Conophytum ratum once became incredibly popular for its unique, UFO-like shape and the cute “butt” form created by its “humps.” Many succulent enthusiasts were drawn into the hobby because of this adorable species. The price of C. ratum peaked around 2021-2022 but decreased later due to mass propagation. Recently, however, its price seems to be rising again. … Read more
I. Introduction: Blooming on Scorched Earth Recently, something extraordinary happened in the Cape winelands mountain area of South Africa: after a recent mountain fire, the entire mountain was burned to look like the surface of the moon—gray, bare, and desolate. But right on this scorched earth, Brunsvigia marginata stubbornly stubbornly burst into full, brilliant bloom, … Read more
Conophytum regale is found exclusively in the Ratelpoort area, north of Springbok in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, where it grows in rock crevices and does not require very high light intensity. Under normal conditions, I have observed that plants grown in greenhouses generally show poorer condition and smaller “eyes” compared to those grown indoors. Even … Read more
Introduction Conophytums grow in western South Africa and southwestern Namibia. This region has a Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall and dry summers. Therefore, Conophytums in the wild grow in winter, and this characteristic is retained in cultivation. Their cultivation is significantly different from cacti. It is recommended to grow them separately from cacti in the … Read more