New family member - another P. nelii! :)

[Julie]

I could not resist! At the garden centre, there were the same customary bulgy bursty Lithops, and some nellies!

The soil is damp but not soggy, unlike some of the poor things. I'll let them dry out, but if anyone can give me some watering (or non-watering) advice, I'd be grateful.

At first I thought it was a triple-header but it seems that it's three seperate plants - one with dried outer leaves, another with slightly shrivelled outer leaves, and the third with them plump and healthy looking. Which makes me think it's not a clump but three that have grown together.

They are quite wee, this is a 5cm pot.

[attachment 2549 littlenelly1.jpg]

[iann]

I wouldn't worry too much about watering, but would take this opportunity to wash off the peat they are (probably) planted in and put them in some soil that won't kill them. Then you'll know for sure whether you have three plants or one Plenty of time for watering later.

P. nelii is highly opportunistic. It will be summer dormant if you bake it on the top shelf of a greenhouse, or will grow in summer if you keep it cooler. It will produce a new leaf pair during the winter and may flower in spring or autumn. It will grow over winter if you keep it warm and well lit, or will just act like a Lithops if you keep it cool and dark.

P. nelii requires very little water. If your plant produces more than one new leaf pair in a year then you are overwatering. If your plant is not reduced to a single leaf pair at some point over the summer then you are overwatering. I grow it in a clay pot with gritty soil which cannot retain water for long and water occasionally all year round.

P. nelii does not grow embedded in the soil like a Lithops. It is almost impossible to cook it (in this country) and it thrives in full sun.

[Maria J]

Thanks for that advice Ian! I've just got my first 'Nelii' at the last branch meeting! It has a bud which is progressing well, so looking forward to the flower!

That's a great 'clump' Julie! Will be interesting to see whether it is 3 individual plants or not. If so, 3 for the price of 1, not bad!!

[iann]

Remember to give it a little water from time to time while the bud develops. It takes a while but is well worth the wait, quite spectacular.

[Julie]

Thanks, Ian. You're right about the peat. I'm planning on 2 parts grit to 1 JI2 for the Lithops, will that be OK for nelii too? And they will be OK behind a curtain in the summer (unlike Lithops)?

Maria, so you've got a spotty too. I'd like to see a pic of your flower when it comes out.

[Maria J]

I'm sure I won't be able to resist posting a pic Julie!!
Thanks again Ian!

[iann]

2 parts grit to 1 JI2

Sounds OK.

they will be OK behind a curtain in the summer

Only time will tell

[Julie]

Hehe, I can squeeze them in alongside the forbies and lithops if they won't like to be too cooked. I guess they are tougher than Lithops if they manage to survive all out of the ground? It'll be interesting to see the roots, if they are fatter and can store water under the soil in the superhot weather.