Pleiospilos nelii - Split Rock [large]

Highlights

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. This plant is fully rooted in a 3.5" pot.

Split rocks are adapted to arid conditions and will not tolerate low-light or over-watering. They need rapidly draining mineral soil (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.

Product Size

3.5" Pot

Current Primary Color

Blue / Blue-green

Bloom Color

Yellow Bloom

Grow Zone (Hardiness)

Zone 10 (30F)

Recommended Light Conditions

Bright Indoor Light, Full Sun

Maximum Height

3"-5"

Maximum Rosette Size

3"-4"

Growth Habit / Shape

Clumping / Mounding

Special Characteristic

Pet Safe, Slow Grower, Showy Blooms

THIS PLANT IS HARDY IN ZONES 10+

10

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Popular Questions

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1 year ago

After the flower dies off should it be revoved and how shouldit be removed. See answer

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1 year ago  •  Staff Answer

It doesn't have to be removed, but if you want to remove it, just wait for it to completely dry out. Then gently tug on the bloom. It should slip from between the leaves with ease. If it doesn't, let it dry a bit longer and try again. See full answer »

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4 years ago

Can I plant split rocks and lithops together, or might separate pots be better for a novice gardener? See answer

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4 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes, for a beginner we recommend planting each of these in its own pot. They have finicky, seasonal watering schedules and it can be difficult to keep them in a single pot when they're at different stages of needing water or needing to stay dry. That said, they both like VERY gritty soil (like this Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix) and lots of sunshine, so advanced growers do manage to grow them together in a single pot just fine. See full answer »

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3 years ago

What pot depth is ideal for planting Pleiospilos Split Rocks? See answer

I read split rock should be planted in a deep pot? How deep? Thanks See more »

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

For Split Rocks and Lithops, pots about 4" deep are ideal. This gives space for their tap roots, without being so big that the pot holds too much water. As always, be sure to pick pots with drainage holes, and use a rapidly draining soil like this Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix. See full answer »

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3 years ago

What should I do if my split rock seems to be getting soft? See answer

The soil it’s in is dry and I’ve only watered it minimally since its arrival a week ago. The leaves have become less firm and I’m not sure what to do for that. See more »

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Soft leaves can indicate a couple different things.

A new Split Rock needs to be transplanted into a pot with a drainage hole and very gritty, well-draining soil like this Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix. It should be grown on a sunny windowsill or outdoors in part to full sun if the weather is mild. Do not water for at least a week after transplanting.

After that, Split Rocks should only be watered after the innermost leaf pair feels soft. So softness can be a normal sign of thirst, but it can also indicate heat stress or rot if a Split Rock was watered before it was ready. These are some of the more drought-tolerant succulents and should be watered extremely infrequently. See full answer »

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1 year ago

What is the difference between the lithop and a split rock? See answer

Which one is easier to grow? What's the difference in their appearance? See more »

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1 year ago  •  Staff Answer

A Lithops and a Split Rock (Pleiospilos nelii) are different types of plants. Both grow by splitting open and revealing a new leaf pair, but Split Rocks are a bit larger and more rounded. You can follow those links to the product pages to see photos of each. They're from the same family of mesembs, and both need very minimal water, but Spilt Rocks are slightly more forgiving of imperfect watering. See full answer »

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2 years ago

Getting ready to plant new split rocks and a lithop. Do I just stick the root balls in dry Gritty Mix with no water See answer

plants are not ready for water based on watering instructions. Do I just transplant them to dry soil and wait for the leaves to shrink off etc before I water them?. See more »

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2 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes! That's the way to do it! See full answer »

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1 year ago

how many split rocks can be together in the same pot See answer

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1 year ago  •  Staff Answer

We recommend planting just one Split Rock or Lithops per pot to make watering easier. Split Rocks and Lithops have strict watering schedules and should only be watered when their inner leaf pair is drying and feels less firm. Having multiple in a pot means sometimes one will need water at a time when another should not be watered. But if you're an experienced grower and your Split Rocks or Lithops have synced up, you might be able to manage multiple in a pot! See full answer »

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2 years ago

Are split rocks toxic to pets See answer

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2 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes, this is a non-toxic variety that you can keep even around curious critters.

You can explore all of our pet safe succulents at the link below.
Source: https://mountaincrestgardens.com/pet-... See full answer »

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1 year ago

can these be outside if it doesn't rain but, it is humid? See answer

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1 year ago  •  Staff Answer

You can keep this Split Rock outdoors in frost-free weather, but you will need to be extra careful to avoid rot given the humidity. We recommend planting in extra gritty soil like this Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix. Water very infrequently and only when the soil is completely dry and the innermost leaf pair has some give to it. See full answer »

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9 months ago

Can they tolerate air conditioning and humidity of 40 to 50% See answer

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9 months ago  •  Staff Answer

They can, but in humid climates you want to be sure you're using an extra gritty soil like this Bonsai Jack Mix and only water very infrequently (after the soil is completely dry and the innermost leaf pair starts to feel less firm).
Source: https://mountaincrestgardens.com/soil... See full answer »

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