Pleiospilos NELII

Pleiospilos NELII - Spherical pleiospilos, Nel's pleiospilos, Split Rock, Living Granite.

Seed series "Living Stones".

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 the wild, the plants are found in dry shrublands, the Karoo, rocky semi-desert habitats, and open mineral soils where precipitation is irregular and most moisture comes in the form of seasonal rains and dew.

Representatives of the genus form a very short, almost hidden stem and one or more pairs of fleshy opposite leaves, partially fused at the base. The leaves are thick, triangular or hemispherical, grayish-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 fragments, reducing moisture loss and protecting themselves from animal grazing.

Flowers in Pleiospilos are solitary or few, large relative to the size of the plant, daisy-like, with numerous narrow petals of a yellow, orange, or coppery 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.

Nel's split rock is a miniature perennial succulent from the arid regions of South Africa, primarily the Cape Provinces and the Karoo region. In nature, it occurs on open rocky and clayey sites, among shale and sandstone soils, where the plant virtually blends in with the surrounding stones.

The plant is almost stemless, compact, usually forming one or more pairs of very fleshy opposite leaves. The leaves are large relative to the size of the plant, hemispherical or triangular-ovate, grayish-green, olive, or brownish, with numerous dark dots and grooves. A new pair of leaves usually develops from the central fissure and gradually replaces the old one.

The flowers are solitary, large for such a small plant, most often yellow, orange, or yellow-orange, resembling daisy flowers. They open from the central fissure between the leaves, usually in the afternoon, and can last for several days. 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 with stable grow lights and temperature control is possible year-round. A sterile, fine-fraction, well-drained substrate dominated by mineral components is used: fine sand, perlite, pumice, or fine gravel with a small addition of sifted leaf mold. Seeds are distributed over the surface or barely sprinkled with a layer of washed sand up to 1 mm (0.04 in). 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 indirect light, without direct sun and overheating. Daytime temperature is maintained around 22-26 °C (72-79 °F), while nighttime temperature may drop to 15-18 °C (59-64 °F), imitating the natural diurnal fluctuation in arid habitats. The sowing is ventilated daily for 10-15 minutes, condensation is removed, and the surface is kept slightly moist, but not wet. Waterlogging is especially dangerous for seedlings and quickly leads to damping-off.

The first seedlings may appear in 6-7 days, normal germination time is 10-21 days, and the maximum possible time under cool keeping or uneven germination can reach 4-6 weeks. After seedlings appear, the cover is gradually opened and humidity is reduced without abrupt desiccation. Seedlings grow slowly and remain very small at first. Pricking out is carried out 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 an established pair of true leaves, preserving a small clump of substrate around the roots.

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Pleiospilos requires the brightest possible location with direct sunlight for most of the day. South, southeast, and southwest windows are best suited, and in case of insufficient natural light, supplemental illumination with specialized plant grow lights is necessary. With a deficit of light, leaves lose density, become soft, the shape of the fissure is distorted, and the risk of rot increases significantly.

During active growth, a temperature of 18-25 °C (64-77 °F) is maintained, and 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 shade, air movement, and dry mineral soil are especially important. Overwintering is carried out in a bright cool spot 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 carefully, taking into account the seasonal cycle and condition of the leaves. During the growth period, the soil dries out completely between waterings, and subsequent moistening is done only after slight wrinkling of the leaves. During the formation of a new pair of leaves, watering is sharply 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 leaf splitting and rotting of the plant base. Soft, settled, room-temperature water is used, and excess water is drained from the saucer 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 portion of leaf mold or ready-made succulent soil. A deep drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the container, and the soil surface is covered with mineral mulch, which reduces contact of leaves with moist substrate. Pots are selected sufficiently deep, with large drainage holes, as the plant develops a thickened root system. Repotting is carried out rarely, usually once every 3-5 years, before active growth begins and only after the soil has dried completely.

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