Split rock succulent | Living rock succulent | Pleiospilos nelii

Split Rock Succulent or Living Rock Succulent

Hello ladies and gentlemen once again I am here and spare sometime just to introduce to you a very amazing, eye catching and beautiful succulent "Pleiospilos nelii". Yes it is hard to say the name so I am going to tell you the easy one, The name is split rock succulent, well that's a common English name that was given to it because of it's close resemblance to a split rock like shape. They are also known with the name "Living rock succulent"

To be honest when first time I heard the botanical name of it, I was like saying to myself like oh man what kind of succulent it will be. I mean look at the name how difficult and weird it is, sorry to say that. But believe me people that's not how it is. Name has nothing to do with the beauty. After seeing that plant it just made me fell in love with it. Those who already own it or know about the split rock succulent they understand how hard it is to get your eyes of this magical succulent.

So here today in this article I have decided to share some words from knowledge and experience about this beautiful Pleiospilos nelii succulent you may also know it as the split rock succulent. The succulent at your first contact is hard to say that this isn't a rock. If you see it somewhere in rocks believe me you will just pass on with even noticing it and that is the beauty of this succulent. This characteristic is for disguising the plant from being hunted in wild natural life by the plant eating animals.

Characteristics Of Split Rock Succulents

This mind blowing succulent is one of the flowering plant species which is natively found in South Africa, as you will have noticed most of the succulent comes from South Africa or other hot weather regions. Split rock is one of them too. Pleiospilos nelii family name is Aizoaceae. The plant ideal surviving climate is around 1300 meters and in areas with less amount of water and rains available. The plant is hardy to drought conditions.

The split rock succulent plant leaves split apart in to two halves which transform into an exact rock like plant. This plant can gain the maximum height of 6 to 8 cm while the stem of the plant don't grow that much and therefore also referred to as stemless plants. The plant can grow up to 10 cm in diameter. The figures provided here can be vary depending upon the climate and care provided to the plant.

Leaves of the plant can be either green or purple and they also posses dark spots on all around. This Pleiospilos Nelii is a very slow growing plant. It take quite some time to observe the growth occurring in the plant. After every year the plant produces new pair of leaves right through the center of the split rock which grows up and replaces the old leaves instead. The old leaves then dries up and finally fell apart.

The split rock succulent produces flower almost bigger than the size of the plant. The plant bear beautiful daisy like lower that can either be orange yellow or reddish pink. The plant of the Pleiospilos Nelii has a special characteristics as the will in the afternoon time and close in the sunset period. This will happen through out the blooming season. The flowers can also produce seeds if pollination happens.

The plant need attention during the rainy or cold weather. In that harsh conditions the plant is protected by covering it with glass so that it can avoid rain water and freezing temperature.

Watering The Split Rock - Living Rock

To be honest with you, this plant almost don't require any water. It hardly need to be watered few time through out the year. In the summer time it requires almost no water which means very few time in the summer and when the sun rays are burning hot stop watering the plant at all. The plant can survive and stay alive on it's own stored water for quite some time and don't need external water.

In the winter the plant has same routine to follow. Requires very less amount of water and in freezing period there should be no water given to the plant. Make sure when you water the plant, the soil is fully dried to avoid over watering it.

What will excess amount of water do to your split rock? well it has many bad effects on the living rock and few of those are:

> Excess amount of water will damage your succulent as the root will get rotten and the plant will eventually die. All of your hard work, effort and your loved succulent will just die in no time. Make sure you also cover the plant while raining or keep it in shelter where it can be safe from rain water.

> This plant produces new leaves once every year. When the new leaves appears through the center of the split rock the old leaves must get dried and drop off after some time. The new set of leaves will start utilizing water from it's old mother leaves and the mother leaves will get dry after sometime.

> Fertilizer can be added to the plant in late fall season. Make sure to add fertilizer with low nitrogen quantity as high nitrogen will make it grow robustly.

In case you water your plant too much and too frequent the old leaves will continue growing and the plant will have more than one set of leaves. This will put the plant into phenomenon called stacking. With so many sets of leaves the charm and beauty of the plant will vanish. To avoid such thing happening make sure water the plant only if required.

Split rock succulent | Living rock succulent | Pleiospilos nelii

Split Rock Succulent Propagation

When it comes to the propagation of this plant, two method are there to follow which are easy and have good results. The first one is growing plant through seeds. When the plant produce flowers and allowed for pollination the flower will turn into seed bulb. Later on seed can be collected from the seed bulb. The second method is leaf cutting which is commonly used and is quite easier than the seed method.

So lets begin with the propagation of split rock succulent through these two methods. Most people know it as living rock.

1. Seeds Method:

Pleiospilos nelii can be grown from seeds in summer time. In this method all you need to do is collect some fresh and healthy seeds and soak them in water for at least 24 hours. Then prepare a place to sow these soaked seeds. You should use a layer of sand not too much. Sow the seed in the sand and make sure that you jut spray a little amount of water just to keep the sand just moistened. Do not add too spray too much water as the seed can get fungus and eventually get rotten.

2. Leaf Cutting:

This is the second method of growing split rock succulent which is considered much easier as the chances of growth are way higher than the seed method. It is because the seed method require lot of care and accuracy and ofcource taking much more time to germinate. In the leaf method which is quite easy and simple and I also recommend this one if your are not sure about the first one whether you are able to do this or not.

In this leaf method you need to do few things. First of all you can work on this method in the spring season when the split rock has not yet sprouted any flower. Take a sharp cutter a cut off a leaf from mother plant. The second thing you will do is let the cut leaf to become hard and cover the cut area with hard layer of new formation over it. Now when this is done you can place the leaf cutting in a previously prepared pot with good drainage of water and let it root. Do not allow to much water just keep moistened not floating in the water.

Soil Composition

When ever you own a succulent and you are going to transplant it, before doing so, think of it's natural habitat where it grows normally. Keeping in mind that, always try to provide such habitat which is much closer to that. For all types of succulents when thinking about soil preparation and watering, one golden rule apply and that is ease of drainage through the pot.

For growing this succulent you will need a mixture of soil composition to plant split rock succulent. To prepare the soil, you will have to mix the following elements together. Small grain Akadama with a ratio of 5 , 3 parts Kanuma soil, and 2 parts mulch into a soil that has good drainage, water retention, and breath ability. Add a layer of gravel like large-grain Akadama or pumice to the bottom of the pot.

The pot can be 6 inches deep as the plant roots can grow longer and do not put pebbles at the bottom it will make things bad. Make sure the pot is with holes at the bottom to ensure proper drainage of water.

Climate Requirements

Split rock succulent is a warm region plant where it can be grown outdoor in the garden or anywhere you want. It brings amazing look and charm to the garden. To make it more catchy and magical, put some colour matching stones all around it.

If you are living in cold areas where temperature remains colder than required you shouldn't get upset. You can still grow this plant in a pot and keep it indoor during harsh winter.

Tips To Grow Split Rock Succulent

Here are some common tips that you can follow to grow your succulent and keep it healthy and alive.

> These succulents resemble small, rounded pebbles—a camouflage that protects the plants, in their native habitat, from grazing animals. Split rock succulents are from South Africa, where they subsist on scant rainfall. They need infrequent watering, low humidity, protection from frost, and four to five hours of bright but not intense sun a day. Too little light causes these plants to elongate.

> Leave this succulent alone from summer or fall (whenever they bloom) through

spring (when the old leaves are dry and papery). That means no winter water.

Around November, after producing shimmering yellow or white ice-plant

flowers, the plant body will open to produce a new pair of leaves. As these grow,

they feed off and absorb the old leaves, which gradually shrivel.

In late spring and summer, observe the plants and water only if wrinkles appear for several days. (Late afternoon stress wrinkles do not count.) Let water drench the roots and flow out of the bottom of the pot. Every two weeks is plenty. When in

doubt, don’t water; these are among the most drought-tolerant plants on earth.

Grow Pleiospilos Nelii in coarse, free-draining soil, in a pot deep enough (at least 6

inches) to accommodate their long taproots. Display them with rounded stones

that have similarly mottled, earthy colors. Split rock species are not the only kinds of “living stones.” Other living stones or “pebble plants” include argyrodermas, conophytums, baby toes (Fenestraria species) . All are highly sensitive to over watering.

Insects And Diseases

A common problem in almost every succulent is the bugs and pest which can damage your loved plant without even letting you know. Luckily with this plant I haven't seen any bugs or pests that can harm it neither I have in my knowledge from anywhere after I have done my research on it. So this is a good news for the lover of this succulent.

Another common problem that all succulents are associated with is the root rot and this apply on your beautiful split rock succulent too. But there is a reason for root rot. This can be only due to over watering the plant as I have already mentioned above. This succulent requires very little amount of water. It can even survive the whole year with just few time of watering. Over watering has other problem associated with this plant too that I have already explained above in the watering section.

Split rock species are not the only kinds of “living stones. There are other types of succulents in this family. Other living stones or pebble plants include argyrodermas, conophytums, baby toes (Fenestraria species) . Remember all types are highly sensitive to over watering.

I might have provided some information that may not be identical to the one you have found some where else. But remember there is always tolerance and allowance there in the figures depending upon the climate and region. So you don't have to worry about it. Just keep caring your succulent and be amazed of it's everlasting beauty.

Hope that you find this article of more value and knowledge. If you have anything to share about this beautiful succulent, please put that in the comment section. Thanks

Split Rock Succulent - Pleiospilos Nelii | The Living Rock Guide