Lithops are beautiful ornamental plants, which are called "living stones", because in their color and shape they resemble pebbles, but are living plants.
About 37 species of this plant are known in nature. It can be said that the Lithops is a succulent, consisting of two dissected modified fleshy leaves, joined at the bottom.
The depth of this cut depends on the type of Lithops, and can be both very small and almost reaching the level of the soil. With good care, Lithops blooms with white or yellow flowers up to 5 cm in diameter.
When are the flower transplanted?
It is possible to transplant succulents only after wintering, before their active growth. Young plants under 5 years old are replanted every 2 years, adults - every 3-4 years.
A transplant must be carried out no more often than once in 3 years. Lithops should be transplanted only when the roots fill the entire pot. In order to determine the need for this procedure, one should observe the growth rate of the roots of the Lithops.
After purchase, a transplant is also required for the plant. Such a condition is an additional advantage for excellent succulent development in an unnatural environment.
After a few years, when the plant grows strongly, it should be transplanted at the end of spring. It is necessary to apply a standard, standard pot size, because the Lithops during this period forms a rather developed and deep root system.
What is needed for the procedure?
For the Lithops transplant, we may need:
Ordinary plastic or clay flower pots (always with drainage holes).- Soil (except peat). You can use the standard mixture, which is characterized by low water capacity, high permeability, lack of humus and low nitrogen content: 9 parts of coarse sand, 1 part loamy soil.
- Top dressing: you can take fertilizers for cacti or other mixtures: 1 part of small brick chips, coarse sand and ordinary earth, or 1 part of coarse sand and pumice into 2 parts of clay soil.
Ordinary plastic or clay flower pots (always with drainage holes).Pot and soil requirements
For Lithops, the pot should be selected in such a way that the roots can easily fit in it, as well as leave some free space. Above-ground part derninki should not fall out of the pot much.
Young representatives of this plant is better to plant in small pots, and larger ones - in large pots. If the plant is transplanted into a new pot, then it should be 1 cm wider than the previous one. It is necessary to replant the Lithops in pots of such a height so that the straightened roots fit completely.
How to plant lithops? Best of all - at a distance of no more than 2 cm between plants, with no more than 3-5 plants in one pot.
In one instance, it is advisable not to plant as they take root rather poorly and gradually die. It is necessary to put a layer of pebbles on the surface and on the bottom of the pot so that excess water does not flow out and high-quality ventilation is provided, which protects the root neck from rotting.
You can take the leafy ground, and for looseness add granite chips, sand, broken bricks (red) and small pebbles. The prepared soil should be decontaminated., to get rid of parasites and other diseases. To do this, the soil should be steamed on the stove for several hours. Then it must be cooled and sustained for a period of time. By the time of planting, the land should have a humidity of about 5-15%.
The composition of the mixture for Lithops consists of several parts: inert (50% or slightly more), organic (about 50% or slightly less) and expanded clay (drainage).
The composition of the inert part includes:
- perlite, vermiculite;
- river sand without broken shells.
The organic part includes deciduous humus. Such a land should be sifted, it should not be unburned leaves.
As for the third ingredient, the drainage (expanded clay) must be of a certain size depending on the size of the plant and the pot.
Plant nutrition
Lithops do not need thorough and obligatory feedingit will be enough to pour them with melt water. It is necessary to start fertilizing with the beginning of vegetative growth (in spring). It is desirable to carry out top dressing once a month, and it is necessary to finish it before the beginning of flowering - in the fall.
Succulents can be fed with fertilizers for cacti, but you can use no more than half the recommended dose on the package for use. The most common means - Agricola, Power of Life, Health, Reasil, Master.
Transplant of "living stones": detailed instructions
For the Lithop transplantation, you need to take the soil, expanded clay (for drainage), a pot, and decorative powder. You need to dry the soil before transplanting, that is, do not water it for a couple of days to dry the soil in the pot.
The transplant process takes place in this way:
- It should be carefully, while not damaging the integrity of the Lithops, shake it out of the tank.
- Shake roots from excess soil, remove rotten and stunted parts.
- Check the succulent for the presence of various harmful parasites.
- Pour claystone (drainage) on the bottom of the tank so that the holes in the bottom of the pot are closed.
- It is necessary to pour a layer of soil on the drainage so that it covers the drainage completely.
- Put the roots of the plant into the pot, and then carefully cover it with earth in a circle, tapping the pot so that it spreads evenly. Lithops need to be planted to the level of the cervix, sometimes a little deeper.
- Top should be sprinkled with powder - special decorative sand and pebbles.
- Immediately after transplantation, you can not water the plant.
After transplantation, the plant must be shaded so that the bright rays of the sun for up to a week do not fall on it. After a period of adaptation, you can gradually bring the plant into the light and resume normal irrigation.
Due to improper planting of succulents, root collar rot can occur. It is necessary to pay attention in this process to the fact that there were only roots in the soil, and the neck itself was on top.
You can sprinkle lithops on the sides of coarse sand to give them stability. A siliceous layer on the surface prevents rotting and creates conditions close to the plant’s natural habitat. It is undesirable to water "live stones" before and after planting. It should be just before transplanting a little sprinkle the ground with water to release the roots from the old substrate.
Transplanted plants should be sent to the greenhouse for 2-3 weeks. Then you need to carefully monitor the soil moisture in the pot and the lighting. Do not allow in any case drafts, otherwise the Lithops may die.
The main rules of courtship for Lithops are as follows:
- regular airing;
- easily passed, stony ground;
- sunny side of the plant;
- rare watering.
Conclusion
Lithops in their maintenance and care do not require too much effort and attention. You just need to fully explore their characteristics of transplanting, watering, feeding and the emergence of any diseases.
