3/17/2023 0 Comments Conophytum calculusYou are first attracted to the handsome face, succulent lips, and beautiful figure of lovely color and texture. How I Fell in Love with Conophytumįalling in love with a sphaeroid, as Conophytum are sometimes called, is similar to falling in love with a humanoid. Also in habitat, they are found growing deeper in the soil than in cultivation, some with just the tops of their heads barely visible, the soil offering insulating protection. In habitat, they often grow in micro climates next to rocks or in rock crevices that offer shelter from the harsh sun and winds. This photo shows the “cocoons” forming, turning brownish and dry. In their native South Africa, these “cocoons” allow them to endure harsh summer conditions until the autumn growing season when they bloom again. Watering during this time is minimal to none. In the spring, the skin of Conophytum begins to thin and loses color, until finally, when the hot, dry days of summer arrive they go dormant - they seemingly retreat into a dry, papery cocoon spun from their own skins. At this time, they can be misted every day (simulating their native habitat fog) and will become plump. The latin word “conus” translates to cone and the Greek “phytum” means plant–Conophytum is a perfect name, don’t you think? An Interesting Growth Cycle for Survivalĭuring fall/winter, Conophytum present their white, yellow, lavender, orange, and occasionally red, flowers according to species. How They Got Their NameĬonophytum bodies are generally shaped like cones, roots grow from the pointy end in the soil. This page is dedicated to how I fell in love with these plants, photos of my collection, and how to grow them well. Understanding their unusual growth cycle is the key to success with these rare, interesting plants. Sculpturally appealing and adapted for the harsh conditions of South Africa, they wrap themselves in “cocoons” against the arid heat of summer, displaying cheery daisy-like flowers of various hues in cooler conditions. But hey, they have a lot of dessert there too! OriginĬonophytum calculus is endemic to the winter rainfall regions of the Cape provinces of South Africa and the southern part of Namibia.How to Grow and Care for Conophytum (the RIGHT Way!)Ĭonophytum are irresistible, winter-growing green pebbles, dumplings and bilobes–dwarf plants that fit on your windowsill and are one of my favorites listed on my dessert plants list, even though they come from Africa. Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Conophytum. The best time to repot a Conophytum is at the beginning of a period of active growth.Ĭonophytums are easily propagated by division. They typically need to be repotted every 2 to 4 years, depending on the pot's size and growth rate. These succulents will benefit from repotting. It is best to feed at the beginning of the growth period and just before flowering. In the fall, when plants will begin growing, it is safe to water deeply, allowing the soil to dry before watering again.Ĭonophytums are light feeders and do not need fertilizer at all if they are repotted every two years. When Conophytums go dormant in the spring, they require little or no water. Use a commercial succulent soil specially designed for growing succulents or make your own mix. These plants thrive best in a porous growing medium that will drain quickly. To avoid sunburn, place them in a position to receive a few hours of full sun in cooler periods of the day. Most Conophytums need bright light but do not like too much intense sunlight. Nocturnal flowers are golden yellow to dark orange and appear in fall. The old leaf becomes a thin, dry, and smooth, beige-colored sheath, sometimes turning black, which persists on the plant. New leaves are formed inside the existing ones, and when, after a year, the leaf body starts to die, a new one emerges from inside. They are completely smooth and hairless, chalky-green to pale yellowish-green, always without any spot. The bodies are up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in diameter. calculus, Conophytum komkansicum Scientific ClassificationĬonophytum calculus is a small, stemless succulent with two leaves fused into a spherical body that multiplies with age to form a dense clump. Mesembryanthemum calculus, Conophytum calculus var. Marble Buttons, Cone Plants, Dumplings, Button Plants, Living Pebbles Synonyms
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