New year, new life for lithops - part 3 (10 pics)

Continuing with the regeneration pictures here is the next bunch.

L. gesinae v. annae C078

One has less regenerating to do than the other. The left plants is one of my very first plants, bought as adult in 2008, making it at least 10 years old. Age doesn't show on lithops. It looks just as young as back then :)

This one is two-headed, bought last year, and the left head grew just slightly long. After ripping it open the new leaves are as short and flat as they should be. Just a small corrective surgery.

L. julii ssp. fulleri v. brunnea C179

This one I also have since 2008 and for the last several years it has settled down to this perfect round and short shape. I'm not good with L. julii but this one is being very patient with me. The new leaves have just started showing. Its neighbor will have to be transplanted as it's almost finished and will need water soon.

L. bromfieldii var.glaudinae 'Rubroroseus' C393A 
These are 2012 seedlings and almost done changing leaves. I itch to water them. They'll double in size then.

L. gracilidelineata
This is one of my 2009 seedlings. A very beautiful plant and already all new, same as its siblings.

L. hookeri v. lutea
It doesn't look like a lutea but okay. It's pretty and healthy and that's the main thing.

L. hookeri 
All growing nicely flat, making me proud.

The next guys are new since last summer and will hopefully adapt their life cycle to the new windowsill conditions (they are initially greenhouse grown). So far so good. I always have difficulties with white flowering lithops.

L. hallii (Kalk Kraal)

L. hallii v. ochracea (Ghams)

Lithops don't waste time (5 pics)

Winter has started very early this year. It's gloomy and cold. The plants feel it and react to it: winter growers waking up, seeds germinating eagerly, and lithops are already recycling their resources. I've stopped watering most of them a month ago. They will get water again once they regenerate and it's warm and sunny again outside the window. April maybe. Yes, this means even if they fully regenerate earlier they still won't get water if there's not enough sunlight. No need to wake the roots if the light is not sufficient, unless absolutely necessary (young or small plants that grow visibly thirsty).
In my experience, it will take them a long time anyway :)

Lithops gracilidelineata (2 pics)

I have started to water these L. gracilidelineata (own seedlings from 2009) and they have inflated immediately.

They are so dreamy! ♥

The photos are very large so make sure to click them.

New growing season!

My dear readers, I'm sorry I have neglected the blog this winter. It's been busy and chaotic during and after the move to my new place but things are getting better, I'm settling in and finally have more time to look around instead of running all the time. I've been using my weekends for shopping (so many things are needed when you move!), assembling new furniture (all by myself and very proud of it) and simply getting used to the new environment (much like my planties). During the weekdays I couldn't take any pictures - I leave home in the dark and come back from work in the dark.

Anyway, this is how the new lithops-growing-place looks like. I'm going to put a panel from one side of the "inner balcony" to the other and shield it from the living room with curtains creating a winter garden of sorts. There will be much more room there for all the new sowings I've been planning for so long. I want to use the actual balcony for summer plant growing as well (much more light there!) but have to figure out how exactly.

I've lost some plants but much less than expected and about as many as I lose every winter. But we're not out of the woods just yet. The first year in the new environment is critical so this year I'm going to find out which plants can grow well here, which need a special care and which won't grow at all. I think this apartment will offer less sunlight but so far I can not see any plant growth assosiated with bad light conditions (fingers crossed it stays this way). And there is a first flower of 2015 - Delosparma harazianum decided to open a flower that's been in the pre-flowering state since months. Does it even have a fixed flowering season? To see it is very welcome and encouraging.

Lithops are doing their thing and regenerating more or less gracefully. L. fulviceps are doing it so nicely again they deserve a portrait. It definitely pays off for them to sometimes start the regeneration in summer already - they finish perfectly in time. And all the fresh two-headed-ness!

Perfect leaf changing performance from L. gesinae v. annae.

Smaller seedlings seem to be doing more or less okay. L. lesliei 'Fred's Redhead' are, I think, in fact doing much better this winter and I hope for a good growing season for them. Others are still in early stages while older seedling are all done by now and just slumber waterless untill it's warmer. Check out the cute smiling L. steineckeana!

I'm not watering any of the lithops yet but some of other succulents depending on their needs (judged solely visually). Avonias were getting a little water all the time (click for XXL pic).