Didymaotus lapidiformis

[Bonsai2]

Hello
I have sown Didymaotus lapidiformis for the first time and at almost 8 months had to repot and am pleased that the repotting doesn't appear to have caused any damage. I normally use plastic pots but Dr Ian Oliver of Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden recommended this particular species be potted in a clay pot as the plant will do better.

[Aiko]

Looks nice!

Quite a challenging plant, and you are further then I ever got. Just a few thousands tricky steps until you eventually maybe get the double flower!

[Bonsai2]

Thank you for the info.

It's my first attempt. I have compelely moved over from cacti to Mesembs with 18 species and 176 plants. Now hoping my experience with Mesembs will hold out for this species.

[David Neville]

They are definitely very difficult and challenging in cultivation in the UK, and I wish you luck in the next couple of years. I find them easiest from seed in the first year or 18 months, but thereafter they seem to become more difficult. Hope you have better long term luck than I have achieved over the past 40 years!

[Bonsai2]

Thank you David, I don't for a minute presume to have any real knowledge about the species apart from what I have read. I may have been lucky with the start as some people have reported difficulty with germination. I will try to keep them going and will keep my fingers crossed.
Thank you for your input.
Regards
Colin
Bonsai2

[Ali Baba]

I sowed some a few years ago and have managed to flower them but they do seem to dwindle away after a few years. My sole remaining plant hasn’t flowered for a couple of years now sadly but is still alive. The winter forming flower buds are easily killed by thrips

[Bonsai2]

Thank you for the picture. A lovely flower. Unfortunately due to overcrowding I had to transplant the seedlings much earlier than I would have liked. From other comments, I see they are difficult to grow but will just keep trying.