Are you a plant lover with a busy schedule? Don’t worry about adopting a plant, as succulents do well with unintentional abuse. The mimicry plant is a succulent, native to South Africa which is hardy and will go for weeks without water, and you should consider getting it to lighten your living space.
Here is why you should contact the mimicry plant and how to care for it.
Does The Mimicry Plant Have Any Other Names?
The Mimicry plants scientific name is Pleiospilos Nelii.
The mimicry plant looks like aesthetic rocks and sometimes is called the split rock plant, living rock cactus, and cleft stone. It is succulent like the cactus and does well in arid and semi-arid regions. Its leaves look like rockfish, and its parts from each other at angles similar to that of rock formations. The leaves are grey-stone looking and are separated by a cleft down the center.
Different Types of Mimicry Plants
The mimicry plants look like stones, and there are many varieties such as the living stones, baby toes, royal flush, and Koo rose.
Main Uses of Mimicry Plants
The mimicry plants add aesthetic value to your home as they look beautiful; you can keep them on the top of the table’s shelves or by the window sills. Moreover, it removes free radicals and excess pollutants from your home, leaving the place looking fresh.
How to Prune Mimicry Plants
The mimicry plant is a self-grooming plant, but the leaves at the bottom might not absorb water as expected, making them wilt and look dry. You can prune off these leaves using a sharp knife. However, if the leaves are firmly attached to the plant, the wilting could signify thirstiness. You need to prune the leaves, which easily detach from the plant.
Best Soil for Mimicry Plants
The mimicry plant is adapted to the arid and semi-arid regions and is sometimes confused for the cactus and thus will thrive in well-aerated and drained sandy soils. When planting it in a pot, you can incorporate it with small-sized gravel and hummus.
How Much Light Do Mimicry Plants Need?
The mimicry plant does well in well-lit spaces, and it needs bright sunlight; thus, you can keep it on the window seals and tables, which are directly lit. You may have it in an east-facing position for adequate sunlight.
How Often to Water Mimicry Plants
The mimicry plant does well with little water, and overwatering might make the plant roots crack and rot eventually. You can check the soil before adding water using the soil water gauge, and you should let the soil dry completely before the next eating. Moreover, the mimicry plant leaves will guide the water needs; for instance, firm leaves do not need water while flabby ones need water.
Ideal Temperature Conditions for Mimicry Plants
The mimicry plant does well in hot and warm conditions and might have slowed growth during the winter. It also needs well balanced partial shade and full sun exposure. You can raise the room temperatures and use artificial lights to attain the right conditions for mimicry plant growth.
Humidity Conditions for Mimicry Plants
The mimicry plant thrives in low humidity as it is succulent and might not do well in high humidity. It does well during the warm seasons and might not survive harsh winters when grown in the garden, but they will spring back to life when the conditions are favourable as they have deep roots which are least likely to die off no matter the weather.
Best Fertilizer for Mimicry Plants
The plant does not need plant food all the time, but you can apply plant fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium rates of 20-20-20. You may use these fertilizers during the fall, spring and summer seasons when the plant growth is optimum.
How to Propagate Mimicry Plants
You will propagate the mimicry plant using splits and buds from a mature plant, and you should cut the breaks with a sharp knife and sock it in water with rooting hormones which facilitates the growth of roots after transplanting.
Growth Rate of Mimicry Plants
The plant has a low growth rate, but in the right condition, it will thrive. It reaches maturity after 3 to five years. And it can mature earlier depending on the plant care practices. You can increase the mimicry of plant growth by applying fertilizers that improve growth and prune worn-out old leaves.
Ideal Pot Size for Mimicry Plants
An ideal mimicry plant pot should have a 25% cactus mix and 75% pumice. The mimicry plant has deep taproots, and your pool should be at least 3.5 to 4 inches deep, and it should have a hole at the centre for proper drainage
Repotting Tips for Mimicry Plants
You can repot the plant after three years, and you can select a new plant to transplant into a unique pot or in the ground in your garden. You could add rocks at the bottom of the pot as it avoids root rotting and cover at least 1/3 of the stem leaving 2/3 part exposed.
You can choose a pot that has an inch of diameter larger than the previous pot but maintain 4 inches of depth and large holes for proper drainage. The new bank should provide enough space for the roots to grow as the plant has deep roots. Root-bound mimicry plants might not grow as expected.
FAQ
Are Mimicry Plants Edible?
The mimicry plants are not edible and are grown for their aesthetic value. They remove toxins from space and purify the air.
Are Mimicry Plants Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
The mimicry is safe and does not contain toxins that could harm your pets
Is The Mimicry Plants Poisonous?
The mimicry plant is not poisonous
Do Mimicry Plants Prefer To Grow Indoors Or Outside?
The mimicry plant does well in both indoors and outdoors provided it gets the right conditions to support growth.
Final thoughts
The mimicry plant is aesthetic succulent plants which you should consider getting for your house. It removes toxins and pollutants from your living space and promote better quality air. Even if you have a busy live style, the mimicry plant will survive in your home. They need well-aerated sandy soils which provide enough space for the deep tap roots. Good luck learning how to acre for your mimicry plant.
