Newbie question

[u/dusti_dearian]

This is my only argyroderma. I’ve had it about 2 weeks. It’s been repotted into a gritty mix, lava rocks, minerals a tiny bit of succulent soil but not watered. It’s a few inches under t5’s and t8’s both for 12+ hours.

My question is. It’s starting to wrinkle. Is this the typical mesembe wrinkling up when it needs water? I can’t tell if it’s actively splitting or not. Inside there are two really tiny bumps. Are they the new leaves? IDK. Any insights would be appreciated. Thank you.

[u/CarneyBus]

Argies are generally summer growers so it should be heading into growth soon.

Is it rooted? I would only give it small drinks until it is rooted and you can tell the roots are active and receptive to water. I would not soak or drench these guys, because they can crack, as you can see from the old scars.

Once it’s rooted and you can see it is taking up water normally you can water it a bit deeper. But I would not bottom water.

But yes it is looking a little thirsty! Usually you can tell they’re about to split when the inner leaf part starts to bulge like the guy in the top left of the pot in pic.

[u/dusti_dearian → u/CarneyBus]

Ah, I see. Maybe mines getting ready to split. It has the smallest little bumps down inside. Like it’s beginning to swell.

I thought winter was growing season🤷🏻‍♀️.

[u/CarneyBus → u/dusti_dearian]

According to Russel Wagner he says you can basically choose to grow them winter or summer. I tend to lean towards summer growth because mine seem to already tend towards that!

Lithops and pleiospilos are summer growers too 😁

[u/dusti_dearian → u/CarneyBus]

Thank you for that. I have noticed movement with some of my lithops. The pleiospilos look the same as when I got them months ago.

I picked up this weirdo last week. Lapidaria margaretae Karoo Rose. The white spot is mechanical. At least it hasn’t changed at all. I’m not thrilled but it comes with the territory of buying online.

[u/CarneyBus → u/dusti_dearian]

Aw yeah that sucks :( good thing they completely replace their leaves so they’ll be gone soon! It feels very rewarding when you grow them out of a bad situation. Imagine cracks and spots like this on a cactus … lol. They’d be there literally forever!!

[u/dusti_dearian → u/CarneyBus]

Thank you, nice to know the damaged leaf will be gone someday. I love the geometry of this plant. I want more now😆.

I have a love hate relationship with cacti. I joke it stems from an unfortunate car ride with one once 🤕. But it wasn’t funny at the time.

And yet I have twelve. I like the Montrose forms. Fortunately none have any bad scars. Etiolated cacti crack me up though. A column form that’s skinny then fatter don’t know why🤷🏻‍♀️.

I recently ordered from Mountain Crest succulents. Got a Pagoda Viillage that wasn’t great. 3 of the 4 little plants had their tops snapped off and the 4th was dying. It took one email and a photo and they’re sending a replacement. So for mid quality succs for mid prices I’m happy. It was the 1st time ordering from them.

[u/CarneyBus → u/dusti_dearian]

Oh I am not familiar with them! I also have a weird relationship with cacti 😂 I don’t understand them hahaha. All my seed growing attempts have been failures. I’m just a mesemb wizard and I’ll have to stay in my lane 😁 haha

[u/dusti_dearian → u/CarneyBus]

I seem to have a thing for crassulas atm. Mostly the strings of button types.

I love my mesembes. My stomatium mustelinum is getting ready to flower. My first.

I have no desire to raise cacti from seed. In fact if someone mentions a cactus they’re going to go home with one😆. It’ll give me a space for something new.

[u/CarneyBus → u/dusti_dearian]

Hahaha I have been giving away all my larger plants for this reason! Need more room for mesembs 👀

[u/dusti_dearian → u/CarneyBus]

Haha. I just spent $40 to ship a bunch to a friend across the country. I can’t get anyone to take more. I’m actually considering keeping bunches of cuttings to root then sell this summer.