Care for Lithops Seedlings
The editor brings you knowledge about Lithops, a succulent plant. The care for Lithops seedlings is sure to be helpful to you, so let's get to know it together!
Everyone says that germination is easy for Lithops seeds, but it's hard to grow them large. What concerns plant friends the most is the care for Lithops seedlings. This article summarizes the experiences of plant friends, which is very helpful for those who have sown Lithops seeds, so there's no need to worry about the care of the seedlings!
When Lithops seeds germinate, during the day, it's appropriate to uncover and ventilate gradually, increasing the light. At this time, the seedlings are very weak, so don't rush to expose them to the sun. You can first expose them to the morning sun or let them bask through the glass for a short while. Never cover them and expose them to the sun, as the seedlings will rot, and some may fall over. If left unattended, they may rot. When the seedlings are a bit bigger, hold them up with a toothpick in one hand, and sprinkle a little clean fine sand around them with the other hand to support them.
For seedlings within one month, watering should be done by the pot immersion method to prevent them from being washed over. When the seedlings are strong, it doesn't matter. In dry areas, you can also use the spraying method to supplement water. Seedlings need more water compared to mature plants. Don't wait for the soil to completely dry out before watering. If the roots dry out, it's easy to get僵苗 (stunted growth). The watering frequency should depend on the weather, planting material, pot size, and breathability, which is hard to generalize. It requires personal exploration during the care process.
Seedlings that have just germinated are all green, and as they gradually expose to light and grow, they will show different colors depending on the variety, such as green, gray-green, bronze, red-brown, purple-brown, etc. Albinos will die soon after germination, and variegated seedlings are also very fragile. I once had a fully variegated 'Heliopsis' that struggled through the second shedding, but unfortunately, the pot was knocked over by the window. After repotting, all other seedlings were fine, but it withered away.
Seedlings two months later won't be too transparent. If they show a jelly-like color, it's not necessarily a good sign. It might indicate stunted growth. This can happen if the seedlings are overexposed to the sun. I don't have outdoor conditions, so the seedlings are all by the south window at home, usually basking through the glass or gauze.
Normally growing seedlings begin to shed their skin at two and a half to four months. The middle seam slowly opens up, revealing the new leaves inside, and the old leaves start to turn gray and lose their original luster. At this time, you should control the watering. In humid areas, you can even stop watering. The new leaves will slowly absorb the nutrients and water from the old leaves, growing smoothly, while the old leaves gradually shrink and become dry. This process usually takes 2-3 months.
The above comprehensive explanation of the care for Lithops seedlings is hoping to be a modest contribution that can solve your problems with green plants.