Hello!

I wanted to get some opinions. I have used a soil mix of:
equal parts:
• turface
• crushed granite
• pumice
Then, just enough topsoil to hold it together.
I have added a thin layer of sand over the soil mixture so the Lithops pop (see image below).

Could this layer of sand present a problem with moisture retention?

Thank you!

Jeff

I must admit that I'm rather clueless about lithops... aside from the fact that I am rather good at killing them.

Does anyone have any tips about growing these plants? I know some of you guys and gals have got these plants growing quite happily. Spill the beans for the rest of us!

I don't have any tips, but have researched their growth and watering cycle extensively online. The following is a basic, how to/when to year-round watering guide:

SUMMER: Little or no water. Lithops will become dormant in very hot summer weather, and strange as it may seem, need less water in those hot conditions than when it is cooler. If a prominent shriveling occurs during the summer, it is safe to give just enough water to restore the firm appearance of the plant.

LATE SUMMER: Watering should generally begin from early to mid August for most species. Often a good drenching of the soil will encourage the plants to begin their growth cycles. Their main growth spurt comes once the hottest part of summer is over.

AUTUMN: It is safe to water deeply during the fall, and in fact is better than a shallow watering because the plants have taproots. It is important to let the soil dry out quite a bit between watering. The plants will begin growing. The first sign of growth is noticed when the fissure between the leaves begins to separate. In the days to follow, a bud will force its way up through the fissure and shortly thereafter single yellow or white flower like an iridescent daisy emerges from the centre of the fused leaves. Regular watering should be steadily decreased after the flowering period. For most species to allow the soil to dry out completely in preparation for the cold winter months.

WINTER: Discontinue watering altogether by about late September. No water at all should be given. The plants consume one pair of leaves and produce a pristine new pair. Plants will still be growing; the new bodies will be increasing in size as the old outer leaves begin to shrivel.SPRING: Begin by watering lightly, increasing the amount of water gradually, working up to several good drenching during mid spring. Be sure to let the soil dry between watering. Reduce watering as the heat and long days of summer approach, allowing the plants to prepare for their dormant period.

Hope this Helps!!!

We get good results with about 70 drainage material 30 percent potting mix. You would be better off using more pumice instead of the granite chips as it has internal porosity. With these plants it is more about having air in the soil mix than drainage really. Most importantly is watering. Wait till old leaves are almost absorbed in spring before starting to water. Once a fortnight spring and autumn(until it starts to get cold) and once every ten days in summer works well for us. My wife has thousands of lithops!(no joke) I think we had only one rot this season gone following this regime so it must be O.K.
Some pics




Even better Dinteranthus.

Those Lithops are picture-perfect, mate. They are a real credit to you.

WOW! With those results, I think I'll add your info to my care notes!

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful Specimens!!!!

I must admit I have never had any interest in Lithops whatsoever but after seeing yours Crypto, I like them
still don't think I could bring myself grow them not yet anyway.

Those photos makes them look so good... i have only ever had one but for some unknown reason my dog ate it . i must give them another try because they realy are quite pretty arent they.

great work guys

regards
Darren

Your DOG ATE IT! Too FUNNY! That's rather ironic considering that Lithops have evolved to look like rocks for thousands of years in order to avoid thirsty predators. Smart dog!

maybe not so smart he also ate a foot long cutting of peniocereus serpentinus spines and all??? dont know how he got
that one down

lol, I find the concept extremely funny...

he looks lovable nevertheless

eating a spiny cactus now is another thing. Maybe you should rent him to a circus or what?

hey, care to comment and encourage me on my lithops project?

photos are not so indicative as they were taken when most where splitting.

New ones coming soon as they take their mature colours and patterns

Quote:

We get good results with about 70 drainage material 30 percent potting mix

I think I have done more or less this, 50% perlite 50% comercial cactussoil, clay pots too, so very well draining, no soil above root level only gravel and little stones...

I'll be damned, what a leap!!!!

yep the photos here are as good as they get!

I'll take cute over smart in a dog any day!

Just a quick addition to the cultural stuff. Never saturate lithops soil especially in cooler times. And beware rats and mice like to eat them . Oh and dogs too..
Hn. I used to feel like that about lithops. I thought they were tacky and all looked the same. Then a friend who was a great lithoparian passed away and two seed capsules he had collected came my way. Well they were dated prior to 1989 so I didn't expect much. The seeds were like dust. Anyway they almost all germinated. Anything with such viability is worthy of a bit closer look so I bought a book and ordered seed and I was smitten. There are few better examples of evolution at work(or the creators attention to detail maybe) than lithops. Their mimicry, the miracle of the seed capsule, amazing low water requirement(200ml is enough to produce a mature lithops,) some are camouflaged to the rocks in habitat others to the soil, both colour and texture work this way. When it is dry they go underground. They can tolerate extreme heat(over 55) and represent the ultimate in leaf succulence and reduction. The flowers are beautiful often they smell nice and the plants vary in appearance from one location to another aswell as between species. You can keep many in a small space(I grow around 800 a square meter) and now they are adapting to us as collectors with the many beautiful cultivars or I should say aberrant colour forms(ACF) to be precise. I could go on and on I really like em. And a big old clump is a impressive sight..
More pics





Theses are from that original seed sowing.

Some populations are still very variable. Evolution in progress? These are Lithops karasmontana v.mickbergensis c381 I think.

So shed your skin and lets get started..on a new seasons growth that is.

Some babies.