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The first sentence on comptonii in Lithops - Treasures of the Veld by S. Hammer reads as follows: "Small plant, usually 1-2 headed or dead." This isn't very encouraging, is it? I've bought two plants recently and am ready for the challenge. One of them is already showing the new head, the other isn't yet. I've read some tips but will probably just watch them closely and act on it. The dark grey and rose combination looks very lovely even on the old leaves.

I just couldn't resist taking a picture! The brand-new fulviceps 'Aurea' leaves are breathtaking. The plants are utterly beautiful with those fresh green dots and bright golden lines. :) Heads-up: I've added a new option of subscribing to this blog via email. Also, there are new links in the "useful websites" list: Flowering Stones (lots of info on lithops and their cultivation in English), Mesa Garden (the seedlist 2012 is up!) and an article on growing lithops by Steven Hammer.

It's freezing outside. But everything the plants notice is a sunny day after such a long time. Maybe it is the light but it really feels like they don't waste any moment of it and start growing right away. :) Lesliei v. burchelii (June babies) start to regenerate all at once. What I sweet sight!

My bromfieldii seedlings from 2010 have made it through the regeneration safely and a little bit too soon. Looking at them now it is surprising how much the colors vary at this stage. I'd love to see them grow quicker and they would probably gladly do so if watered. Only during this dark time of the year they'd grow into cucumbers and we don't want that ;) One-year-old lesliei 'Fred's Redhead' have grown a lot since the last time I uploaded a picture of them. A winter growth spurt isn't that welcome though. To avoid further growing in 'height' they still aren't getting any water. I really need them to go sleep now.

It's cloudy and cold outside but the lithops are doing their thing. Even though the regeneration advances very slowly I'm a bit worried it might be too quick. After the extra 'meat' is gone they will need water eventually, which I can't give them until there's enough sunlight for them to grow nicely. (gracilidelineata seedlings from 2009) (pseudotruncatella seedlings from 2008)

You have to be very patient dealing with lithops. Everything is in slow motion. It seems the regeneration takes ages! Still, something is going on in there.

Hope you all had a good start into the new year! After 3 weeks away there's not much change among the plants. Only some seedlings had a sudden and unfortunate growth spurt but later about that. The Titanopsis calcarea have actually waited for me. The tiny flowers are so lovely. I've expected yellow color but it seems to vary from plant to plant. One of the flowers is of a light rose, almost translucent.  You can see it's winter from the photos. The colors feel quite melancholic.