Fred's Carnivorous Plants and other oddities

[fredg]

For most of this year I resisted tipping the pot of Conophyllum obcordellum v. rolfii into the bin. It didn't look too healthy at the start of the year and when it went into dormancy the old dry skin looked totally empty. Then the ugly duckling shed its skin and presented me with a swan. Now it's looking extremely healthy and promising the emergence of a flower. Well ok the plant may be a little on the small size ( app 1cm sq) but many good things come in small packages.



Whilst looking at a Harlequin patrolling the plants MrsG spotted this little red dot scuttling down the stem of a Linaria. We eventually coaxed it off the plant onto my hand to grab a photo or two. Switching to macro and observing the screen I  realised it was a weevil. ( Yes it's that small).



For a size comparison here it is on a finger.



Then all the time I'm looking at the photos on the computer I can't help thinking "Clangers"

Apion frumentarium



Clangers



I can't say I've ever seen one of these before.

[Bart]

  excellent!

[fredg]

Busy, busy

[Maggi Young]

Fred, have you any photos of the "stones" before you plant them? I'm wondering how much root system they have at that stage.

[fredg]

Unfortunately I don't Maggi. I've finished repotting all the seedlings too.

Most were grown in 6cm pots and the roots reach the bottom. Hope that helps

[fredg]

These seem so happy together.





So if you cross that last pair is this the result?



While we're on insects this one just ignored the camera in its face. If you're not into the insect the Delosperma is nice 😇

[fredg]

Not every day you see this.
A L. bromfieldii demonstrating how much light is transmitted inside the plant's body for photosynthesis.

[johnw]

Busy, busy[img width=750height=443]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EQ6nIIKvcHR7AFP2Pyn9dUP4hnTwMc9-X6l_tYYMFrYuak-dVMnsqj7kOAH1dIhGelrskDbYYQFSIN32W4re9sQVDOVYIMbG0Un1X_v-E61lIJq8Cq1BIubND2eBLdOQoMgHlEE4I98=w1920-h1080[/img]

Fred  - What is your soil mix and how deep are the stone chips atop it?  Beautifully grown Mesembs!
johnw

[fredg]

Soil is JI3 with Tesco cat litter and sieved Horti grit.

The sieved grit on top is just a sprinkling.

[fredg]

A couple of trays of Lithops from last year's mixed seed.





Three plants lost since repotting but overall I'm happy with the result.

[fredg]

Conophytum ectypum ssp. brownii during a brief sunny spell.



Apparently the yellow flower is rare in these.

[fredg]

A few more flowers open but some are struggling to get enough sun.
Lithops karasmontana



Lithops terricolor





Faucaria paucidens



Titanopsis calcarea





Conophytum ectypum ssp. brownii




Conophytum chauviniae

[Jeffnz]

Excuse my ignorance but why is the a red coloration to the tops of some of the plants? 

[fredg]

If you are referring to the Lithops karasmontana, the ones with red markings are the cultivar Red Top or v. lateritia.

There are at least 37 species (new species continue to be discovered) and numerous varieties (145+) of Lithops

[fredg]

A couple of the mesembs showing flower promise. These plants are much hardier than often given credit for.



Trichodiadema densum - The promise of triplets.