlings can dry out very quickly. Sprouts should be noticeable twelve days after sowing. The cotyledons are very small at first, so the author advises spraying them with a weak fertilizer solution so they grow faster.