Mesemb Q

[jamesfe]

Is it to early to mist seedlings? These are just a year old and would like to see them live at least a year and half or two.

They live in my basement under lights for now.

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[ChrisR]

There look to be a few winter growing mesembs there James that are desperate for a drink.....

[jamesfe]

here are a few more.

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What about the lithops , do you think a light misting would hurt them ? At this stage is when I get a little nervous.

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[Eveandrea]

Have a look at what Chris wrote between your two posts!!
Cheers
Eve

[Andreas]

Hi,

in one thread I´ve read Lithops seedlings younger than two years wouldn´t take several months of drought very well.

I have some seedlings only a year old and mist them regularly very slightly also in winter - actually only as much as the lobes are a little sprinkled. The soil remains rather dry. However my Lithops are standing relatively warm under grow lights at daytime this winter: ~20°C (10°C at night). When kept very cool it´s perhaps a matter of watching them and apply a light misting if the new lobes look like they start shriveling? I´ve noticed the new lobes of two of my one year old seedlings (L. otzeniana acf. 'Aquamarine' & L. marmorata var. elisae) looked a little shriveled and decided to mist them a little immediately. After some hours the new lobes looked better.

One of the Lithops experts here should comment this.

Good growing,

[Peter B]

Hi James,

If your seedlings are under lights, especially if they are getting 12 hours or more of light, I would advise light misting. As Chris said earlier you have winter growers there and they definitely need some moisture. With regard to the Lithops my seedlings get occasional misting and even light watering on warm winter days but I take care not to saturate the soil. As long as the bottom centimetre of compost has moisture the roots will seek it out if it is needed. My present seedlings are a mixture of one and two year old specimens and if any look to be struggling they will receive moisture. The one year old seedlings have not yet built up the ability to withstand the long periods of drought their parents endure.

I assume that under lights you are maintaining at least 50 degrees F (10 Celsius). If so that is regarded as the lowest temperature needed to ensure growth. Ideally you need higher daytime temps than night time. This imitates habitat conditions. However if you are allowing night time temps to go near freezing be very careful about moisture as it is cold, moist conditions that kill.

Peter B Manchester Branch