Why and how to grow Lithops or living stones?

The lithops they are perfect succulent plants to have in the patio or on the terrace: measuring about 4-5cm in height by 1-2cm in width, they can be grown in pots throughout their life and, in fact, if they were planted in the garden we will most likely end up losing them.

Although it is often thought that they are very demanding, in reality they are not so demanding. If you don't believe me, you just have to test the tips and tricks that I'm going to offer you in this special, and then if you want, tell me how it went.

Lithops characteristics

Our protagonists are plants native to southern Africa. The genus, Lithops, comprises 109 species belonging to the botanical family Aizoaceae. They are known by the common names of living stones, living rocks or stone plants since that is precisely what they seem: stones found in the sandy desert. They are also called stone cacti or lithops cacti, although they are not cacti, but non-cacti succulents.

These curious plant form groups of two coupled fleshy leaves divided only by a fissure where the flowers appear, and also the new pair of leaves as the »old» withers away. Depending on the species, their color can be pink, purple, green; spotted, stippled, or striated.

The flowers open in the fall, towards sunset. They are very reminiscent of those of daisies, although the petals are much thinner (less than 0,5cm thick). They are slightly larger than the body of the plants, and have a very beautiful yellow or white color.

They are considered window plants, since in their leaves they have a translucent zone, without chlorophyll, through which the sunlight reaches the part that is buried.

How are they cared for?

If you dare to buy one or more copies, here is your care guide:

Location

Place your Lithops in an area where sunlight hits them directly, ideally throughout the day. Ideally, they should be outside, since indoors they tend to have problems due to lack of light.

Substratum

The substrate must have very good drainage. The roots do not support waterlogging, so it is highly recommended to use sandy substratesas akadama, river sand or pumice.

Irrigation

When do you have to water?

Watering is the most important and complicated task at the same time that you have to do when you have plants. With lithops it is not easy to know when to water, although we can do some things to avoid overwatering:

• One is take the pot once watered, and again after a few days. The wet substrate weighs more than when it is dry, so we will only have to memorize the weight it has in each of the situations to know more or less when it is time to water.
• Alternatively introduce a humidity meter. As soon as we introduce it, it will tell us if it is wet or dry, but to be more reliable it is important to introduce it again in other areas (near the plant, away from it) because normally the substrate is usually more humid right around the plant than near from the edge of the pot.

What water to use?

The most suitable irrigation water is rainwaterBut since we can't always get it, we can fill a bucket with tap water and let it sit overnight. The next day we will water with the water from the upper half of the bucket.

Irrigation in winter

In winter the lithops are at rest. This means that their growth is practically zero, and their water needs decrease. Due to the meteorological conditions, the substrate remains humid for a longer time, so we have to reduce the frequency of watering.

Generally, we will water once every 15 or 20 days, always taking into account the humidity of the substrate and the weather forecasts.

Subscriber

The subscriber is very important for them to grow healthy. For this reason, throughout the growing season (spring and summer) they must be fertilized with mineral fertilizers, either specifically formulated for cacti and succulents, or with Nitrofoska by adding a small spoonful once every 15 days.

Transplant

Being small plants it will be enough to pass them to a somewhat larger pot when we buy them. If we acquire them in autumn or winter, we will transplant them in spring, when the risk of frost has passed and the temperatures, both minimum and maximum, begin to remain above 15ºC.

Problems

Basically three problems can arise in cultivation: lack of light, rotting and a plague of snails.

Lack of light

If they lack light, the new leaves will grow higher than normal, thus weakening the plants. To avoid or fix it, they must be located in an area where direct sunlight hits them.

Decay

If it has been overwatered, or if the substrate has very poor drainage, the leaves will rot and die. To avoid it, it is very important to use well-drained substrates and to water very occasionally, Especially in winter.

Sea Conches

Snails and slugs are mollusks that love these plants. To prevent them from killing them, the quickest and most effective way is to put a few grains of molluscicide in the pots.

If you want to try natural remedies, you will find more information about them in this article.

Multiplication

To get new specimens, it is necessary to have two or more lithops that bloom at the same time, a brush and an area protected from the wind. Once you have, you have to pass the brush first through a flower of a plant and, immediately afterwards, by another flower of another plant. If all goes well, the last flower will have been pollinated and the seeds will begin to grow, which are sown once they mature in pots with vermiculite and placed in the sun.

Rusticity

Lithops are plants that are very sensitive to cold, especially hail and snowfall. They can withstand weak and occasional frosts of up to -2ºC, but the substrate must be dry. In the case of living in an area where winters are colder, it is convenient to place them inside a greenhouse, or inside the house in a room where a lot of light enters, for example near a window and protected from drafts. (both cold and warm).

What do you think of these plants?