03/10/2020
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Those succulents that you thought looked like rocks? They are called Lithops (or Living stones), a genus of succulents native to southern Africa. Older Lithops form clumps of colourful pebbles in their pot, which makes them ideal as an accent piece in your garden. As small and slow-growing plants, they are relatively easy to care for, especially once you get a hang of the routine. In this article, you will find some basic knowledge to take good care of your Lithops.
Light and Temperature
Lithops have adapted to tolerate harsh sunlight in their native environment. Thus, the best way to care for them would be to provide 4-5 hours of early sunlight, and partial shade in the afternoon.
Water
As Lithops have the capacity to store water for months in their leaves, overwatering can lead to puffy plants, and even to their demise. Also, remember they thrive in desert condition with infrequent moisture and intense sunlight. Therefore, mimicing Lithop growing condition is important to keep them healthy.
Underwatering, however, can result in stunted plants. The trick is to water only when the soil is thoroughly dry (test by inserting a wooden skewer into the soil, and check if it's moist when removed).
When Lithops are growing new leaves, it's best to leave them and not water until the old pair of leaves are completely dried up and withered. This normally happens after their dormant season, which is around spring to early fall. Once the days get shorter and the temperature get cooler in fall, the plants will be active again.
Soil
It is best for Lithops to be planted in cactus mix or fast-draining potting soil. Sand, pebbles, or other gritty materials can also be added to help with soil drainage.
Repotting
Lithops, like any other plants in general, should only be repotted if there are problems (soggy soil) or if the plants outgrow their container. If you want to repot the plants anyway, only repot when its growing season starts (usually around the month of May). Lithops's roots must be sufficiently developed (at least 2 years) before any re-potting is done.
Growing New Leaves
Lithops develop new pair of leaves every year. They only have one pair of leaves at a time so the old leaves will die for the new one to emerge. Normally, the process of growing new leaves happen after blooming period. After they flowers, Lithops will go into dormant for a while to prepare for the new growth. The plants will absorb the nutrients from old leaves and eventually the new pairs of leaves will make their way through the fissure of the old ones.
