Conophytum LYDIAE

Conophytum LYDIAE - Lydia's conophytum, Ophthalmophyllum.

"Living Stones" seed series.

Conophytum is the most species-rich genus of leaf succulents in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae), growing in the deserts of South Africa. The name derives 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 some present no problems. Plants of all species are very similar to one another and are easily recognized as related.

Each plant consists of a pair of rounded fused leaves forming a heart-shaped, obconical, or globular body. A very short stem is situated underground. The size of the plants varies from a few millimeters to 5-10 cm (2.0-3.9 in). Conophytums form dense clusters of numerous shoots, each of which is enclosed by its neighbor on all sides except the top. During the dry period, the skin on the surface of the leaves dies off 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 their new pair, which develops beneath 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'. And yet, because there are few other plants in especially arid areas, they must 'camouflage' to match the color of the ground - and they become 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 speckles. The leaves are fenestrated and translucent. The flowers are white, yellow, lilac, red, orange.

The miniature dimensions (from 0.6 to 5 cm / 0.24 to 2.0 in) of these plants make it possible to create an intriguing home collection of several dozen species. All this makes collecting 'living stones' an exceptionally fascinating hobby.

Lydia's conophytum has two fused leaves measuring 1-2.5 cm (0.4-1.0 in). They have a green coloration. The pedicel is fairly tall, with a pinkish flower at the top.

Before sowing, seeds are soaked for 5-6 hours in warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, the sowing container is sterilized for 24 hours in a saturated solution, and the sowing mix is drenched with boiling water or baked in the oven. Next, seeds are sown in a shallow dish pot with a mix of 1 part leaf mold and 2 parts coarse sand and perlite at intervals of 2-3 mm (0.08-0.12 in), slightly pressed in, and sprinkled 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 a temperature of 17-20 °C (63-68 °F). Seedlings require airing and watering. Moistening is still carried out with a spray bottle. Overwatering and complete desiccation of the sowings must be avoided. To prevent prolonged condensation retention, the container is aired 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 in summer. They are cultivated in the same manner as Lithops.

The growth period in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from September to March. At this time, a small amount of water is required for irrigation, otherwise epidermal rupture will occur (leading to unsightly scars). Minimal watering in summer (only light misting if the plant begins to dry out), but if they receive enough moisture, growth can continue even in summer. They should be watered 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 the dormant period, the plant should be kept in a cool place. The plant is resistant to ambient temperature drops down to -2 °C (28 °F). Good ventilation is necessary. It should not be repotted too frequently; the plant can remain in the same pot for many years. Moreover, plants grown in large containers often flower less readily. It is better if plants grow in individual small pots.

One of the secrets of successful cultivation is understanding their cycles of growth and rest. They are winter-growing plants - they begin to grow 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 grow longer and temperatures higher.