A Brief Discussion on the Wound Treatment Method for Lithops
Let me tell you a little about the introduction of the succulent plant Lithops, discussing the wound treatment method for Lithops. Next, the editor will introduce this to everyone.
Editor's foreword: When raising Lithops, we may encounter rot, bird feeding, or damage from pets at home, which often makes us feel heartbroken. So, if you have the ability to save your beloved Lithops and prevent it from withering away, wouldn't you try your best to save her?! Let's learn from the predecessors who are experts in风筝-making!
Today, it's cloudy in Huangshan. Looking around the sunroom, I found that one of the Lithops had a fungal infection and would rot if not treated. I immediately picked up a scalpel to cut off the infected part, as shown in the picture below. I used a clean paper towel to absorb all the moisture from the wound, then repotted it and placed it in a shady and well-ventilated area. Do not water it first; wait for the wound to dry a bit before watering. The wound should not come into contact with moisture, or it will get infected again. There's no chance of saving it if it gets reinfected.
The infected wound must be cut cleanly; don't hesitate. Hesitation will only lead to their demise. Although it will leave an ugly scar for the year, it will be perfect again after the spring shedding. By the way, the knife must be sharp. It's best to use a razor blade.
The picture above shows the Lithops with the lesion removed today, and the picture below shows the healed wound after the infection was cut out by the kite-making expert, although it looks ugly, it is still healthy.
Sometimes, Lithops may rot at the roots, as shown in the picture above. Once you notice something wrong with the plant, repot it without washing it with water. Use a rounded tweezer to gently remove the rotting part, making sure it's completely clean. Expose the green translucent small granules, then use a clean paper towel to absorb the moisture from the wound. The root wound must be placed in a shady and well-ventilated area to dry before repotting. Planting too early may lead to reinfection, and a little wrinkling doesn't matter.
The picture below shows the Lithops after the moisture from the wound has been absorbed and the lesion treated. Please do not apply fungicides to the wound. Let me explain: since Lithops are essentially made of water, with a lot of moisture inside, applying fungicides to the wound will cause it to shrink. Imagine if we had a wound on our hand and applied medication; it would hurt, and a larger wound would feel even more sensitive.
Lithops cannot be compared with others; they are mostly water. Applying medication will cause the moisture to be drawn away by the medicine, the wound will shrink, and it may be a form of protection for the plant, feeling pain. Already fragile Lithops will lose moisture due to the effect of the medication, the wound will shrink, and it won't be able to dry completely. Without supplementing moisture for a long time, it will dry up. You can try an experiment: after applying fungicides, it's not easy to dry immediately. The surface may be dry, but the inside is not. If water is given, the wound is easily infected again. Just a little explanation for that.
The picture above also shows the Lithops that has been treated for the wound by the kite-making expert. It can be planted like this, and the wound should try not to touch the planting material. The roots can be fixed with clean river sand, and watered with a small-mouthed pot to avoid splashing water on the wound. The kite-making expert uses a syringe, inserting the needle slightly into the soil, so that water does not easily splash on the wound. Wait until the wound grows like the picture below before watering normally. previously, water was injected into the soil with a syringe.
After three months of growth, the two deep wounds are basically plump. So, don't be afraid, a small amount of wound rot can usually be saved by Lithops. Although they seem fragile, they are actually very resilient. As long as you know how to deal with problems, I believe that all flower friends can raise Lithops well. These are just a few tips for your reference.
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