Waking up for winter and odd residents in the soil
A couple of the mesembs that I grow are completely dormant in the hottest months of the year. Some of them come from a part of the country that receives very little rain but there is sea fog, which supplies most of the water that keeps Conophytums alive. Summer is drawing to a close and I noticed that they were starting to break out of their dormancy: there was a small crack in the casings of last year's leaves. While they are dormant, they should not be watered but once there are signs of new growth, it's time to give water. I did so yesterday and by this morning there was noticeable swelling of the leaves and further cracking of the shells forming a casing. At first, only the largest central casing cracked but they all opened after they were watered
Conophytum minutum: the largest centre leaf has divided into two
Conophytum obcordellum were peeping out all along but swelled noticeably overnight
Conophytum Bilobum has been renewing its leaves for a while already but I expected that, they grow in a different area and didn't go into total dormancy as the others did
These conophytums are still very much encased but I think that the water and cooler weather will get them growing now.
Phyllobolus digitatus are still very much asleep but I will start watering them too. Last year, I waited too long to start watering them and that delayed their flowering.
On another note, I saw an Amegilla bee hovering around the window and come inside then disappear. When I looked for it, I noticed the hole in the tray I am growing seedlings in and then heard some buzzing sounds so that is its burrow.
Amegilla bees are solitary and don't make honey but they are very important pollinators of many indigenous plants. They have black and white band in their bodies and look like this:
I'll be curious to see what happens next. I wanted to transplant those seedlings but now I will leave them so that the bee can finish raising its grub, which it feeds with the pollen it collects
According to the Bible, The Mark of a True Witness: No More, No Less
Watch the Video below to know the Answer...
(Sorry for sending this comment. We are not looking for our self profit, our intentions is to preach the words of God in any means possible.)
Comment what you understand of our Youtube Video to receive our full votes. We have 30,000 #SteemPower. It's our little way to Thank you, our beloved friend.
Check our Discord Chat
Join our Official Community: https://steemit.com/created/hive-182074
Winter is coming to a close in 'my' neck of the woods :>)
How often I forget the differences depending upon where we plant our feet in relationship to hemispheres...
Hope all is well with you, your plants, felines and anything else.
Thank you I wish the same to you and yours
Anything brand new is a thrill :))
Of course!
The fly looks very healthy, very natural.
In fact it is a bee, but not a honeybee
Nice close up photos!!
Thank you!