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Cacti & Succulents
noki_gw

Need Lithops 101

14 years ago

I've gotten some "fresh" Lithops, now I need to find a way to get them to grow properly. Need to learn successful habits.

1. The plants always seem to have dried out roots at the store. I should ruthlessly pull off all of the fine roots and just leave what seems like the taproot? I worry about doing this.

2. Non organic soil, hopefully quick draining and drying. I read that since they have fine roots, they don't like too coarse of soil. When I look at pics it seems like people keep them in coarse sand, but then that doesn't dry out as fast. I've switched to a very coarse mix, but I think I may be overdoing it.

3. Pot size. One or two is small pot? A small group in a larger shallow pot? Crowded somewhat? Solitary? With small pots I can move them creatively to get the best light.

4. Watering always seems an issue. Don't water in summer. Don't water in winter. Don't water it seems like ever but then don't let them dry out either. Mist them mostly? What should the watering schedule be (in the Northern Hemisphere)? What months are the worst to water?

Even drops of water seemed to kill some plants last November-December, so I got scared of any watering during winter. Even with no watering my plants did not absorb the leaves last year.

Thanks for any help.

Featured Answer
  • 14 years ago

    Hi Noki, great specimens there!

    The answer to question 1 is, Yes, without the ruthlessness. Just gently pinch and pull away the fine stuff with your fingernails after washing the soil away. Rinse again and let it heal in the outdoor shade for a couple days. I've admittedly lost some doing this but the ones that have adjusted successfully are my happiest plants. Here's an example that should also answer your question about pot size.
    {{gwi:653481}}

    The above link from 1gteacher, www.lithops.info, has lots of good information but some of it is a bit too generalized. The dormancy, growth period and watering requirements can vary quite a bit depending on where you live. I'm on the coast and experience only a very short dormancy.

    In more arid climates (AZ,NM), your soil can contain more fines and clay to resist drying out too quickly. Here, I use a gritty mix with SOME fines but mostly grit with the bigger chunks sifted out. Living in the marine layer, things stay wet longer.

    If you only gave your Lithops "drops of water" last winter, that's probably what killed them. They were in growth and needed some deeper moisture, not a soaking, just a decent misting. The taproot will dry up and then it's over.

    I could go on and on but the best thing is to direct you to the world's leading expert, Steven Hammer. Click the link for some great info.

    I'll also include this link you can copy and paste...

    http://www.littlesphaeroid.com/

    This site also has some good info that's worth a read.

    http://www.aizoaceae.info/joomla/

    You might also be able to find his book "Lithops, Treasures of the Veld" available for download somewhere on the interwebs. That's how I got it but can't remember where.

    If you can soak up lots of info on Mesembs, you'll be better able to read them and act accordingly based on your own conditions. If you really like them, don't be afraid to lose a few. It's one of the best ways to learn.

    Furthermore, growing them from seed will fill in all the blanks.

    Good luck!

    Here is a link that might be useful: Stop... Hammertime

    Comments (16)

    • 14 years ago

      This website has a lot of good information. I think I should go repot mine now.

      Here is a link that might be useful: Lithops

    • 14 years ago

      Noki, what you see as coarse sand is actually grit, not sand. Gritty potting mixes dry very quickly and allow water to drain freely. You're right that fine-particled sand actually holds onto moisture.

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    • 14 years ago

      I found some actual chicken grit, crushed granite. This is the only grit I have been able to find. Should I just use this with some pumice? I have been trying to have very gritty "soil".

    • 14 years ago

      Could I use these pots for 3 plants? 4 plants? This pot is 10cm/4" wide and 8.5cm/3.5" deep.

    • 14 years ago

      This is the pot.

    • 14 years ago

      If you can soak up lots of info on Mesembs, you'll be better able to read them and act accordingly based on your own conditions.

      Says it all hanzrobo and when you included link to Hammertime you said it very well.


    • 14 years ago

      Jere is the BEST piece of advice that i've ever gotten regarding Lithiops....." find what works for you, and stick with it ".... I done things to mine that would make a LOT of people cringe, but, they persist !
      ~ hanzrobo~ is that your skull planter ? I LOVE it ! Thanks for sharing the pic !

    • 14 years ago

      Thanks for the info!

      That skull pot would be be good for some brains. I always like brain-like Lithops. That big pink one on top was the best brain that I could find.

    • 14 years ago

      Oh, how I wish I knew what our local Wal-Mart workers did to get these to flower! I snatched them up at $2.50 each just so I could watch the flowers develop and bloom! I'm kinda hoping I can pollinate the two and get some seeds....any suggestions on that?

    • 14 years ago

      Here is mine which I had for around two or more years. But due to our tropical climate which has no 4 seasons except wet and dry periods, it had not split to grow new leaves before.

      {{gwi:653485}}

    • 14 years ago

      LOVE that skull planter! What a hoot!

      Have a small pot of lithops that have formed their new leaves. I know I need to take them out of the garbage they're in (a Lowes purchase) but so afraid to kill them in the process.

    • 14 years ago

      I planted my Lithops. Yes, i've been obsessed. If I'm doing something very wrong, say so. I might have planted them too deep, they were not really growing that deep. I gave them all a "bath", soaking the root ball made it easy to swish off the peat from teh roots. Some had no roots leaft, but if you let them dry the fine roots seem to dry anyway.

      Any of these types easier to grow? Harder?

      Brain collections.

    • 14 years ago

      Lithops lesliei?

    • 14 years ago

      More

    • 14 years ago

      Relatives of Lithops, making flowers I think.

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