Colours of spring

[iann]

Lithops are making new leaves. Lots of interesting colours show up, sometimes really intense, sometimes not fully-developed.

L. coleorum, new leaves a subdued purple, old leaves much redder.

L. werneri, old leaves are pretty bedraggled.

L. lesliei Warrenton Form, leaves will get redder if we get some sun.

L. karasmontana, new leaves not as red as they will become.

L. marmorata var eliseae, new leaves still showing marmorata pink, but will soon be bleached white.

[rodsmith]

This is a fascinating time of year for lithops lovers. Mine still have quite a way to go before the new leaves are fully showing, some aren't even showing any so far. I think this is because of the long cold winter with very little sun. We haven't had a lengthy sunny spell here all winter and in the last two weeks there have been just three sunny days; now it's back to rain again.

[Astro]

My favorite time for lithops, the colors are at their most vivid and the plants are compact and delicately patterned.

L. aucampiae ssp euniceae starts again with less bleached colors:

L. aucampiae ssp. euniceae C048

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L. schwantesii v. urikosensis:

L. schwantesii v. urikosensis C074

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More purple and less pink:

L. karasmontana 'Purper'

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Fuscous L. julii

L. julii SB2157

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L. gracilidelineata C309, almost Cafe au Lait

L. gracilidelineata C309

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Even the more 'mundane' species like L. hallii can be quite striking

L. hallii C094

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L. bromfieldii v glaudinae with glimmering dusky dots

L. bromfieldii v. glaudinae C393

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L. lesliei v. venteri in black and white

L. lesliei v. venteri "maraisii" C153

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And some fresh colors on some very new seedling leaves

L. fulviceps seedling C220

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[iann]

Definitely a good time to be looking at Lithops leaves.

[Ivan]

A number of mine have etiolated. I can't find a cool enough winter place for them. I have a lot to learn.

Hey Astro, can you tell me what those bean like things are in your soil? I've seen them a number of times.

[Astro]

Hey Astro, can you tell me what those bean like things are in your soil? I've seen them a number of times.

You mean the pine needles? Those are courtesy of the tree that provides some afternoon shade to my outdoor collection. I try to remove the worst excesses when taking a picture, but I don't usually get all of them. Lithops are quite forgiving of small needles and other debris (small leaves, tiny dried flowers (akin to elder blossom flowers), pollen cones and pollen) raining down on them. Cacti with a dense spine cover I give an occasional once-over with the help of a pair of tweezers.

[iann]

A number of mine have etiolated. I can't find a cool enough winter place for them. I have a lot to learn.

Hey Astro, can you tell me what those bean like things are in your soil? I've seen them a number of times.

Etiolated Lithops might not be down to warm winter nights, since the old leaves shouldn't be growing at that time and they shouldn't be getting water to let them expand. Look a little earlier to whether they were etiolating in autumn or just getting more water than they really needed.

Also, Lithops are entirely happy to freezing and often a long way below (dry!), although perhaps not down to the temperatures you get in winter.

[Ivan]

You mean the pine needles? Those are courtesy of the tree that provides some afternoon shade to my outdoor collection...

Thank-you! It does clear it up for me. On the positive side, it does provide them with acidic soil or at least with an acidic atmosphere.

Etiolated Lithops might not be down to warm winter nights, since the old leaves shouldn't be growing at that time and they shouldn't be getting water to let them expand. Look a little earlier to whether they were etiolating in autumn or just getting more water than they really needed.

Also, Lithops are entirely happy to freezing and often a long way below (dry!), although perhaps not down to the temperatures you get in winter.

It's more a warm dry growing climate I have upstairs where I store them for winter. I haven't given them water for months. It is also quite bright with perhaps a few (maybe 2-3) hours of sunshine in late afternoon. I have a weekly pictorial record for the last couple of years but I haven't been able to extract/react to what I see in them. Not enough knowledge/experience I guess
For the last couple years our temperature has been erratic, not normal or typical to what I am used to. I tried a bit of experiment just to see if supplement heat in the greenhouse would work. Turns out it's too expensive for now. That may change
We have had -15 to -20 temperature this year, just to add. On the positive side, I have had a good flowering of Mammillarias.