15 January 2014

WINTER...

Winter is the time for LITHOPS to rest and "sleep". So I do not have to water and fertilize them from around October or November until March or April. Light too will be not so important for the plants.
As I do not have to much space and a greenhouse not at all I use the cheapest and easiest method to overwinter my LITHOPS.
I use Styropor boxes which are used by the fishery industry. They pack the fresh and raw fishes in there plus ice chips. The boxes do have a cover and so the fishes are safe from harm and loss of temperature and reach our markets fresh and safe too.
I wash the boxes with water, hoping that some smell of fish or shell might be washed away.

The boxes are stored outside the whole winter. If the temperature might be above 5 C I always uncover the boxes. The plants should get as much air and sun as possible.

By saying LITHOPS "sleep" over winter this is not really true. True is you must not water and fertilize them. This seems to be the same procedure as has to be done with cacti. But LITHOPS "grow" "inside" their old bodies. The new 2 leaves will be forming "inside" the old body by consuming the 2 old leaves. And some day...there is a growing chasm between the old leaves which will give a look inside and at the new growing leaves. This process will not stop until the new leaves will take place of the former older ones. Those last ones will become some papery sheats at the basis of the new leaves.

So sun light will not be needed but by offering as much sun as possible you might sustain the "growing" "inside" and might get healthier plants. This is why I would like to give them as much air and sun light as possible.



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