Conophytum PRAESECTUM

Conophytum PRAESECTUM - Conophytum praesectum, Oophytum.

"Living Stones" seed series.

Conophytum is the most species-diverse genus of leaf succulents in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae), native to the deserts of South Africa. The name originates from the Latin "conus" - "cone" or "pin" and the Greek "phyton" - "plant". Some of these plants are solitary, others form clusters; certain species are very difficult to cultivate, while others cause no problems. Plants of all species are very similar to one another and easily recognized as related.

Each plant consists of a pair of rounded fused leaves forming a cordate, obconical, or spherical body. A very short stem is situated underground. Plant size varies from a few millimeters to 5-10 cm (2-4 in). Conophytums form dense clusters of numerous shoots, each enclosed on all sides except the apex by its neighbor. During the arid period, the epidermis on the surface of the leaves dies back 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 the new pair that develops beneath this sheath. With the onset of the wet season, the new leaves rupture it and begin rapid growth. During the wet season, other desert plants are also actively vegetating, so animals pay less attention to the small "stones". Nevertheless, because in especially arid places there are few other plants, they have to "camouflage" themselves to match the soil color - becoming similar, for example, to limestone, granite, or white quartz.

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

The miniature dimensions (from 0.6 to 5 cm / 0.2 to 2.0 in) of these plants make it possible to create an interesting indoor collection of several dozen species. All of this makes collecting "living stones" an unusually fascinating hobby.

Conophytum praesectum is a dwarf soil-dwelling succulent forming clusters of reddish plants. This species possesses a very beautiful, soft, and vivid body. It grows almost completely submerged in the ground, so the glossy crowns resemble eyes capturing sun rays. In cultivation, it is best planted slightly raised above the soil surface, like lithops. It occurs in South Africa and Namibia.

Before sowing, seeds are soaked for 5-6 hours in warm water or a weak potassium permanganate solution, the sowing container is sterilized for 24 hours in a saturated solution, and the sowing mix is scalded with boiling water or baked in the oven. Next, they are sown in a shallow dish with a mixture of 1 part leaf mold soil and 2 parts coarse sand and perlite at intervals of 2-3 mm (0.08-0.12 in), lightly pressed in, and topped with a thin layer of sand no thicker than 1 mm (0.04 in). They are moistened with a spray mister, covered with film, and germinated in the light, but not in direct sun, at a temperature of 17-20 °C (63-68 °F). Seedlings require ventilation and watering. Moistening is still carried out with a spray mister. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and complete drying out of the sowings. To avoid prolonged condensation retention, the container is aired 1-2 times a day for 10-15 minutes. Seedlings appear in 7-10 days.

© Greeniverse. All rights reserved.

Conophytums are relatively easy to grow. They grow during the winter rainfall season and remain dormant in summertime. They are cultivated just like lithops.

The growth period in the Northern Hemisphere is from September to March. During this time, a small amount of water is required for irrigation, otherwise epidermal rupture (leading to unsightly scars) will occur. Minimal watering in summer (only light misting if the plant begins to shrivel), but if they receive enough moisture, growth can continue even in summer. Regular watering should be provided in winter after the previous year's leaves have dried up. Good drainage is required.

Direct sunlight should be avoided and plants shaded; during the dormant period, the plant should be kept in a cool location. The plant is resistant to ambient temperature drops down to -2 °C (28 °F). Good ventilation is necessary. One should not repot too frequently; the plant can remain in the same pot for many years. Moreover, plants grown in large containers often bloom more poorly. It is better if plants grow in individual small pots.

One of the secrets of successful cultivation is understanding their growth and dormancy cycles. They are winter-growing plants - they begin growing in late summer and early autumn, at a time when most species are in bloom, and grow most actively in late autumn and winter. The plants enter dormancy in early spring as days become longer and temperatures rise.