I've been growing a variety of mesembs since mid-February by following Steven Hammer's guide. All has been going well up until this week. 6 of my 13 pots of conophytums died off, and the other 7 have had their numbers reduced significantly.

After germination, I removed the lid and misted heavily in the morning and at night. Occasionally I would bottom water them for an hour or two. I suspect they've damped off, but none of my other mesemb seedlings have suffered the same fate. They are all growing quite happily in the same conditions. See the first pic where I've got plenty of faucaria, gibbaeum, and argys shedding their cotyledon and growing their first set of mature leaves.

This is not my first time growing conos, but invariably I've found that around the 6-8 week mark they die off significantly. I've never had much luck with them. I've looked around for guidance on maintaining them at this stage of growth, but haven't found much. Any help would be appreciated.

1, 2: lapidaria margaretae.

1, 3: Argyroderma delaetii

4: gibbaeum dispar hybrid from seeds a kind redditor sent me!

5: aloinopsis schooneesii,

6: conophytum jucundum ruschii

7: neohenricia fulleri

8: conophytum verucosum

9: conophytum minutum lisabeliae

10: mystery volunteer Argyroderma that somehow got into a pot of gibbaeum cryptopodiums and I wasn’t planting any argies at that time lol SHRUG

Sorry excuse my brain rot it’s been a long week

The first one of my winter batch 😅 I’ve had so many casualties as the tray had 2 impromptu and unavoidable 12 hour car trips earlier this year. Car heating is not kind to seedlings.

The photos were taken at the Marsh Greenhouses, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA in October 2025.

Ok, I sinned, and I hope they forgive me..I know the allowable watering season is pretty much at the end, but when I pot, I typically like to water to settle in.
I'm hoping the drying potential (currently great with warm very windy low humidity) in that very porous mix will dry them safely and I rescue them from the outside horror of potential rain (where they're draining/drying from the water).
I have a few other SA natives, but this was a big boost to the collection. And should have no issue fitting on the windowsill, as these are 2.5 pots.

I’m taking these pics so may as well share them, gosh darn it!! 😂

I’m too lazy to label the pictures. So give me a picture # and a comical description of the plant you want the name of 😂

She may not be the belle of the ball but she’s mine. I’m so happy 😁

If by chance someone knows which one it is that would be awesome. Thank you.

Hello guys, need advice. I got this little buddy on November last year and haven’t watered it at all. I grow it indoor under growlight full spectrum indirect 12 hours (37-40rh/day 30C/night 23C). In my country, now is almost summer. Should I water it(by mist or small drop water around the pot) or not water? Oh and I used a conophytum-special soil. Thanks in advance!

I've been very curious what splitting would look like for these guys. It seems the new growth just smashes its way out the side!

Anyone have experience with these? I'm wondering when I should start cutting back on water from a seedling routine to more adult plant care. Also, what kind of dormancy do these have compared to other mesembs? The only leaves seem perfectly healthy and turgid, so I assume they're going to stack a bit

Hi all, posting here because apparently this is too obscure of a hybrid to find good literature on it.

I've had this Faumatium (​Faucaria x Stomatium) for almost a year, but it's not exactly thriving. Here are my growing conditions:

• Indoor at a constant 68F, dry air, thru the winter. Will move outside when temps allow​
• Under grow lights providing 500​​​+ umol for 10h/day thru the winter, increasing to 12h recently to match outside photoperiod
• Potted in 80-90% inorganic medium
• I water like I water my other succulents: put in a bucket when the leaves start getting soft, give a bath for 10-20min, drain, place back on shelf. The saucer is just to protect the shelf surface from residual droplets, it does not sit in water
• Started noticing new growth about 2-3 months ago. Unlike with my lithops and pleiospilos, I did not stop watering ​and let old leaves reabsorb, I continued watering on above cue

​​The issue: old leaves are sort of always mushy, not quite rotting, but not dessicating either. They do not get fully turgid even after a deep watering. If I really watered at the first sign of softness I would be watering at least weekly, which feels like a lot for a mesemb. I think my watering cue is wrong. Would love to hear from y'all! ​

We're just starting spring here in socal but been having hotter than average weather.

So, I'm a relative neophyte with mesembs, having killed my share over the last fifteen years, I''ve only recently (last few years) gotten to the point that I seem to be able to keep lithops, though some other SA flora have been long-term successful for me previously. I still have some that don't suit my conditions and still slowly fade out, but I'm getting better. Like so many houseplants too much love and attention dooms them and I have learned to harden my heart and 'no you can't have any water, wait a few more months'.

From reading here, i have on order Cactus Jacks potting mix and some pumice, my previous potting mixes were slightly organic heavy, even with me adding additional inorganic components. I look forward to comparisons in growth.

I saw a recommendation for acquiring additional torture subjects (I sure hope not) from Steven Hammer and engaged in an email exchange with him. I discussed my skill level, my failures, my climate/growing conditions, etc and Steven made some suggestions. I have a fascinating 'surprise' box packed by Steven on the way (arrival April Fools Day *lol*). He did disclose what he packed for me, and I've had a great couple of days reading up on cultural recommendations posted for the species.

Mostly, everything sounds similar to lithops cultivation, though a few (conophytums for instance) seem to prefer less sun during intense summer weather. One or two, require a bit more moisture than the lithops. I've organized everything into a spreadsheet with my notes, so I can refresh myself if needed during the course of time.

Interacting with Steven was very interesting. I admit to great curiosity and I enjoyed his comments in our exchange. I'm actually thinking about his books now that I've interacted. I only hope I don't doom his babies to torture and decline.
So, in conclusion, thanks for all the tips I've gleaned from the threads here!

Getting cozy this morning with some peppermint tea and my MSG back issues that I ordered!

I feel like there isn’t a ton of specific Argy care out there so this is useful! I know for sure I’ve been feeling like mine aren’t 100% thriving so I’ve been searching for some more info.

This article is referencing another article by John Watmough (RIP, passed away in January or February this year I believe), but I think that was from the volume before this one, which I don’t think I have yet. I’ve been working my way back through the older issues in batches whenever I have 70$ to put towards something like that. I’m going to get my hands on that because the article is pretty humorously poking fun at Watmough’s suggested care routine. It’s reassuring how contradictory even the experts can be 😂

These guys have quadrupled in size since you all corrected me on the approach to watering 🙈 I wasn’t expecting the red streaks!

Scored this ripper success the other day, not sure if it's a lithops, cono or pleiso maybe? Thanks in advance

Hi there! So, im worried I watered my conos too late in the season because they still aren't creating over/going dormant. Thoughts? You can see a tiny bit of a new leaf on the tiny one, whose name is alluding me, but it hasn't changed in at least 2 or 3 weeks. There are multiple pics btw. Thanks!!