Why did you decided to water them - were they wrinkly? dry? I am asking since all I see in stores are totally overwatered and wet.

One on the left looks like it is splitting - or maybe flowering? I have few and not all started splitting at the same time. They have not been watered for quite a while:

These rot extremely easily- be very stingy with water. I actually can not keep these alive, despite several attempts. Over watering seamed to be my problem each time I killed one. They need direct sunlight also.

Direct sunlight? I've had mine for just about a year and they get bright, indirect light. Never direct sunlight. I had the understanding that if put in direct sunlight they would burn. Perhaps I misunderstood.

Tyler

Spanish Fly - wow, crazy, beautiful! I have never seen lithops like that!

Spanish Fly, that is an amazing Lithops! How long have you had it & what did it look like then? Any idea what's going on underneath that HUGE clump? Solid plant (Lithops on top of Lithops?) or "hollow" and lots of "branches" (for lack of better terminology) where what we see is a canopy? When did you repot it last? It's root structure must be amazing!

Sorry for all of the questions but it really is quite remarkable! Guess I totally misunderstood about the full sun thing!

Tyler

The plant is native to South Africa and Namibia- desert climate. Hence my recommendation on full sun. Wikipedia says that the potted plant can be over heated in full sun as it can not use evaporation to cool the plant- Maybe that is why Tyler has succeeded with indirect lighting. My Area is NEPA, and winters are cold and gray- so I must use a south facing window sill that gets plenty of sun for cactus and desert succulents.

SoCal Stewart - glad you like - it was a single head when I bought it about 14 years ago. Underneath it looks rather like a head of broccoli viewed from below - and the root is surprisingly small and shallow - it is fine in that shallow dish.

Spanish Fly, amazing! I tried to count the heads that are visible from this angle and I got maybe 50ish...? That's not even counting the other side we can't see. That is quite a lot of multiplying over 14 years. Obviously its flourished under your care and the full exposure to the Spanish sun. Spain is just a bit further north of the equator than where I am in San Diego. Maybe that's why you are able to grow in full sun...? We had a pretty intense Summer here this year. I'm afraid to experiment and see what might happen with mine. Thrive or fry and perish.

When one of mine developed new heads shortly after I acquired it about a year ago, there were double heads underneath. I'm guessing that either yours must've divided more than one time in a season or you must've had several that produced double heads?

Tyler

I am also quite interested in that form, Spanish Fly. I can already tell that this doesn't happen much if at all in their natural environment. Like Tyler said, quite impressive for the amount of time you've had it. Perhaps it's because you have it growing in such a shallow pot... Maybe a stunted or nonexistent taproot. I don't know, just guessing here. Anyhow, very nice, and a sure winner if you ever enter it in a competition!

Thanks all for your kind comments .

So Cal I am 38 deg N.

Mesembs it was in a deeper container but the roots didnt go that far down - so I repotted in a shallower dish.

Maybe I should enter it in a succulent show.

Spanish Fly, when exactly do you water it in the winter months? Do you let the soil dry out for week, months? Do you water after the mix has dried out? Full sun all winter? Do you grow that inside a sunny room and or warm?

I would love to know your exact care and into the season too..

Thank you and such a beauty..

Mike

myermike - it is currently in a cold frame - to keep it dry Dec to Feb, with lots of sun. I also keep it dry when new ´leaves´ are growing - they absorb the moisture from the old leaves. It lives outdoor all year round, we are frost free here. In high summer I water it about once a week, with a bit of fert every 3rd watering or so. Basically the same as all my other cacti and succulents.