Lithops comptonii is indigenous to South Africa. This species with its widely divergent leaves is one of the most primitive of the genus and, as it grows in the south-west Cape region, is considered to be a species from which many others in the genus have evolved. It is rarely found in cultivation.
Lithops comptonii, also called Compton's living stone, Lithops comptonii var. comptonii, is a species of flowering plants in the genus Lithops. This species was described by Harriet Margaret Louisa Bolus in 1930. It was named in honor Professor R. H. Compton.
IDENTIFY LITHOPS COMPTONII SUCCULENTS
Lithops comptonii is indigenous to South Africa. This species with its widely divergent leaves is one of the most primitive of the genus and, as it grows in the south-west Cape region, is considered to be a species from which many others in the genus have evolved. It is rarely found in cultivation.
It is a stemless, perennial succulent with pair of plump leaves that looks like stones when it is not in flower which reaching up to 25mm long and 15mm wide at the deep fissure. This species are dark green, purplish-green or reddish, sometimes greyish purple or brownish. The large window are dark grey-green sometimes tinged purple, often with many islands but occasionally some specimens are without islands. The flowers are yellow, 15-25mm in diameter, 5-merous.
LITHOPS COMPTONII SUCCULENTS CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Full sunshine is preferred and encourages flower production. A green house is preferred through Lithops comptonii can be grown successful on a sunny windowsill where they receive about 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight during the early part of the day, and partial shade during the afternoon.
Be cautious about introducing the new bought plant to bright light too quickly. Sun burn is a very real issue for them. Either use a shade cloth initially, or put them in an area with less direct sun. Plants grown in strong light will develop hard strongly coloured skins which are resistant to damage and rot. Low light levels will make the plants highly susceptible to rotting and fungal infection.
Proper lighting is important in maintaining the vibrant coloring of succulents. If the plant does not receive enough sunlight it will begin to grow slender and elongated, lean to one side to receive more light, lose coloration and turn greenish, and will eventually die if better conditions are not provided. A light reddish or orangey on the leaves indicates that they are already exposed to maximum sun exposure that they can tolerate.
Temperature:
An ideal summer daytime temperature is around 25-30ºC; At night, a temperature of 15-20 ° C is sufficient. If the temperature is more than 35 ° C in a continuous way, this lithops can enter into a lethargy state that is prolonged until the average temperatures drop again. Compton's living stone can withstand high temperatures in summer, although adequate ventilation should be given in the hottest weather to prevent the risk of scorching. For safety, the minimum winter temperature should be in range of 4 - 8 ° C. Never allow the plants to freeze.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Lithops comptonii require coarse, well-drained substrate. Any soil that retains too much water will cause the plants to burst their skins as they over-expand. Add sharp sand, perlite, decomposed granite or other gritty material that will help improve drainage to regular houseplant potting mix, or use special cactus potting mix.
These plants have an extensive root system, which means they need a larger pot than the plant size would indicate. But remember to not use pots that are too big, because the plants could not absorb the water fast enough to avoid the risk of rot.
Repot should done during a growing season (spring or autumn). The best time to replant is right before you water them. Watering helps promote new root growth, and helps to stabilize succulents in a new pot. However, if you need to replant at a time when you shouldn’t be watering (summer or winter), just don’t water it.
Watering:
Compton's living stone have a yearly cycle of growth, and it is essential to water only during certain stages and to keep the soil dry at other stages of their growth. Over-watering is the chief cause of early demise. Too much water and they rot or produce new bodies at the wrong time of year. Too little water and they become stunted. How often you water depends on how quickly the potting medium dries out. In general, drench the plant and leave it to dry out completely (probably 1-2 weeks). Then wait a couple more days before watering again.
Don’t water until you see visible wrinkling on the leaves. You will still have plenty of time to rectify any thirst problems before permanent damage comes to your plant. If possible, water in the morning. This allows the water to evaporate during the day, and less harmful moisture is retained in the roots.
Normal treatment in mild temperate climates is to keep them completely dry during winter, watering only when the old leaves have dried up and been replaced by a new leaf pair. Watering continues through autumn when the plants flower and then stopped for winter. In hotter climates the plant will have a summer dormancy when they should be kept mostly dry, and they may require some water in winter. In tropical climates, the plant can be grown primarily in winter with a long summer dormancy.
During their dormant period the plant bodies will shrivel, eventually drying into a papery sheaths. This is quite normal, a new pair of leaves develop within the old ones. Watering must not commence until the old leaves have full dried out. If the water is given too soon, the old leaves will try to continue to grow and the plant will not develop properly. If the plant really shrivels, give just enough water to restore the firm appearance of the plant, but only water until about the top one-half inch of the soil is moistened.
Fertilizer:
Lithops comptonii grow in poor habitats in nutrients, therefore it is not necessary to fertilize them. In order to prevent unhealthy growth, fertilizers should be applied cautiously and must be of a low nitrogen type. If you are in a soil-less medium, you should consider a very small, diluted amount of fertilizer yearly. If your Lithops pseudotruncatella failed to flower the last year it might be because it’s too young. They generally begin flowering after about 3 years. Add a small amount of fertilizer in the spring to encourage flowering.
Propagation:
Compton's living stone can be propagated by seed or cuttings. Cuttings can only be used to produce new plants after a plant has naturally divided to form multiple heads, so most propagation is by seed. The grow quickly from seed, and can be expected to flower in 3 to 4 years under optimal conditions. Sow the seeds during the summer in sandy medium, covering with a very thin layer of fi ne sand. Water the tiny seeds gently so they aren’t displaced. Place the container in a warm sunny spot, keeping them moist but not soggy. The first seeds should germinate in a few weeks (but germination may be spread out over a long period of time, with stragglers taking as long as a year). Once the seedlings are developing rapidly, reduce watering so that the top ¼” of medium dries out, but the lower medium stays moist. Don’t water too much, as excessive watering during this period may cause damping off of the seedlings. When the plants are 2-3 months old, start letting them dry out completely for a few days between waterings, and gradually increase the length of the drying time. The young plants can be transplanted when they are about a year old.
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