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Cultivation & Propagation of the Genus Dinteranthus
Sowing 'n Growing

Cultivation:

A great genus for greenhouse cultivation.

Watering:  Careful watering is required, a distinctive summer resting period is required.  Water during spring until late spring early summer and resume again in autumn, water should be withheld during winter - especially for those of you living in the colder parts of the world.

Fertilizer:  Use a well balanced fertilizer, 2:2:2.  Feed plants once a month.

Soil:  Extremely well-drained sandy, mineral rich soil.

4 parts coarse grit
4 parts riversand
4 parts sand
4 part well sieved compost
The above mix works for me, modify it to accommodate your conditions, i.e..  more grit and less sand and compost if you live in an area where your soil takes longer to dry out.

Light:  Grow in high intensity light or full sun, beware of placing plants from shaded areas to bright or full sunlight areas as this may scorch and kill them.

Temperature:  Protect from frost and excessively wet conditions.

Pots:  10cm - 12.5cm pots are ideal for these plants.  Plastic pots retain moisture longer than clay pots which is a factor that needs to be taken into consideration if you find that your soil takes to long to dry out.  Clay pots are ideal, as well as aesthetically pleasing, for this genus, so if you have place to spare use them.

Propagation:

Extremely easy genus to cultivate from seed or cutting.

Seed propagation

Sow seeds from early autumn to late autumn in 12.5cm or even 10cm pots.  Seeds can be sown directly on top of the soil, it's not necessary to cover the seeds with a layer of soil.  After sowing the seeds directly onto the soil, wet the soil using a fine spray.  Cover the pot with clear plastic (I use clingwrap) and fasten it with an elastic band.

Pots should be put in a shaded (40% shade-cloth) spot.  Seeds should start germinating after a couple of days.  Remove the plastic a few days after the seeds have started germinating, if left on to long rot will kill off the seedlings.

The first year the seedlings can be watered frequently, approximately every 2-4 days (if your soil stays moist longer than that water your plants less).  At every watering use a well balanced fertilizer (a quarter of the recommended amount for ornamental plants or seedlings).

After the first year seedlings should be big enough to separate and be planted into their own pots (Cheiridopsis peculiaris may take longer to reach maturity).  Once plants have been placed into their individual pots they can be gradually introduced into stronger and eventually full sunlight. 

Most plants will flower within 2 to 3 years.

Soil

4 parts washed riversand
4 parts sand (not extremely fine)
1 part well sieved compost

Sterilize sand in an oven or microwave oven.

Vegetative Propagation:

Adult plants can be split up.  Use a clean sharp knife to separate the leaf pair from other leaf pairs, make sure part of the stem is present on all cuttings.  Allow wounds to callus.

Cuttings can then be placed in a well draining medium.  Spray the cuttings with every other day, roots should appear within a few weeks.  A rooting hormone can also be used to stimulate root growth.

/ Antegibbeaum / Cheiridopsis / Conophytums / Dinteranthus / Fenestria / Gibbeaum / Hammeria / Lithops / Pleiospilos /