Living Stone Plant: A Guide To The Unique Houseplants
Do you want to add some fascinatingly attractive and unique plants to your garden? Or do you want to add some rock landscape to your home decor? But what if we tell you that both of your needs can be fulfilled with the same plant? You will be surprised. But yes, it is true, and the addition of the living stone plant in your garden can do this for you.
The living stone plant is one of the types of succulents which you can add for its unique looks in your garden. These succulent plants look like pebbles or rocks in a pot, but they are very well alive and thriving. The good thing about these plants is that they are one of the most low maintenance needing plants. Thus this plant doesn’t require an extensive succulent care routine from you.
In the article, we will tell you about these attractive and unique houseplants. We will explore various aspects of this plant-like care and how to grow.
Living Stone Plant
The living stones, which are also popular by the name of pebble plants, are a type of unusual little succulent plants. They have evolved in a way that they look like rocks and pebbles, which litter the native habitats in Africa.
These plants literally hug the ground and grow at an extremely slow pace. They are best to be planted during the fall or spring season as they enter the dormant stage and don’t grow actively during the hot months of summer. The plants which come under this genus in general consist of a pair of thick leaves along with little stems which are above the soil. Under the soil, these plants have stems along with some fairly long roots.
During the spring season, a new set of leaves appear on these succulent plants, and the old leaves will dry up. The dried-up leaves of these unique plants will fall off. In addition to this, all the species which come under this genus have flowers like a daisy. These flowers typically emerge from the spaces between the leaves during the winter and fall season.
How To Care For Living Stone Plant?
The living stone plant is an interesting plant to grow, all thanks to its unique appearance. The good thing is that they are one of the most low-maintenance plants to grow. However, these plants have some specific type of environmental needs which you need to abide by for success in their growth.
Light
The living stone plant prefers a full sun around the year. It means that they will need at least six hours of sunlight each day for better growth.
In case you are growing the beauties as indoor plants, then you will need to place them near the bright sunlight receiving window. The windows on the eastern and southern exposure are best for these plants’ growth. If these types of succulents don’t get enough sunlight, then their leaves can become elongated and discolored.
Soil
The living stone plant loves sandy soil, which provides them with sharp drainage. This is why a potting mix that is specifically formulated for the growing off cacti plant is ideal for them. However, you can also use other types of soil which provide them with equal levels of drainage.
Water
The living stone plant should be watered according to the seasonal schedule, which mics their natural habitats’ rainfall. You should also not water these plants during the winters as at this time of year; these unique houseplants are in a dormant state.
When during the spring season, new leaves start forming on the plant, water it whenever the soil is dry. But remember to water it only to an amount that the soil feels moist slightly and doesn’t over-water it. This is an essential thing as overwatering of this plant can lead to rotting of its roots.
Once again, during the summer season, pause the watering of this plant as it is again in a dormant state in summers. However, you will need to resume watering it just before the fall season starts, as during this time, the flowers begin forming on it.
One thing to remember is that if the leaves of this plant start shriveling completely during the summers, you can water it in a very small amount. This will make the leaves plump and shiny again.
Humidity And Temperatures
The living stone plant does great when it comes to temperature tolerance. They can tolerate heat well, and they are also able to survive the temperatures which go down up to 50℉.
They also do good in the normal room temperatures ranging between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity is not an issue for these plants as long as the soil in the pot doesn’t retain moisture for long periods. One thing which you need to do is to provide these plants with good aunts of the airflow.
Fertilizers
The living stone plant naturally lives in poor soil and thus is not a heavy feeder. This is why these succulent plants don’t require any kind of fertilizer for growth.
Repotting And Potting Of Living Stone Plant
These plants need a pot that is at least 3 inches to 5 inches in depth even though they rise only an inch above the ground. The reason for this is that these plants have long taproots which stretch far down in the soil below the surface.
The pot which you use for them should not have ample holes in it for drainage. Instead of it, use the pit, which is made up of unglazed clay. These types of clay pots will allow the excess water to seep out through the walls and evaporate. One good thing about these succulent plants is that you will not need to repot them for many years. This is because they are slow growers.
In case you have more than one living stone plant in a single pot, and they are getting cramped up, then you can repot them. For repotting, carefully dig up the roots of the specific plant from the pot which you want to repot; you must keep the roots intact while doing this. Now place the plant in a pot that is slightly deeper than the size of its roots. After placing it, fill the pot with fresh cacti potting mix.
These are some of the growing and caring tips for the living stone plant which you should follow. The good thing about these plants is that they will add something very unique to your home.
Final Words
Do you want to add something unique to your indoor plants? Or do you want to try some rock landscaping? Well, you can do both with the living stone plant.
The living stone plant is one of the unique houseplants which you can grow in your home. They are popular by the name of pebble plants due to their unique appearance.