Pleiospilos nelii – Split rock plant

R40 incl. VAT

Where it grows

The ‘split rock’ plant is native to the Great Karoo region of South Africa.

Special features

Pleiospilos nelii is one of the most popular succulents in the hobby due to its appearance. It resembles stones that occur in its natural habitat, which is an adaptation called ‘mimicry’, which it used to avoid being eaten by herbivores. It is gray with small black spots, and oval in shape with a split down the middle where new growth occurs. Produces yellow or orange flowers in late winter.

Care Guide

This species prefers lots of light and should be kept in a sunny spot in the greenhouse, or in an area that receives morning sun. Plant it in a well-draining, sandy soil mix that does not stay wet for more than a 2-3 days. Pleiospilos nelii can be watered throughout the year, but only once per month. Drench the soil and let it dry for 3-4 weeks before watering again, rather than giving it small amounts of water more frequently. It is important to water this species in winter, otherwise it will not flower.

Growing season

Autumn and winter.

Propagation 

Seeds.

In stock

Product FAQS

In our experience, the best time to repot a succulent is in the beginning of the growing season.

A plant with thick, fleshy tissue, designed for storing water over long periods of time.

If it's only one or two bugs, try to remove them by hand. Alternatively, spray with a pesticide or water with a systemic pesticide. We recommend RoseCare3 or RoseCarePlus, as both these are a combination pesticide and fungicide, which means they prevent insect pests and treat fungal infections.

Succulents do like fertiliser. The general rule of thumb is to fertilise in the growing season. Succulents are quite sensitive, so in our experience halving the recommended dose of general plant fertilizers works well. If it is a fertilizer formulated specifically for succulents and cacti, use the full recommended dose.

Succulents like heavy watering in the growing season, but do need to dry out between watering to avoid root rot.

No, because they are made up of mostly water, they are prone to frostbite.

It is best not to do so. This could stress the plant or burn it. Slowly introduce them by giving them a little bit more exposure each day.

It depends on the amount of sun exposure the window receives. Some succulents will be happy, but the majority will not get enough sunlight to maintain the correct shape. Alternatively, if the window receives too much light, the plant will be burned, as the window will act like a magnifying glass.

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