| Life form | Succulent |
| Family | Aizoaceae |
| Origin | South Africa, Namibia |
| Ease of cultivation | Relatively easy to grow |
| The size | 20-25 centimeters in height, up to 40 cm in diameter. |
| Growth rate | A few centimeters per year |
| Lifespan | Many years |
| Temperature | In the summer: room, although the plant tolerates heat, in winter minimum 44,6-50 ° F. |
| Humidity | Low, conophytum well tolerates dry air |
| Lighting | Bright sun, some direct sunlight (at least 4 hours a day). Suitable south window. For conophytum bright scattered light is also suitable, it can be grown under artificial lighting conditions. In the shade, the plant does not bloom and growth stops. |
| The soil | Suitable light permeable shop soil for succulents with a small addition of sand. For a mixture of own preparation, take: 1 part of the leaf land, 1 part of the greenhouse and 2 parts of coarse sand or perlite, it is better not to add peat. Good drainage is required. Soil should not be fertile. |
| Watering | In autumn, water with soft water about every 14-15 days, during a period of active growth – once a week. Over-watering is the main cause of plant death. Watering is reduced from early spring and stop watering by early summer. The fact that the plant enters a period of rest and watering must be reduced, can be judged by the fact that the leaves of the plant begin to wrinkle. From the middle to the end of the summer, watering is resumed, but they allow the soil to dry between two waterings. At this time it is very important to choose the correct frequency of watering. If watering is not enough, the leaves will be wrinkled, from excess watering, the leaves may burst. (Kinds of conophytum with smaller leaves need more watering and even a slight moistening during the rest period). |
| Fertilizer | During the growth period (late summer – autumn), feed with a weak solution of fertilizer for cacti, diluted 4-6 times, every 4 weeks. The plant does not need a lot of mineral substances. In the rest period, do not feed. After the transplant, the plant can not be fed for 2 years. |
| Reproduction | Seed propagation is possible, although it is rather difficult. Seeds are very small, so they are sown with a piece of paper. It is desirable to plant in a container with a loose porous soil mixture with good drainage. From above it is better to pour a little sand, so that it barely covers the seeds. In the future, water them regularly and carefully so that the seeds do not surface (it is better to spray the soil). In case of stagnant moisture, the seeds can rot. After 3-4 weeks, tiny reddish seedlings appear, then watering is better reduced. A great danger at this time is the possible decay of sprouts with excessive watering. After 3-4 months, the first adult leaves appear, which soon wrinkle, but give rise to new ones. Sprouts should not be planted for about 2 years. they are very sensitive to transplant. Flowering can occur after 1-2 years. The plant multiplies by dividing plants when transplanted into 3-4 parts. The division is produced either at the end of the summer or during the flowering period. It is desirable that each piece had several pairs of leaves, although the plant can be obtained even from a single pair of leaves to the roots. |
| Bloom | It blooms with yellow, purple, pink, white flowers, mainly at the end of summer – in the autumn, sometimes in winter. In early summer, the plant is at rest |
| Transfer | In spring, every 3-4 years, the diameter of the pot is not more than 5-10 cm, the depth is about 10 cm. It is best to transplant at a time when new young ones start to form from dry leaves. |
| Features of care | In summer, the conophytum is at rest: its leaves become dry and may even seem dead. At this time, the plant does not have to be taken out into the street, especially not to be allowed, its falling into the rain. At the end of summer the plant comes to life, new succulent juicy leaves appear from the wrinkled leaves. |
| Difficulties | It is affected most often by mealybugs. Root rot is possible with excessive watering. The leaves become colorless with a lack of light, the plant can die. |
| Air cleaning | – |
| Toxicity | – |
