Hi I was wondering what you plant them in? I'm starting with lithops and yours look wonderful!

May I ask what is the purpose of 1" layer of aquarium gravel on the bottom?

The 1 inch layer on the bottom is just me being anal . I think maybe overkill on drainage . I always seem to water at the wrong times and not when I should . I believe I have a grasp on their seasons now . I should of experimented on maybe 1 or 2 lithops instead of 25 . So far so good . Do you grow them in Ontario ?

Yes, they would grow anywhere if properly taken care for :)

The gravel/rocks on the bottom do not help the drainage. Properly made mix will. Would you mind describing what is ..."my own cactus mix"... made with? How about sand - do you have a pic with something in it to compare the size?

I've been mixing my own for some 25 years . I mix in small amounts at a time . 3 quart container . I use a batman cup for the potting soil ( my grandson's choice ) It's about 2 cups . I use 4 scoops . I use a Spider-Man cup for the sand . ( my other grandson's choice ) . I only use 1/2 a cup of sand . For the lithops I used a whole cup . I also put in 2 pinches of vermiculite . I don't use perlite as it comes in the soil I use , I added just a bit to the lithop mix . . My soil mix is called Happy Frog . No fertilizer pellets . That's about as basic as it gets . As you see , I include my family in my hobby .lol ( My sand I get off ebay from Texas . Coarse cactus sand )

Love the measuring cups :) that's sweet. I'll have to look in to getting some different mix for my Pleiospilos Nelii. I hate the straight c/s mix cause it sticks so hard to the fibrous roots.

Can you propagate those?

That's a scary mix to use on it's own for mesembs.

Mesembs have very fine roots that make them harder to maintain in straight gritty mix but your mix sounds like something I would use in the following proportions: 9 parts sifted turface or 1/8 inch sifted pumice and 1 part of your mix.

Now. The pebbles at the bottom. All it will do is raise the bottom of your pot. If you have a 4-inch deep pot this means your pot is actually now only 3 inches deep. When you water your plants and the water settles down, much of it will be left pooling at the bottom. The small particulates will also settle, filling in the cavities in the pebble layer. So instead of being an inch farther away from the roots of your plants, that pooled water (known as "perched water") will instead be an inch closer to the roots. Over time, the roots that go that far down will suffocate and die. Essentially, the plant will only have maybe about 2 inches of pot space it can survive in---not ideal for lithops. If you have them long enough you'll notice them doing something really cool in the hottest part of summer--they turn dull and pull themselves down deeper into the pot for protection. When it gets colder they'll plump up, often just from ambient moisture. So they need vertical space.

Your mix may work but it will be very, very difficult. You'll have to never drench the pot and stay with shallow watering by the tablespoons. This way you can hopefully avoid building up that perched water too high.

I also recommend removing the top-dressing of pebbles. That thing will need to breathe or the moisture will fail to evaporate rapidly enough.

So the question is: do you need to remove the pebbles at the bottom? Yes. Then drill more holes in that pot. Optionally, cut your mix with nine parts pumice.

Pagan

I wish I had conversed with you earlier . This the information I need . Can I at this point take them all out and repot ?

I didn't want to 'criticize' your mix - but there are some ingredients in it that may not be so good for any succulents, not only lithops. Sand - I ask for pic of it before; how grainy is it? Many products sold claim properties they do not have...Vermiculite - it decomposes too fast, hold too much water. Potting soil - what it contains? Usually listed on Ingredients label. There is often perlite in bagged soil, but usually extremely small %.

If they were mine, I would repot. They will probably survive winter
in that pot if you never ever water but then you have the same problem
in spring, desiccated roots and less time to mess with (dormant lithops
do not respond and by the time you realize they've kicked the bucket,
the bucket has already rolled down the hill).

It's still early enough in autumn so you have time. Hopefully you are not in NZ.

Pagan

Western New York

There's been a few people around here talking about no longer adding sand to their mix . I can't fathom that . Having lived in the south west and seen what North American cactus grow in is crazy not to add some sand . If it ain't broke don't fix it . I have to think a little on my lithops I guess thanks for the info.

It's not like sand is poisonous to succulent plants, no. It's just difficult to manage moisture when it is used in container planting. In the ground where the continent is basically your pot, it's not an issue. In a 4-inch terracota, though? Things are slightly different and sand becomes an express train to plant death, if your cultivation conditions and habits are not adapted to it.

Pagan

lawpson

We made some suggestions, and sand is never recommended. But not all sand is same - and that is the reason I asked 2x if, by any chance, you have photo of it - but you didn't post pic or even answer. So, sorry, but fine sand is not good and unless we know how grainy/gritty it is, you most likely will get same reaction...

Adding fine sand to the mix, IMO, would be crazy... (I am not trying to be nasty, just using same expression as you did).

And yes, there are ppl that grow cacti in sand - experienced ppl that know and can give them exactly kind of attention they need.

Sorry for not responding . The sand I use is kind of a mix between fine sand and bigger grains through out . I quess I've been lucky over the years with my mix . Now you guys got me rethinking . It's gonna be a long winter . You can look at the sand I use on ebay . Just type in coarse cactus sand . Looked at " Al's gritty mix " info . WOW , a lot of information . I am humbled .

IMO, if you eliminate fine particulates, it is probably OK. If I had to use it, I would sift it using ordinary kitchen sieve and use only what stays in it (I am saying this without looking for it on eBay).

Good that you read Al's post - it is much easier to accept different mixes if one understands the concept.

I know how you feel- "but a cactus couldn't survive without sand!". A desert is a lot different than a pot. The water in a desert can run right through to bedrock, way past the farthest reaches of any roots, whereas in a pot, it hangs around the roots because of the perched water table (but I assume you already know this, having read Al's posts).

I hope you lithops hang in there!