Non-sphaeroid mesemb water requirments

[N.D.]

Hi mesemb-lovers. How much do you water your non-sphaeroid mesembs, such as Hereroa, Hallianthus, etc.? I find that they need a lot more water than Lithops do. I watered them about every 7-10 days, and they looked pretty sad: not growing, always fried up. I started to water them about every other day, and they are doing much better. I have been doing so for only a week, so it might just be a path to rot. They are in 3-inch clay pots, receiving direct sunlight 5hrs a day. How do you treat them?

[BrianMc]

Perhaps plastic pots for these would be more appropriate. You would need to water less often. If your plants are looking happy I doubt that they will be going to rot soon.

[iann]

Wait until you grow some shrubby mesembs, then you'll see how much water a succulent can need. Mossia thrives on constant water, Frithia needs more than you might expect during its growing season, but the non-CAM ones like Delosperma should be treated more like tomatoes than cacti.

Try top-dressing as well as a non-porous pot. Water evaporates from a small pot very quickly, no point making it any quicker than absolutely necessary.