Split Rock
Family
Aizoaceae
Origin
South Africa
Description
Pleiospilos Nelii is a small clump forming stemless, perennial ,leaf succulent nearly spherical vaguely reminding for a Lithops. Mesembs can reach a height of up to 8 cm and a diameter of up to 10 cm. The leaves are usually grey green to brownish in colour with many conspicuous raised dark dots scattered over the whole surface. Leaves will reach up to 5 cm long and wide. The plant produces a new pair of leaves from within the old one each year, much the same as Lithops and conophytums do.The leaves have a deep fissure in the middle and many small dark spots on the surface.
The daisy-like flowers are yellow-orange, up to 3 inches across, and emerge from the centre of the leaves. The flowers are large in relation to the size of the plant. They bloom in the afternoon and close at sunset.
Environment
They grow in arid desert-like regions that get very little rainfall . They love sun so make sure they are in a south-facing window and when summer rolls around, let them get plenty of filtered light outdoors,plenty of ventilation and protect from rain.
Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings . Hold back water during the hottest weeks of summer and also in the dead of winter. Since the split rock has such a long tap root,the pot should be at least 3.5-4 deep. Proper drainage is a must so make sure the pot has a hole in the bottom.
Mesembs require a loam-based compost with the addition of extra drainage material such as horticultural grit or perlite.
Landscape Use
Suitable for Container, Rock Garden & Xeriscaping
