The complete guide to growing Conophytums: Conophytum care

[@simonbergagna]

Great presentation 😊

[@AridZine]

Thank you 😋

[@alanstauffer8632]

I got my first Conophytum Pearsonii a few months ago and it’s just begun to shed out of its old leaves! Such a beautiful plant to see grow, and they multiply so fast! 😁

[@AridZine]

They’re wonderful to see as they go through their cycle and grow. Happy growing!

[@rodadelossantos6194]

I've done pretty good with Lithops so I'll give these little guys a try...thanks for the recommendation and guide!!!

[@AridZine]

If you’ve got Lithops growing happily, Conos will be a walk in the park - very rewarding too.

[@tianiasunshinearts9097]

Awesome information and may I say sir your accent is ❤❤❤❤❤❤dreamy❤❤❤❤❤blush blush

[@AridZine]

🙏

[@lostasfk]

awesome videos

[@AridZine]

Appreciate it!

[@87walker]

Great video mate!

[@AridZine]

Cheers mate! Appreciate it

[@cate7777]

I stumbled on these a few months back on my "plant journey" and have a few in my collection. They are cute little plants, perfect for those of us who are space challenged.

[@AridZine]

Yes their tiny size just adds to their appeal! Thanks for watching

[@FarzanBeh]

I enjoyed the video a lot! It was very informative. Could you make a video about growing Lithops from seeds?

[@AridZine]

Thank you! I could - haven’t grown Lithops from seed in a few years, but could make an exception for the sake of a video.

[@mashysha.]

Hi 👋 I love this flowers too

[@AridZine]

Yes they’re beautiful!

[@mashysha.]

@@AridZine Did you see my hot stones? 😄

[@zhaezz84]

What are minimum temperature in winter? Awesome video mate, too many cool plants, wayyy to littel room ^^ best regards

[@AridZine]

Depends on the species, some can tolerate short freezing periods - generally minimums of 3C is a good bet though.

[@tianiasunshinearts9097]

Much love from Trenton Nj

[@grannyplants1764]

And Colonia NJ! 🤗

[@AridZine]

🙏

[@grannyplants1764]

Oh geez another fantastic rabbit hole to enter, Conophytums, who knew? what variety too. Ok off to look them up…but oh dear you didn’t show what the flowers look like! And about how old are the plants you showed grown from seed ? Again, thanks much for this info 😊 🗿

[@AridZine]

It’s a wonderful rabbit hole to go down! These plants are maybe three years from seed? My record keeping was terrible when I sowed these.

[@igamerPt]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! I have some growing from seed. I don't know if I have to stop.watering they are so tiny but growing.I failed with c. Maughanii seedlings, but others are growing

[@AridZine]

Keep watering tiny seedlings watered so long as they're still up taking water. When they do enter their first dormancy, keep them out of any direct sun (I actually keep mine indoors, not even under light... they're completely asleep anyway.) You can then pop them back outside just prior to their first watering when temperatures cool again.

[@w.romana]

Great info! What is the pot dimensions used to pot the witerbergense? and have you tried grow them from seeds?

[@AridZine]

Thanks! In this video, all the plants are in 5cm pots, and all the plants you see me holding were raised from seed.

[@Malprincess]

When you say they can grow into clumps, how does that happen with these plants? Are they putting out seeds that are growing or do they grow pups off the main plant? Or both?

[@AridZine]

When the new leaves grow inside the old ones, what usually happens is that two pairs of leaves form inside one old leaf pair. So they will often double in size with each growing season.

[@Malprincess]

@@AridZine But not double in number in the pot? Like they'll just be 2x big but not 2x as many plants in there?

[@AridZine]

Yeah twice as big

[@Malprincess]

How do they transfer the nutrients around to the new leaves if the old leaves are so dead looking? Where is it stored? Do they have a tuber?

[@AridZine]

Essentially the nutrients gradually transfer from old to new leaves - so as they old leaves shrivel, the new leaves are growing in size. By the time the old leaves have turned into a dry husk, the new leaves are fully formed - they’re just dehydrated, which is why they’re hidden inside the dead sheath of old leaves. With their first watering in autumn, they burst out.

[@Malprincess]

@@AridZine Super weird. Thank you!

[@lisaliekhus5095]

How do these work grown solely inside under grow lights?? Any tips? Thanks.

[@AridZine]

You’d need your grow lights to be super strong, essentially replicating full sun. Since they’re winter growers, you’d need to keep them in a place that isn’t too warm - they’ll go dormant when overnight temperatures exceed about 12C consistently. It would be a tricky proposition!

[@lisaliekhus5095]

@@AridZinethanks for your response! I purchased an Antonii by accident (online sale) so it appears I am up for a challenge to keep the little guy healthy and happy.

[@Malprincess]

With these little plants how do you know when it's time to repot?

[@AridZine]

They can really stay in their same pots for a loooong time. Repot if it gets a bit crowded or, if they start to get leggy, they can be chopped up and started from cutting.

[@Malprincess]

@@AridZine That's good to know! Thank you!

[@Malprincess]

Can these be cross bred like the euphorbias?

[@AridZine]

They can, I’m sure some specialist breeders are trying it but it’s not something I’ve dabbled with.

[@Malprincess]

@@AridZine You could have an army of interesting butts though! Rebrand to Arid Butts lol.

[@PhillipWhite-uz3wu]

So you water them in winter and autumn?

[@AridZine]

Yep, winter and autumn -- early spring too, if local temperatures are cool

[@SenthilPrakash-uw4dq]

Super ❤❤hi

[@AridZine]

🤘

[@Malprincess]

IT'S A BUTT 3

[@AridZine]

😅

[@grannyplants1764]

It’s unavailability unless have 💰💰

[@AridZine]

They shouldn’t be too pricey - Australian prices are always inflated compared to other markets, and most Conophytum can be had down here for $10 if you know the nurseries that grow them.