By Jennifer Poindexter
Do you enjoy growing succulents around your home? If so, you must consider growing a conophytum pageae lips plant. As the name suggests, this succulent is a round green plant with two red slits in the center. The slits resemble a pair of lips and is where the plant blooms.
If you’d like to add this unique plant to your home, you’re in the right place. I’m going to walk you through what you should know to grow this plant successfully. I’ll share what growing conditions are best, how to plant and care for a conophytum pageae lips plant, and more.
Consider the following information if you’re interested in how to grow a conophytum pageae lips plant:
Growing Conditions for the Conophytum Pageae Lips Plant
The lips plant enjoys a warm growing location. This plant is native to South Africa and is only hardy in planting zones ten and eleven.
For this reason, the plant cannot withstand temperatures below 35-degrees Fahrenheit. If you live outside of planting zones ten and eleven, don’t fret.
You may still grow this plant indoors. The main thing is to ensure you have a container that can support this succulent.
The conophytum pageae lips plant grows to be approximately three feet wide in the ground but only a half foot when growing in a container. It’s a compact, clustering plant.
You should expect to see blooms, similar to a daisy, from fall until the early months of summer. These blooms are typically pink or white.
Whether growing this plant in the ground or in a container, be sure to select a growing location with bright, indirect light.
This plant does best when receiving light in the morning with some protection from the hotter afternoon sun. Too much sunlight during this time can scorch the foliage.
You must also plant in well-draining soil. It’s recommended to select a soil meant specifically for succulents and cacti.
However, the soil doesn’t need to be nutritious as these plants grow well in poor quality dirt. If you can supply these few basic needs, your conophytum pageae lips plant should thrive under your care.
How to Plant a Lips Plant
The most common ways to grow a conophytum pageae lips plant is by either purchasing an established plant or propagating by division from a plant you already have access to.
If you purchase this succulent for your home, begin by selecting a growing location that fulfills all the needs listed above.
Whether you’re planting in a container or in the ground, dig a hole large enough to support the plant’s root system.
From there place the plant in the hole and backfill it with soil. If you have an established plant that you’d like to divide, begin by ensuring the plant has multiple heads on it.
Once you’ve determined this, gently remove the plant from the soil. Use a spade to ensure you remove the root system with it.
Use a sharp, clean knife to divide the heads and roots into multiple new plants. Place each new cutting into a container filled with well-draining soil.
The plant needs bright, indirect light as new roots begin to form. This process should take approximately one month.
These are the most common ways to add this succulent to your home as a houseplant or as an outdoor plant in your landscape.
Pick the method which works best for you and begin brightening up your home with this unique plant.
Caring for a Conophytum Pageae Lips plant
Most succulents are known for being low-maintenance plants. This is why so many people incorporate them around their home.
The conophytum pageae lips plant is no different. Let’s start with discussing how to care for this plant by learning the appropriate watering technique.
When watering your new succulent, be sure to practice the deep watering method. This means you’ll water the plant for longer periods of time, fewer days of the week.
Using this watering method, encourages the plant to develop deeper roots as it digs for water in the soil between watering sessions.
However, if you grow this succulent in a container, be advised that you may need to water more frequently as there isn’t as much soil to pull from.
You’ll know when to water the plant again by testing the soil. Insert your index finger into the dirt next to the plant.
If it’s dry to your second knuckle, it’s time to water again. Ensure this plant dries out completely between watering sessions.
The next thing you must pay attention to is humidity and fertilizer. These are two steps you should skip when caring for this plant.
This succulent doesn’t like oversaturated growing conditions, so no extra humidity is needed beyond what naturally occurs outdoors or in your home.
Also, the conophytum pageae lips plant isn’t a heavy-feeder. Therefore, it shouldn’t need any extra nutrients.
Finally, be mindful to repot this succulent once every three years or as-needed. If the plant begins to look overcrowded in its container or growing location, remove it.
Then transplant it into a larger container or area with more room for the plant to spread out. This might be the only time you may want to consider adding fertilizer as it could help the plant become established.
Even then, you should use an all-purpose fertilizer and dilute it by 50%. These are the few steps you must take when caring for a conophytum pageae lips plant.
Garden Pests and Diseases Which Could Impact the Conophytum Pageae Lips Plant
The last things we should discuss when learning how to grow this succulent are the potential risks to this plant.
Most plants are prone to some type of disease or pest. The conophytum pageae lips plant is no exception. This plant is most commonly impacted by root rot, slugs, snails, caterpillars, and mealybugs.
If your plant experiences root rot, chances are it’s being overwatered or growing in a soil that doesn’t drain adequately.
You should transplant the succulent into a new growing location with better draining soil and ensure you test the soil prior to watering each time to avoid oversaturation.
In some cases, you may need to allow the plant time to dry before transplanting. You may also need to trim any rotten roots from the plant.
Keep in mind, root rot is a tough disease for plants to overcome, so even if you try every idea mentioned here your plant may not bounce back. Therefore, it’s best to avoid this disease when possible.
Should you notice your plants are infested by any of the insects mentioned above, treat them immediately with an insecticide.
You may also sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of your plant or add diatomaceous earth to the foliage.
The caffeine in coffee grounds is thought to deter snails and slugs, and the diatomaceous earth creates dangerous terrain for these pests to crawl through.
You may also try handpicking caterpillars from your plant to keep them from using your succulent as a snack.
Be mindful of any potential threats to your plant. The sooner you catch the problems, the less time pests and diseases have to destroy it.
You now know how to plant, care for, and protect a conophytum pageae lips plant. Though this plant looks unique, what it requires to thrive is not.
This is a low-maintenance succulent with only a few specifications for growing conditions. Provide the few needs mentioned here and hopefully, you’ll have the opportunity to watch this plant thrive under your care.
More About Growing Succulents
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/know-how-know-more/2017-12-15-growing-succulents-beyond-basics
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/growing-succulents-indoors
https://garden.smith.edu/sites/garden/files/final%20succulents%20%26%20cacti.pdf
Related
FAQs
How to Grow Conophytum Pageae Lips Plant - Gardening Channel? ›
This plant does best when receiving light in the morning with some protection from the hotter afternoon sun. Too much sunlight during this time can scorch the foliage. You must also plant in well-draining soil. It's recommended to select a soil meant specifically for succulents and cacti.
How do you care for Conophytum Pageae? ›Conophytum pageae does not like to sit in water. Therefore, saturate the soil deeply but only when the growing medium looks completely dry. Watering it once in 3-4 days would be just fine. Also, avoid overhead watering or wetting the foliage.
How do you grow Conophytum? ›Sow the seeds thickly and cover with a layer of fine gravel, no deeper than 2mm. Let the pots soak in water from below and cover with plastic or glass. After a week, leave the covering slightly ajar to prevent algae growth. Most seeds will have germinated in ten days.
Where do Conophytum Pageae grow? ›Conophytum pageae, a small succulent native to South Africa and southern Namibia. Conophytum pageae normally grows in clusters, forming a small mound.
Is Conophytum a succulent? ›Conophytum is a genus of South African and Namibian succulent plants that belong to the family Aizoaceae.
How many times a month do you water succulents? ›How often should I water my succulent? You should water your succulents every other week during non-winter months when temperatures are above 40 degrees. During the winter time (when temperatures are below 40 degrees) you should only water your succulent once a month because it is dormant during this time.
Should you water succulents every week? ›Indoor succulent plants should likely be watered approximately once a week. They need enough time to store the water in their leaves and for the soil to dry out between waterings. Follow these tips and techniques for watering indoor succulent plants. Use a watering with a small pour spout.
How often do you water Conophytum? ›Watering and Feeding
Once Conophytums bloom during October and November, it's important to mist the plant once every two weeks. When they resume their active growth, usually during late spring, it's ideal to water the plant once every week until summer.
Conophytums occur throughout the areas with winter-rainfall and all-year rainfall in South Africa (in the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape) and southern parts of Namibia. Plants flourish where the rainfall varies between 50-200 mm per year.
Where is the best place for succulents to thrive? ›Place the potted succulent in a sunny location.
Most succulents prefer at least 6 hours of sun per day, so try to place them near a south- or east-facing window. You may notice your succulents becoming spindly or stretching toward the light if they don't get enough sun.
Are Conophytum rare? ›
Conophytum Calculus, The Rarest Succulent On Earth | Planting succulents, Rare succulents, Cacti and succulents.
Do succulents like soil or rocks? ›Succulents need good draining soil. When planting in the garden, make sure the area drains well and is not in a low spot that would stay wet. For container planting, you can purchase cactus soil or incorporate sand, gravel or volcanic rock into your potting soil for better drainage.
How big are Conophytum Pageae? ›Body size can vary from a few millimeters across to around 30mm and the sides and fissure can be the same color as the rest of the body or they can be red-tinted. However, the leaves normally lack any spots.
What are Conophytum plants used for? ›Although plants in the Conophytum genus are thought to have sedative properties from a mesembrine alkaloid, their uses extend almost exclusively to the horticultural trade. These appealing little succulents are hardy and can be grown outside in warm regions in rock gardens, alpine gardens, stone walls, and containers.
What time of day should I water my succulents? ›Typically, it's best to water succulents (and most other plants) during the daytime, specifically in the early morning.
Do you water succulents from the top or bottom? ›Do: Water from above, until it comes out of the pot's drainage hole: This is the standard watering technique for most houseplants, and it works well for succulents too. Fill a watering can or cup and run a slow and steady stream of room temperature water all over the top layer of your succulent's soil.
Should you mist succulents? ›Full grown succulents don't actually like to be misted. They thrive in arid climates, so when you mist them, you are changing the humidity around the plant. This can lead to rot as well. Use misting for propagation babes to lightly provide water to their delicate little roots.
Do succulents like to sit in water? ›Choose a Container with Drainage
Succulents don't like to sit in waterlogged soil, so drainage is important to prevent rot. Your container should have a drainage hole to allow excess water to escape.
Wrinkled, shriveled leaves are a clear indication that your Succulent needs more water. As the cells release their stored moisture to the rest of the plant, they try to bring in more water to replace what they have lost.
How long can succulents go without water? ›They can go up to 1-3 months of no watering. Indoor succulents will have less exposure to the elements outdoors - wind and sunlight outdoors tend to dry out the soil faster than it does indoors. In cooler climates, generally fall and winter, the soil stays moist for longer periods of time.
What is the secret to succulents? ›
Watering regularly keeps the roots plump and leaves full for your succulents. However, watering too much can kill the plant. Keep your plants on the dry side; water a small amount, let it drain through, wait a week or so, check to see if there's any moisture left, then repeat the process.
What do coffee grounds do for succulents? ›As the used coffee grounds break down, they'll add nitrogen to the soil, a vital succulent nutrient. They'll also help aerate the soil, improve drainage, and even suppress weeds and keep pests away.
What is the trick to keeping succulents alive? ›During their growing season, succulents should be watered every time their soil completely dries out—and avoid adding excess water—a succulent's longevity increases when its roots have time to dry between waterings. Succulent plants become dormant in cold, winter months, so they need less water during that time.
How often do you spray water on succulents? ›Mist your succulents gently every 2-4 days.
Although you should usually wait 2-4 days to mist them again, this may be different for each succulent. If you're not sure how often to mist yours, a good rule of thumb is to wait until the soil is dry to mist it again.
How often should you water a succulent? According to Retro Den, the rule of thumb for watering your succulent is every other week during non-winter months. During the winter months, when the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it is recommended to water your succulent only once a month.
What hardiness zone is Conophytum? ›Growing Conditions for the Conophytum Pageae Lips Plant
This plant is native to South Africa and is only hardy in planting zones ten and eleven. For this reason, the plant cannot withstand temperatures below 35-degrees Fahrenheit. If you live outside of planting zones ten and eleven, don't fret.
Conophytum wettsteinii (A. Berger) N.E.Br. Common names: cone plant, dumplings, button plants (Eng.); knopies (buttons), toontjies (little toes), waterblasies (water blisters), ogies (small eyes) (Afr.)
What is the difference between Lithops and Conophytum? ›Conophytums shares the same desert habitats of Lithops but, unlike them, they may present pairs of leaves so closely welded to form a single unit: the appearance is that of a single rounded leaf with a hole (or a short slit) at the center.
Do succulents grow better in sand or soil? ›Succulents grow best in a porous sandy potting soil, so amending your potting soil with sand is super important. You could use any type of sand, but to ensure fast drainage for succulents, I recommend buying a coarse sand rather than the really fine stuff.
Do succulents prefer morning or afternoon sun? ›Low light succulents are happy with indirect morning sun to afternoon sun. This means that if you don't have a super sunny South facing window, a lower light succulent can still be happy in your home.
What months are best for succulents? ›
Most succulent species tend to thrive in the temperate weather of the spring and fall. Most succulents can also be put into two categories - summer growers and winter growers. Summer growers are succulents that grow in the hot months of summer from May to August and become dormant in the winter.
What is the 1 rarest plant in the world? ›The ghost orchid is a spectacular white flower that has no leaves but consists mostly of branches that grow around tree bark. There is an estimation of 2,000 left in the wild and they can be found only in Cuba and the Flooded Forests of South Florida.
What is the hardest succulent to grow? ›Compton Carousels and Silver Prince are drop-dead gorgeous succulents, but they are some of the most difficult plants to care for.
Is Conophytum poisonous? ›Max Growth (approx): Height and length 2.5cm – max. Poisonous for pets: Not known, but it's unlikely a pet will chew on this type of foliage, although they could be curious.
Should I put pebbles on top of soil succulents? ›Place the pebbles on top of succulents
The pebbles will help in the drainage of the soil as well as will help the succulent grow naturally.
While succulents are gorgeous on their own, they look even better when surrounded or paired with natural stone. Especially in outdoor gardens, stone can visually complement plants or provide a protective ground cover around them. Rocks and succulents are a match made in heaven.
Can succulents grow in just gravel? ›Do Succulents Grow In Gravel? Unfortunately, succulents cannot grow in gravel alone as it cannot provide the vital water and nutrients the plant needs. However, rocks and gravel can help with drainage problems that can cause succulents to turn yellow or die. Such rocks are known as potting pebbles.
Do succulents like tea grounds? ›Compost tea is like a healthful drink for plants, making it the perfect all-natural fertilizer for succulents.
What is the best soil mix for succulents? ›Because succulents are drought-tolerant plants that do not require consistent moisture, their potting soil should be porous and well-draining and have a lower percentage of organic matter than traditional indoor soil mixes. A loose, grainy soil mixture with plenty of sand and perlite or pumice is ideal.
What is the best mulch for succulents? ›Even better, apply a nonorganic mulch such as crushed rock, granite, or decorative stone. These mulches will allow the soil to dry out while keeping the soil cool and preventing erosion. Succulents planted in pots can be brought indoors for protection from winter cold.
How do you plant Conophytum? ›
Sow the seeds thickly and cover with a layer of fine gravel, no deeper than 2mm. Let the pots soak in water from below and cover with plastic or glass. After a week, leave the covering slightly ajar to prevent algae growth. Most seeds will have germinated in ten days.
How do you water Conophytum? ›Conophytum should be watered according to its growth cycle. During the spring and summer, when it's dormant, the plant should be watered very little, if at all. During the growth cycle, water the plant well, soaking the soil, but allow the soil to dry out completely between each watering.
Why do people put gravel on succulents? ›Benefits of Top Dressing for Succulents
Dark pebbles or gravel absorb more heat, warming the soil and stimulating root development; while light colors reflect the heat — useful in hot climates. Pebbles break up the heavy force of water, either from rain or watering, preventing soil erosion.
First, it helps keep the soil in place while you're watering. Especially if you're using an organic soil that has very small particles, the top dressing will help hold it all in place. Second, it can help enhance the colors in your succulents, or compliment them.
How do you keep outdoor succulents alive? ›- 1. Make Sure Your Succulents Get Enough Light. ...
- Rotate Succulents Frequently. ...
- Water According to the Season. ...
- Choose a Container with Drainage. ...
- Plant Succulents in the Right Soil. ...
- Water the Soil Directly. ...
- Keep Succulents Clean. ...
- Get Rid of Bugs.
- Conditions. Place in a bright sunny area with ample light.
- Watering. The growing medium should be dry most of the time and the plant will survive without water for long period. Overwatering can cause the leaves to fall off.
- Minimum temperature 12°C. Prefers warmer climates, and quite sensitive to cold water.
At the very beginning of the article I mentioned your succulents should be planted in a well draining soil AND in a pot with a drainage hole. Succulents will quickly rot if they are in wet soil for too long. Ideally, your soil will be mostly dry, especially the top half of the pot, within 2-3 days.
Can I leave succulents outside in winter? ›The answer is yes. Succulents are often known as drought-tolerant plants but some of them can also tolerate frost. They thrive in cold, snowy weather and the extreme temperature even brings out their gorgeous and vibrant colors.
Can I leave my potted succulents outside? ›A common question is can succulents live outside? The short answer is yes! They thrive in sunny locations with warm, dry climates and can tolerate some neglect, so growing succulents outdoors is a great option. Grow succulents in-ground, in pots, or tuck them away in unexpected planting spots.
How often should I water my outdoor succulents in pots? ›Frequency. If your succulents are outside or in a greenhouse during the summer, you will want to water them about once a week. The soil should approach dryness, but not stay dry for long periods of time.
Is Conophytum Pageae poisonous? ›
Conophytum pageae is non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans.
What is the hardest succulent to keep alive? ›Compton Carousels and Silver Prince are drop-dead gorgeous succulents, but they are some of the most difficult plants to care for.
What is the best potting mix for succulents? ›Because succulents are drought-tolerant plants that do not require consistent moisture, their potting soil should be porous and well-draining and have a lower percentage of organic matter than traditional indoor soil mixes. A loose, grainy soil mixture with plenty of sand and perlite or pumice is ideal.
Will my succulents survive in the bathroom? ›However, most succulents (not all) are naturally hardy, they can thrive in typical bathroom conditions. These succulent plants prefer partial to full shade and high humidity, and so are the best plants for bathrooms with indirect light, filtered light, or low light conditions.
Can you water succulents with tap water? ›Like most outdoor plants, you should water succulents in the morning. Avoid tap water. Use filtered, rain, or distilled water instead. If you must use tap water, leave it out overnight to allow mineral deposits to dissipate naturally.