Pleiospilos nelii - Split Rock

Split Rock (Pleiospilos nelii): A grey-green mesemb that actually grows well on a window sill! These unusual-looking succulents have thick, egg-shaped leaves with sharp, angular lines where leaf pairs meet. Its pattern of neat, pinpoint speckles helps it camouflage against blocks of granite in its native South African habitats.

Split rocks are adapted to arid conditions and will not tolerate low-light or over-watering. They need (80% mineral grit, 20% organic soil) and a deep, narrow pot with a drainage hole. Plants can be watered deeply in spring and fall, but only if the soil is dry and the inner leaf pair starts to feel soft. These plants are very susceptible to rot and should be left fairly dry in the summer and winter.

As split rocks grow, new leaf pairs emerge in the center. Allow the outer leaf pair to dry and shed as its stored water is used to sustain the new growth. Limp, wrinkled outer leaves are not necessarily a sign that the plant needs water. Use the firmness of the inner leaf pair to determine if your plant needs water. This plant can produce large, daisy-shaped golden blooms that open in the afternoon and close by nightfall.