iann wrote:Nothing you can do with the Lithops flowers at this point. Except maybe keep the petals tidy since they will leak pigment all over the leaves when they get wet. Just as they collapse they are very sticky and can easily get stuck all over, or can be twirled together out of the way. Yours look OK. Eventually the whole flower and stalk will dry up and can be pulled off, but don't expect it until next summer. The flower stalks dry to a dead flat stalk but it takes forever to come loose and it isn't a good idea to pull too hard. None of those Lithops need watering, but you're seeing the difficulty of growing them all in one pot.
The Argyroderma certainly looks thirsty, but its hard to know if that's because it needs watering or because it has no roots. The white marks are not overwatering cracks, but they're not good either. I would have said they were old, but maybe they are scorching that has just happened? Or worse! If the roots were established, it should respond overnight to being watered, so it seems like the roots aren't working well. It isn't in any danger yet so no need to panic. Don't expect to see new leaves, or even a flower, until late autumn or winter. It is just in a holding pattern right now, waiting for cooler weather.
Thanks Iann, always great to get your response. I'll water carefully so it doesn't mess up the petals. So the stalk will be there even if it starts to regenerate during the winter? Yup, definitely some difficulties. I gave them a drink two days ago, and they seem to take it quite alright. Hopefully they can be somewhat in sync once winter begins. I don't know if I'll see another flower from the rest of the bunch this year.
I see, hm I should've taken a picture when the plant arrived (bare-rooted), it did look like it had a good amount of roots and the roots looked healthy and clean. Some of the white marks are old, but a good number of them definitely emerged afterwards. I can say that they're definitely not scorched because I don't get much direct sun, it is mostly strong indirect light, and sometimes some direct sun few hours before the sun set, which is not that strong I believe. And the argy is shaded sometimes.
I will patiently wait until late fall/winter and see if it will do something else. In the mean time, should I just keep it bone dry, or can I mist it once in awhile?
Despite the flower. I'd give the Pleiospilos a while before watering, just as a precaution. It even has a little left in the old leaves, it is a long way from being dehydrated. Once they throw up a bud, you are going to get a flower whether you water or not.
