Splitting the mimicry of blooms

[Tonio]

My mid bloomers at work.




Pleiosphilos nelii, but not sure about the purple one's correct v. It tried to have a triplet, but alas does not appear to be up to my expectations.
Its probably not exactly agreeing with my watering habits either, however.

All in learning these neat succulents I got into last year



T

[Tonio]

Get it?
Splitting the mimicry
Maybe I had too many



T

[Kisal]

Well, duh! I finally got it!

[Tonio]

LOL

Cheers.

T

[PunkRotten]

I just got one of these at Lowes tonight. What kind of soil are you using? And what about pot size? I was reading they go dormant in the Summer. Do you put them in the shade or bring them indoors?

[Tonio]

No soil - gritty mix:
Turface MVP
Granite grit #5
bark fines 1/8~1/4 fir or 1/8~3/8 pine
gypsum 1 TBS per gallon volume of mix

With Gritty mix, water almost runs right through just wetting the turface which is the water retention, and some w/ the bark , grit for air. No nutrients, so I use Dyna grow on occasion. I tried gritty mix with herbs and coming spring I am going to try it with a Japanese maple.

Pleiosphilos nelii needs water in the fall, then when it flowers in fall/winter ease up on water to no water. Then in spring water, dormant in summer - no water. They don't need all day direct sunlight-some dappled shade helps in afternoon. I repotted almost immediately when purchased in 2, 3 inch pots to 4, 5 inch pots

Split rocks are neat plants, I also have many other succulents-lithops, jades, aeonium, fire sticks, aloes, and many more I can't remember right now.

[PunkRotten]

I have some pea gravel and cactus mix. Think I could make a potting mixture out of this? Would it be alright?

[Tonio]

gritty mix


different angle when not blooming


others

[Tonio]

I have some pea gravel and cactus mix. Think I could make a potting mixture out of this? Would it be alright?

On a budget- possibly, the main thing is the size of ingredients. pea gravel-possibly, but being round it may attach to more surfaces, so you may have less drainage. With a cactus mix, its still still too fine of ingredients-but at least its has better drainage than a peat soil mix. You could try replacing grit w/ pumice or perlite ( water retention added).
Sometimes I use the gritty mix and replace grit for pumice/perlite, less percentage of turface and add in a nice regular potting mix( I like using Happy frog) for herbs.

Give it a try though if thats all you have, it is better than a peat based soil mix. Succulents do not like sitting in water and will rot.

T

[PunkRotten]

Hey is that dyna grow fine to use on edibles? It's a chemical fertilizer right?

[Tonio]

Some people do, but I don't use it on edibles. If any on herbs- just for a good micro nutrient boost in containers.

T

[PunkRotten]

Hey I noticed mine is looking a little "wrinkled". I know too much water can split them, but I was thinking it was this way from lack of water. I gave it a little sprinkle and a day later it does not look any different.