C u l t i v a t i o n


The main distribution area of Mesembs is South Africa and Namibia and here especially in the winter-rainfall-area along the west coast. Many Mesembs (e.g. all Conophytum, Argyroderma and Cheiridopsis) are used to get rains in winter thus belonging to the short-day-plants. In the northern hemisphere the start to grow as days get distinctly shorter in late summer and fall. Long-day-plants (e.g. Lithops, Faucaria or Glottiphyllum) have an additional growing period in spring.


Light

As with most all Succulents Mesembs need high light intensities all year round and should not be staged underneath benches or hanging pots. In contrast to nature plants will get sunburned rather quickly in cultivation because of a lack of sunlight during winter causing deficiency in protective pigments. High loss may occur especially during the first hot and sunny days in spring. Do shade your plants but only during hours necessary. Proper ventilation and good feeding will lessen burning danger.


Watering

In nature parcipitation ranges from > 2.000 mm/a in the south to nearly zero in Namibia. Especially in the dry regions plants depend on water from fog occurring there most any day in the morning. Plants can uptake the water through very fine roots close to the surface. Daily misting as many people do will only be useful if done early as the plants need hours to take up the water. Spraying at 8:00 in the morning in summer is nonsense as the water will be gone within minutes. So if you don't like to get up at 3:00 forget your mister, take your can or hose and give plenty of water whenever your pots get dry. If you keep Mesembs dry during their resting time there will be high loss but very little if you water them.

The water should be free of calcium and at least as warm as the substrate. On a warm summer evening your water should be 25° C. Do water from above and several times a year so strong that most of it runs away through the bottom holes of your pots. If not, salts and other poisonous materials that plants give into the ground via their roots will accumulate and will reduce both growth and the beauty of your plants.


Nutrition

As with all plants Mesembs need nutrition. All macro elements (N, P, K) and microelements (Mg, Fe, Fn, Bo, ...) must be available in the quantity necessary. They must also be present in soluble form so that the plants can take them up. It is useful to give a microelement feeder into the potting mix anytime you transplant (every 2 - 4 years) and a high nitrogen liquid feeder on low concentration several times a year during the growing season. You will have a regular and constant growth if you feed frequently on low concentration.

As substrates you may use any well draining materials on particle size between 1 and 4 mm. Avoid any dust, especially loam. The latter will kill any plants with time. We use pumice. Check your pH-Level! It should be between 6 and 7, never > 7.


Pests

There should never be any pests. In case you find any do treat your entire collection. You can reduce this by taking care and treating against major pests (e.g. root-mealy-bug) in advance. With Imidacloprid (in Confidor or Lizetan) we have a pesticide with an efficacy never seen before being not at all poisonous to humans and nearly free of any smell and you cannot only reduce costs of about 10% compared to traditional substances (e.g. E605) but you will have your collection free of any bugs with just 2 treatments per year. This is not efficient against red-spider-mite but you don't have them anyway if you water from above.