Conophytum LONGUM

Conophytum LONGUM - Conophytum longum, Ophthalmophyllum.

"Living stones" seed series.

Conophytum is the most species-rich genus of leaf succulents in the family Aizoaceae, growing in the deserts of Southern Africa. The name comes from the Latin "conus" - "cone" 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 each other and easily recognized as related.

Each plant consists of a pair of rounded fused leaves forming a cordate, obconical, or globose body. A very short stem is underground. Plant size varies from several millimeters to 5-10 cm (2-4 in). Conophytums form dense clusters of numerous shoots, each of which is enclosed on all sides except the top by its neighbor. During the dry period, the skin 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 redistributed into a new pair that grows under this sheath. With the start 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". Even so, since there are few other plants in especially arid places, they must "camouflage" themselves to match the color of the soil - 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. The leaves are fenestrated and translucent. Flowers are white, yellow, lilac, red, or orange.

The miniature size (from 0.6 to 5 cm (0.2-2 in)) of these plants allows creating an interesting indoor collection of several dozen species. All this makes collecting "living stones" an unusually fascinating hobby.

Conophytum longum is a dwarf perennial succulent, often forming fairly large mats or dome-shaped small clumps. It is one of the most popular species widely cultivated by collectors. Some specimens are very attractively colored.

Before sowing, 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 potting mix is scalded with boiling water or baked in an oven. They are then sown in a shallow bowl with a mixture of 1 part leaf mold and 2 parts coarse sand and perlite spaced 2-3 mm (0.08-0.12 in) apart, lightly pressed in and covered with a thin layer of sand 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 17-20 °C (63-68 °F). Seedlings need ventilation and watering. Moistening continues to be done with a spray bottle. Overwatering and complete desiccation of sowings must be avoided. To prevent prolonged condensation buildup, the container is ventilated 1-2 times a day for 10-15 minutes. Seedlings appear in 7-10 days.

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Conophytums are relatively easy to grow. They grow during the winter rainfall season and remain dormant during the summer. They are cultivated in the same way as Lithops.

The growth period in the Northern Hemisphere is from September to March. During this time, a small amount of water is required for watering, otherwise damage to the epidermis will occur (leading to unsightly scars). 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 dry out. Good drainage is required.

Direct sunlight should be avoided and shading provided; during dormancy, the plant should be kept in a cool place. The plant is resistant to temperature drops down to -2 °C (28 °F). Good ventilation is necessary. It should not be repotted too often; the plant can remain in the same pot for many years. Moreover, plants grown in large containers often flower worse. It is best if plants grow in individual small pots.

One of the secrets of successful cultivation is understanding their cycles of growth and dormancy. 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.