Grow and Care for Lithops - Living Stones
Key takeaways - Lithops / Living Stones
How-To-Guide for Living Stones - Lithops
The best way to grow and care for Lithops or Living Stones is to mimic its natural habitat, and do it with discipline. Lithops requires a rather specific care where you must replicate the seasonal cycles they experience in the wild. And I have learned the hard way that they are not especially forgiving plants if you don’t give them what they want.
Lithops or Living Stones belong to the succulent family, Aizoaceae. Their natural habitat is in very warm, dry, and rocky landscapes in Africa, where seasonal rainfall is followed by long periods of drought. They are perfectly adapted to this tough climate and require this type of seasonal change to thrive in your home.
This makes them very challenging houseplants, especially if you live in a different hardiness zone with vastly different temperatures and natural light, especially during the winter months. But, it also makes them amazing houseplants with unique features and abilities unlike anything else. They are great challenges to keep happy, especially when the winter darkness is upon us.
Lithops are rather small plants and only reach an inch (2-3 cm) above the soil. They are extremely slow-growing and will never overtake the whole windowsill in a heartbeat. They have several different colors and interesting patterns and mimic small stones in dry landscapes. Lithops flower during fall and will surprise you with a wide range of colors, depending on the species.
What is the best watering regime for Lithops?
The best watering regime for Lithops is to let them dry out completely between waterings. They require seasonal watering that mimics their natural condition to be really happy. A Lithops plant has two very thick and fleshy leaves with the expert ability to store water. But when the plant is in a growth phase, the two leaves will slowly split as two new leaves slowly emerges.
- Give the Lithops plenty of water during the growing season, but allow it to dry out completely.
- Don’t water Lithops during summer and winter dormancy.
- Resume watering in the fall ahead of the flowering season.
- Stop watering Lithops after flowering during fall.
- Don’t water the Lithops during winter when they split and start to grow new leaves, it may damage or even kill it. The new inner leaves will start to absorb the water from the outer leaves, which slowly will shrivel and dry out completely.
- Resume watering once the old leaves are completely dry and shriveled away, sometime during spring.
It is often recommended to bottom water Lithops. Although, I have never done it and seems to work fine anyway.
Drops of water on the leaves may cause stains.
If given too much water, the epidermis can break and cause scars, or even kill the plant.
What is the best soil for Lithops?
The best soil for Lithops is well-draining soil without too much organic material.
I have grown Lithops from seed in a well-draining mix of perlite and sand, without any organic material at all. These plants are roughly six years old today and seem very pleased. However, they seem to be able to grow in pretty much any well-draining soil that dries out very quickly.
What is the best pot for Lithops?
The best pot for Lithops has holes in the bottom with excellent drainage that prevents the plant from sitting in water. Terracotta or ceramic pots breathe naturally and help the soil to dry out. A plastic pot does not breath but is usually fine as long as the medium has good drainage.
Since Lithops grow so slowly and remain rather small, there is no urgent need to repot lithops too often. But changing the soil every two-three years will most likely make them happy.
What is the best light for Lithops?
The best light for Lithops is very bright daylight and full sun exposure. Partial shade is sometimes advised in locations with very strong sunlight.
During the dark winter months, you need to give the Living Stones the brightest and best possible location. If you have dark winters, like me, you may need support from a led grow light, they may not make it through the winter without it.
If you move a Lithops plant from partial shade to full sun may result in initial sunburn. It needs some time to adapt to the new environment.
What is the best temperature for Lithops?
The best temperature for Lithops is very hot summers and cool winters around 60° F (16° C). They can tolerate some frost and temperatures below the freezing point, but it is not ideal.
The soil must be completely dry in cold temperatures. Make it easy for yourself and just move the Living stones indoors if the winter is cold.
What is the best way to fertilize Lithops?
The best way to fertilize Lithops is with a diluted FPK-balanced fertilizer with high potassium and low nitrogen during the growing season. Lithops will probably do just fine without fertilization since their natural habitat offers very limited nutrition.
If you use soil without any organic material, some lithops fertilizer will do good. Although, if you use soil with some organic material, the Lithops will absorb the nutrition.
Grow Lithops from seed
Grow Lithops from seed are fairly straightforward, but must be done correctly.
- Sterilize a pot, a plastic bag, and the medium after a few minutes in the micro-oven. As well as spraying everything thoroughly with peroxide/fungicide.
- Sprinkle the very tiny seeds on top of the soil and close the back.
- Grow Living Stones from seeds during spring when the weather is a bit warmer ahead of the growing season. The seeds typically require a minimum temperature of around 70° F (21° C) to germinate.
- After a couple of weeks the seeds should have germinated and plenty of tiny green dots will be visible. The seeds germinate readily and usually have a very high germination rate.
- Start making small holes in the plastic bag to slowly adjust the Lithops seedling to lower humidity, until you finally remove the plastic bag completely. Don’t remove the bag entirely at once, since it can shock the sensitive seedlings.
It will usually take around four to five years before Lithops will flower for the first time. The Lithops seedlings might not enter dormancy and adjust to the seasonal change until the second year. It takes some time for them to understand the world they live in.
Grow Lithops from division
Grow Lithops from division is preferably done in spring when the growing season starts. If Lithops split you gently separate the new plant and move it to a different pot, or give it away to a new happy owner. Be very careful with the sensitive taproot when separating the plants.
Lithops seed collection
Lithops flowers will develop a seed capsule if it gets pollinated. Lithops are never in a hurry, and the seeds take about 9 months to develop within the capsule.
Do I need to prune Lithops?
There is not much pruning when it comes to Lithops care. You may gently assist it and remove the shriveled outer leaves when they are completely dry. Apart from that, there is not much more to it.
Types of Lithops
Lithops Karasmontana
Lithops Karasmontana is easy to identify with its gray base with red-brown patterns on top of the leaves. They also come in other variations with stronger shades of red or green color, and at times they are paler with a grey appearance. Lithops Karasmontana is very difficult to spot in a rocky landscape when they are not in bloom. When in bloom, Lithops Karasmontana has lovely white Daisy-like flowers that bring life to your windowsill.
Lithops Aucampiae
Lithops Aucampiae is native to South Africa in the wild. This plant has a few different varieties with an interesting appearance with dark brown or light green leaves with peculiar rock-like patterns across the top of the leaves. During the flowering season, Lithops Aucampiae produces stunning yellow or white long-lasting flowers.
Lithops Salicola
Lithops Salicola is known for its unusual appearance, with its leaves resembling a small green-blue pebble. In flowering season during fall, they will catch your attention with striking white flowers.
Lithops Julii
Lithops Julii has leaves that are greyish-green, sometimes almost white-ish, resembling a small pebble in a dry desert landscape. They produce bright white flowers that usually bloom in the late summer and early fall.
Lithops Terricolor cv. Violetta
Lithops terricolor cv. Violetta is one of the most eye catching Lithops with its red-violette leaves. They look almost syntetic, although, they are most definitely real. They will bloom in fall, like other Lithops, producing stunning yellow or white flowers.
Lithops Hookeri
Lithops Hookeri is a fascinating Lithops species that is native to Namibia. This plant has leaves that are pale grey-green or chocolate brown. Lithops Hookeri produces lovely yellow flowers that bloom in the late summer and early fall.
Lithops Optica
Lithops Optica has leaves that are violette or greyish-green with a slightly smaller body then most other Lithops varieties. They have small white flowers that bloom in the late summer and early fall.
Lithops challenges
Almost all problems with Lithops occur from overwatering, especially combined with bad ventilation and insufficient light. The winter darkness in the north is not popular among Lithops. The best way is to provide them with extra light with a grow lamp specifically for plants.
- Discolored leaves may occur when the plant doesn’t get sufficient sunlight, as well as elongated growth.
- Occasionally, Lithops will shrivel if they are not given enough water during the growing season. Although, not enough water is usually the least severe problem that may occur to Lithops.
- Mushy leaves that are soft like jello may occur when they get too much water, and are usually beyond saving at this point. They will melt like an ice cube and disappear in the soil without a trace after a few days. Avoid watering during seasonal dormancy, and you will usually sidestep this issue.
Lithops pests
Typically Lithops don’t have too many problems with pests. Since they sit in full sunshine, dry out completely and stay that way for a long time, which makes it an inhospitable environment for a lot of insects. In my experience, Mealybugs tends to be the largest problem but not a critical one. You can eliminate most of them with a toothpick.
Overwinter Lithops
Overwintering Lithops can be very easy or rather difficult. – If you live in a region with warm winters, around 60° F (16° C), with good sunlight there will be no challenges. However, if you live in northern regions with indoor heating, very short days and almost no sunlight, you have a challenge! Lithops prefer winters that are a little bit cooler than normal indoor temperature and will need support from a grow light with high lumen to be happy.
How to get Lithops to bloom
Lithops need direct sunlight, at least six hours a day, to stimulate flower production and to dry out completely between waterings. Also, allow them to go dormant during summer and winter.
As the growing season approaches, introduce a diluted, balanced fertilizer to support flowering. Keep in mind that Lithops are more likely to bloom as they mature, so patience is a virtue in this case. If they are happy, Lithops will usually flower during late summer or fall.
FAQ - Lithops - Living Stones
Most frequent questions and answers
Lithops rarely have to be repotted since they have such a slow growth rate. But every few years is good to give them fresh new soil. Repot Lithops just before the growing season around April, and they will have great momentum and establish their roots in the new soil.
Mimic their specific life-cycle and don’t overwater them is a very good start. Give them a location with full sun. Also, you may want to invest in a grow led light for the dark winter months.
Never water Lithops when they are splitting leaves and new growth emerges. It may disturb the plant’s natural lifecycle. It may also hurt the new emerging leaves since the old leaves will absorb water and swell in size. As well as, it increases the chances of a rotting plant.
It is crucial that Lithops gets several hours a day of very bright light, preferably the prime spot in your home. If they get insufficient light, they may get a strange etiolated shape or start to lean in the direction of the light.
Lithops are usually dormant during the summer and winter, with growth periods in between. They simply not be growing during this time, but rather conserve energy for the growing season.
Lithops reach full size in a few years and stay that way. They will repeat their life cycle and generate new leaves year after year, but don’t really increase much more in size. Lithops divide and can create a cluster of many plants, a very nice sight when they are all flower.