Conophytum PILLANSII

Conophytum PILLANSII - Pillans' conophytum, Conophytum pillansii.

'Living Stones' seed series.

Conophytum is the most species-rich genus of leaf succulents in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae), native to the deserts of Southern Africa. The name derives from the Latin 'conus' - 'cone' and the Greek 'phyton' - 'plant'. Some of these plants are solitary, others form clumps; certain species are very difficult to cultivate, while others cause no trouble. Plants of all species are very similar to each other and easily recognized as related.

Each plant consists of a pair of rounded, fused leaves forming a cordate, obconical, or globular body. A very short stem is situated underground. Plant size varies from a few millimeters to 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in). Conophytums form dense clusters of numerous growths, each of which is sheltered on all sides except the top by its neighbors. During the dry period, the epidermis on the surface of the leaves dies and turns into a thin, dry sheath that reliably protects the plants from the sun, moisture evaporation, and herbivores.

Gradually, water from the drying leaves is transferred into a new pair that grows underneath this papery sheath. With the onset of the wet season, the new leaves rupture it and begin to grow rapidly. During the wet season, other desert plants also vegetate, so animals pay less attention to the small "stones". Still, since few other plants grow in particularly arid areas, they must "camouflage" themselves to match the color of the soil - becoming similar, for instance, to limestone, granite, or white quartz.

Leaf color ranges from light green to brown. In many species, the leaves are covered with green dots. The leaves are windowed and translucent. The flowers are white, yellow, lilac, red, or orange.

The miniature dimensions (from 0.6 to 5 cm / 0.24 to 2.0 in) of these plants allow creating an interesting home collection of several dozen species. All this makes collecting "living stones" an exceptionally fascinating pursuit.

Pillans' conophytum is one of the largest representatives of the genus. The body diameter reaches up to 2.5 cm (1.0 in). Another frequently used name for this species is fine-windowed conophytum.

Before planting, seeds are soaked for 5–6 hours in warm water or a weak potassium permanganate solution, the planting container is sterilized for 24 hours in a saturated solution, and the planting mix is doused with boiling water or baked in an oven. Next, seeds are sown into a shallow dish with a mixture of 1 part leaf mold and 2 parts coarse sand and perlite at intervals of 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in), pressed lightly, and dusted with a thin layer of sand of no more than 1 mm (0.04 in). They are moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not under direct sunlight, at a temperature of 17–20 °C (63–68 °F). Seedlings require ventilation and watering. Moistening continues to be done with a spray bottle. Overwatering and complete drying out of sowings must be avoided. To prevent long condensation buildup, the container is aired 1–2 times a day for 10–15 minutes. Seedlings appear within 7–10 days.

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Conophytums are relatively easy to cultivate. They grow during the winter rain season and remain dormant during the summer. They are cultivated much like Lithops.

The growing season in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from September to March. At this time, a small amount of water is needed for watering; otherwise, damage to the epidermis will occur (leading to unsightly scars). Minimal watering is provided in summer (only light misting if the plant begins to shrivel), but if they receive enough moisture, growth can continue even in summer. Water regularly in winter after the previous year's leaves have dried up. Good drainage is required.

Direct sunlight should be avoided and shade provided; during dormancy, keep the plant in a cool place. The plant is resistant to ambient temperature drops down to -2 °C (28 °F). Good ventilation is necessary. Do not repot too frequently; the plant can remain in the same pot for many years. Moreover, plants grown in large containers often bloom less well. It is better if plants grow in individual small pots.

One of the secrets to successful cultivation is understanding their cycles of growth and rest. They are winter-growing plants - starting growth in late summer to early autumn, around the time most species bloom, and growing most actively in late autumn and winter. The plants enter dormancy in early spring as days grow longer and temperatures higher.