Lithops cultivation help needed

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

I have seed of about 15 different varieties. How do i go about sowing them? I did it once years ago from a pack of mixed seed but dont wanna take chances with these.

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

I've had a bit of a hit and miss with Lithops for a while until I did this:

1 - put a layer of fine sand over the top of my pot containing the cacti mix. Make it at least 5mm deep.

2 - sprinkle the lithops seed over the top of the fine sand.

3 - soak the pot in water (bottom fed) until the sand becomes wet, then remove the pot from water and place in a small plastic baggie.

4 - leave it to sit in a window sill (northerly aspect) for a week. Make sure that it doesn't get too hot, so I'm talking about warm filtered light. You know what I mean, hot enough to germinate your usual species of cacti - if you can do that, then the spot is fine. Don't do it and ruin these Lithops with too much heat.

5 - In about a week, they should have germinated. I find that what happens is that they grow out of the sand, fall over onto the sand and eventually rot. I also found that if you open up the bag and let them get air, that they die because they dry out. So, get a small probe and poke a hole next to the fury white roots and insert them deeper into the soil, so that the roots are now below soil AND they lithops are upright.

6 - gently mist water them so that they settle back into the sand, then reseal the bag for a couple more weeks. Monitor them, and at some point, open up the top of the bag, wider each couple of days until they have air and remember to keep them lightly misted, so they don't dry out.

7 - all going well it won't be long before you see that they develop that all too obvious split in the middle and colour up - even after about a month.

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

so whats one of the easyer types to grow, i'll see if i have it and give it a shot first

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

I'd say that the schwantesii are pretty easy, don't try the opticas until you've got the spot right.

cheers,
Calycium

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

Yeah,
as luck would have it I have 5 var rubras that germinated a few days ago out of a batch of 15 that I planted a week ago.

I tried the same with another batch of 15 earlier and had them all come up, but then they all keeled over and died after week 2. Very fickle, but lovely plants.

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

keep under cover i take it to stop too much water gettin to them?

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

i have one of those small plastic greenhouse from bunnings, should i use that to prevent over watering from rain?

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

Lithops and rain dont mix! ONLY water your lithops when they start to look alike a prune otherwise they will keel over with rot.
They also like about 70% shade cloth down here, or they burn. Not too much moisture - so up in qld, I'd say shade cloth and water every two months or so - not at all in winter (or your dry season)
I give mine a weekly misting, just as if it is desert dew in the morning.

For seeds, put them in a glad sandwich bag and seal it. Keep them inside on a window ledge, in semi shade (NOT full sun). Don't let rain, or water get to them except in very controlled conditions.

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

ok so i could put them in my greenhouse(shadecloth) with my orchids and then have plastic over them to stop rain getting to them and the weekly watering of the orchids? Something i only need to water 2-3times a year, i like

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

A window sill would be better, AND in a glad bag - if we are talking seedlings.

After they are all grown up - inside on a window ledge is still good - a sunny, not too bright (to burn them) position would be fine.

Outside - plastic cover to stop rain AND some shade cloth (50 - 70%) to reduce the suns burning rays. Green house with no regular watering would be good.

I used to sit mine on the outside window ledge facing east for morning sun only. They did well until I put them in the cacti home - now they love it even more.

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

yea germinating indoors, for outdoors i was meaning the plants when larger but i can use my windowsill

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

i think i let it soak up too much water so just lettin it dry out a little. Should still be ok?

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

When they are wrinkled - water them. DON'T water them otherwise, they WILL keel over with rot.
a light misting in the morning every week or so is also good.

In your case - Water and then leave to dry out and go wrinkly again (then water)
good luck with them

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

nah they havent germinated yet but i think the sub was a little too moist so i just opened to bag for a few mins to let some moisture out