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Lithops spp.
Have you ever ever joked about wanting a pet rock? How a few residing stone, as a substitute? And sure, I’m speaking about rising lithops succulent crops!
Masters of mimicry, residing stones are fascinating succulents, however these quirky little crops even have quirky little care routines.
We hyperlink to distributors that will help you discover related merchandise. If you happen to purchase from one in every of our hyperlinks, we could earn a fee.
You’ll definitely need to be taught what’s required of you earlier than you purchase one in every of these – or as quickly as attainable after bringing a lithops house!
Able to learn how to develop and take care of residing stones? Right here’s what we’ll cowl:
What Are Lithops?
If you happen to had been to ask a baby to make a drawing of a plant, you’d possible get a picture of a stem with large inexperienced leaves.
The topic of our article couldn’t be additional away from this verdant imaginative and prescient of planthood – and most residing stones should not even inexperienced!
There’s a motive for that.
These succulent crops camouflage themselves as stones, showing in very muted colours to assist them mix into their surrounding pure habitat of rocky, gravelly terrain.
Known as “mimicry crops,” lithops have advanced this progress behavior to cover from hungry animals looking for leafy inexperienced meals.
This low-profile progress behavior additionally permits lithops to guard themselves from their harsh climates, as the majority of the plant is situated underground.
Lithops Anatomy and Markings
Lithops are uncommon crops and describing them requires specialised phrases.
To raised perceive them and to understand the looks of the completely different residing stone species and cultivars, it’s price taking the time to be taught what these phrases imply!
Our bodies or Heads
The “physique” is the fleshy a part of the lithops plant, not together with its roots. A part of the physique grows underground, whereas the remainder is seen aboveground.
The our bodies of those crops – made up of two fused leaves – are about two inches tall, roughly, and are formed like hearts, double wedges, or inverted cones, with the sharp, downward finish giving strategy to small roots.
Relying on the lithops species, solely the highest half-inch or so of the physique could emerge from the bottom, whereas some are fairly elongated, with extra of the plant above the soil line.
The our bodies of those succulents vary in width from about half an inch to an inch and a half large, relying on the species.
The time period “head” is one other time period for physique, however normally refers back to the a part of the plant that’s above floor.
Some residing stone species produce only one head per plant throughout their total lives, whereas others could produce clumps made up of dozens of heads.
Lobes and Faces
Lithops our bodies are made up of two thick, fleshy, fused leaves, referred to as “lobes” – two lobes make a head.
The lobes of some species are equal in measurement, whereas others are barely (or fairly) asymmetrical.
Moreover, there may be variation as to the depth of the fissure between the 2 lobes – with some having a shallow cleft and others a deep one.
Likewise, some lobes develop shut collectively (these are described as “flush faces”), whereas others are divergent, with a large hole between the 2 lobes.
The tops of the residing stone lobes, when considered from the aspect, could be both roughly flat, or rounded.
Be aware that this look can change when the plant is well-watered, by which case the lobes could develop into extra convex, or when the plant is thirsty, when the tops of the lobes could develop into barely concave.
Wanting down on them from above, lithops heads are roughly spherical or oval formed, and considered from this angle, every leaf is called a “face.” Every head or physique has two faces.
These faces can have half-circle, half-oval, kidney, and even barely rectangular shapes.
Some faces have easy surfaces, others are tough and could be textured with furrows, bumps, warts, wrinkles, or pits!
Fissures and Molting
Each flowers and new leaves emerge from the slit (normally known as the “fissure”) between the 2 fused leaves, every at completely different seasons within the yr – most lithops species produce flowers in autumn and new leaves in spring.
When new leaves emerge, the physique goes via a course of referred to as “molting” (just like that of animals), by which the previous leaves dry out and are shed to make manner for a brand new set of leaves – or typically a double set of leaves.
This ends in some residing stone species finally having many heads on one plant.
Flowers
As for lithops blooms, just one flower is produced per head, and that is held going through the sky on a really brief stem.
Flowers are daisy-like, and normally yellow or white – or yellow and white. In some species, flowers could be shades of bronze or pink.
These emerge in fall in most species, and in vibrant solar, normally at midday.
Home windows
To make up for preserving their leaves largely underground, the highest a part of every lobe has what is called a “window” – a translucent part of the face.
Home windows are additionally typically referred to as “seas” or “lakes.” These home windows permit mild into the plant, the place photosynthesis takes place.
If you happen to had been to chop a lithops in cross part from high to backside, you’d discover translucent tissue contained in the leaves beneath the home windows, in addition to inexperienced tissue lining the within of the physique.
This window is extra seen in some species than in others. Some are unobstructed and broad, taking over many of the face – crops like these are typically known as having “open” home windows.
On the opposite excessive, some lithops have home windows which might be utterly opaque wanting, also known as being “absent.”
Most lithops, nevertheless, have markings on them that obscure the home windows no less than considerably.
Typically small spherical dots of window are current among the many opaque markings, and these are referred to as “miniature home windows.”
There are particular phrases used to explain these markings.
When you don’t have to know these phrases to get pleasure from your crops, understanding what these phrases consult with might help you admire what makes completely different species, subspecies, and varieties distinctive!
Able to be taught extra about these markings?
Islands and Peninsulas
Many residing stones have “islands” on their faces. Think about that the window is a physique of water – the islands are opaque markings that appear to drift on this physique of water.
Islands could be giant or small, few or quite a few, and their edges could be roughly rounded, or fairly jagged.
As they do in actual our bodies of water, “peninsulas” on residing stones jut out from the sides of the face into the window.
Margins and Shoulders
Margins are bands of shade across the home windows, or, within the absence of home windows, alongside the sides of the face.
Dwelling stone crops typically have each inside and outer margins however not all species have discernible margins.
Typically residing stone margins are the identical shade because the physique, typically they’re completely different colours.
The time period “shoulders” is used to explain the sides of the lithops face, past the outer margins. The shoulders are typically one more shade.
Channels
Some home windows have so many opaque markings obscuring them that the window elements which might be nonetheless obvious get a reputation change and are known as “channels.”
Channels could be slim or broad, are typically furrowed into the face’s floor, and are typically lined with further markings.
Dusky Dots
Some species have what are referred to as “dusky dots” adorning their surfaces.
These could be indented, flush with the floor, barely raised, or very a lot in reduction, by which case they might be known as “warts” or “pimples” relying on how large they’re.
Dusky dots could be darkish grey, darkish inexperienced, or brown.
Whereas there are typically small, dot formed home windows on the face, these are translucent whereas dusky dots are opaque.
Rubrications
Many species of lithops have darkish reddish patterns on their faces, referred to as “rubrications.”
Rubrications could be within the type of traces, dots, checks, or stars, and so they typically line channels, creating both a related community of patterns, or a damaged community.
Be aware that not all of those options are discovered on every plant. The mix of those markings together with their anatomical traits is what permits these miniature marvels to be distinguished from each other!
Cultivation and Historical past
Lithops hail from southern Africa, with populations native to Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Within the wild, they develop in habitats composed of naked rocky floor, dry grassland, and scrubland. The soils of their native environments are typically rocky and sandy.
These succulents have tailored to circumstances with little rain. Their native areas obtain a mean of 20 inches of rain per yr or much less.
Populations of lithops in some places get lower than 4 inches of rain a yr, and a few are watered primarily by fog and mist.
Nevertheless, most species originate in climates which might be sizzling in the summertime, with autumn rains, and funky or chilly winters.
Lithops are members of the ice plant household, or Aizoaceae – often known as the “fig marigold” household.
Members of this household embody ice plant (Delosperma lehmannii) New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides), and child toes (Fenestraria spp.).
Kin from this household embody further mimicry crops which can be enticing to succulent collectors – akin to Conophytum, Dinteranthus, and Pleiospilos species. The members of the Pleiospilos genus are referred to as “break up rock crops.”
The genus identify Lithops comes from the Greek and means “stone face” or “resembling stones.” These succulents are often known as “pebble crops” or “residing stones.” For causes that ought to want no clarification, some additionally name them “butt crops.”
The topic of our article, in addition to another members of this household are sometimes referred to as “mesembs,” which is brief for Mesembryanthemaceae, a synonym for Aizoaceae.
Mesemb is often used as a synonym for the expression “mimicry plant” – each of those phrases are used for different members of the fig marigold household in addition to lithops.
Talking of plant households, lithops had been first categorised taxonomically in 1922, making them comparatively current arrivals to the houseplant scene.
There are round 37 species within the Lithops genus, in addition to many subspecies, naturally occurring varieties, and cultivars.
At the moment lithops populations are underneath growing menace within the wild because of habitat loss and poaching.
Whereas plant amassing is a enjoyable interest, you should definitely restrict your purchases to specimens which might be nursery grown fairly than obtained via poaching wild specimens.
Apparently, these diminutive succulents can dwell to be fairly previous in cultivation – as much as 50 years – becoming a member of the ranks of different long-lived houseplants akin to Christmas cacti and hoyas.
Whereas succulent fans can develop these crops indoors, lithops may also be grown outdoors yr spherical in USDA Hardiness Zones 9b to 11b, supplied you possibly can shield these drought tolerant crops from receiving an excessive amount of water.
Lithops Propagation
There are two methods to propagate lithops – from seed and by dividing crops, each of that are straightforward strategies. Let’s have a look at every of those:
From Seed
Late spring, late summer time, and early autumn are all good occasions to propagate residing stones from seeds.
Right here’s what you’ll want for this venture: lithops seeds, tremendous sand, small river rocks or coarse silica sand, three- or four-inch nursery pots or a propagation tray, a twig bottle full of water, a humidity dome, and rising medium designed for cacti and succulents.
Whereas grownup lithops could be grown in a gritty, largely mineral primarily based combine, seedlings want a medium with a bit extra moisture retention.
A super combine for this goal is to mix one half coarse silica sand with two elements cactus and succulent potting medium, Tank’s-Professional Cactus and Succulent Combine, accessible in a 1.5 cubic foot bag through Arbico Organics.
Tank’s Professional Cactus and Succulent Combine
First, fill nursery pots with rising medium, leaving an inch and a half of house between the highest of the rising medium and the rim of the pot.
Upon getting crammed the nursery pots or tray with the rising medium, go forward and water it down.
Subsequent, on high of the rising medium place a half-inch layer of small river rocks or coarse silica sand, akin to this coarse silica sand accessible from Miukada in 3.3 pound luggage through Amazon.
Now combine the very tiny lithops seeds with a few tablespoon of tremendous sand – you possibly can sow 10 to 30 seeds per pot.
Sprinkle this sand and seed combination onto the layer of small river rocks, then moisten the tremendous layer of sand with a couple of mild mists from a twig bottle.
Lastly, cowl the pots or tray with a humidity dome. You need to use clear plastic luggage for this, or you possibly can cowl the pots with plastic wrap. Safe the plastic wrap or luggage with rubber bands.
In case you are utilizing plastic wrap or plastic luggage, poke a couple of holes in them with a toothpick to supply some air flow.
Molded plastic humidity domes normally include vents – you simply have to open them barely.
Find the pots at room temperature in oblique, vibrant mild to germinate. Though they’ll be capable of survive in full daylight as soon as they’re established, younger seedlings might be scalded by direct solar.
Control the humidity dome, plastic bag, or plastic wrap overlaying your pots. When condensation disappears from this overlaying, it’s time to water once more.
Take away the overlaying and gently spray the rising medium with a water bottle to maintain the humidity excessive, then substitute the overlaying.
Count on germination to start out in 5 to 10 days, although some seeds might be a lot slower to germinate – some can take as much as a yr, so ensure you sow greater than you want.
Two weeks after germination, step by step transition the seedlings to ambient circumstances by eradicating the humidity dome for an hour the primary day, growing the period of time uncovered to drier air every day.
Water the uncovered younger seedlings day by day by spraying their rising medium with a twig bottle.
Two to 3 months after the seedlings have germinated, progressively enhance the time between waterings, permitting the rising medium to dry out for a couple of days.
Wait 18 to 24 months earlier than transplanting seedlings to completely different pots.
From Division or Transplants
Whereas many succulent collectors worth multi-headed lithops specimens, some houseplant mother and father could want to experiment with dividing these crops.
Dwelling stones which have a couple of head could be propagated on this manner.
Keep in mind, every head is made up of two leaves. Some species can type multi-headed crops, however not all.
So, simply to be clear – don’t break up a single head aside, as a substitute, wait till a plant has no less than two heads – or in different phrases, no less than two units of fused leaves.
The very best time to divide is after the plant has completed molting in spring.
Right here’s what you’ll want: small pots, coarse silica sand, a butter knife, a pointy pair of sterilized scissors or backyard pruners, and lithops rising medium.
You’ll be taught extra about creating an acceptable rising medium for residing stones later within the article, so preserve studying to be taught extra!
Whenever you’re able to divide, first put together small pots for transplanting, akin to these two-and-a-half-inch ceramic pots with bamboo saucers, accessible through Amazon.
Pack of 6 Glazed Ceramic 2.5” x 2.15” Succulent Pots
Fill the pots with rising medium, leaving an inch of house on the high.
Take away the lithops from its pot, then gently take away the rising medium from the plant’s roots.
Now, gently separate the heads from one another on the roots, it’s possible you’ll want to chop them aside with sterilized scissors or snips.
Take away any dry leaves or useless flower stems from the physique, then permit the heads to dry for an hour earlier than persevering with.
Use the butter knife to make a gap within the rising medium, and insert one of many heads into the opening, root aspect down.
Questioning how deep to plant the lithops within the soil?
The soil stage ought to attain roughly to the leaf fissure. Relying on the species or cultivar, the plant might be largely buried with solely the highest inch or half inch above the soil line.
It will differ relying on the species, so it’s finest to know which kind you may have!
End up by including a half-inch layer of coarse silica sand or tremendous river rocks to the floor of the rising medium as a mulch. It will assist preserve the higher portion of the plant physique dry.
Repeat the method with any further heads, or just return the mother or father plant to its pot, filling in with additional rising medium if wanted.
For lithops which have been divided, give them two weeks after division till offering them with water.
After two weeks have handed, water them each 10 days for the subsequent two to 3 months, at which level they need to be well-rooted of their new pots.
The best way to Develop Lithops
Lithops don’t want frequent care, however their care does require extra psychological effort and planning than the common houseplant.
On this part you’ll discover normal lithops care that may work for almost all of the species – there are some exceptions, nevertheless, so you should definitely test particular instructions in your chosen species.
Solar
Lithops could be grown in direct solar, or a mixture of direct solar and vibrant, oblique mild.
Purpose for no less than 4 to 5 hours of direct solar per day. This desire makes residing stones nice candidates for all times on a south-facing windowsill since in addition they don’t thoughts cooling off a little bit at evening.
Nevertheless when shifting specimens grown in partly shaded circumstances to better direct solar publicity, accomplish that step by step, in any other case they are often broken by solar scald.
Additionally, if your private home will get significantly sizzling throughout summer time because of lack of air-con, lower the plant’s publicity to direct solar.
You are able to do this by becoming the window with a sheer white curtain which you shut for a part of the day or shifting the plant farther from the window.
Local weather
As for local weather, lithops tolerate a variety of temperatures, from highs of 107°F right down to sub-freezing temps of 23°F, however publicity to those extremes ought to be restricted.
They can even be happiest in low humidity with good air circulation.
Water
The quantity of water residing stones will want is dependent upon how a lot direct solar they’re receiving, how sizzling the indoor setting is, how moisture retentive their rising medium is – and the species!
An important factor to know is that it’s best to err on the aspect of underwatering fairly than overwatering.
Usually, in case your plant begins to shrivel a bit and really feel delicate, it could be time to water.
Nevertheless, earlier than you decide up your houseplant watering can, there’s additionally a seasonal watering schedule you’ll have to learn about first.
Late summer time to autumn is when the vast majority of residing stones want probably the most water, earlier than they start to bloom and whereas flowering.
Beginning in late summer time, water as soon as each two to 4 weeks, permitting the rising medium to dry out between waterings.
Be aware that younger specimens could not flower, however nonetheless should be watered throughout this era.
Whether or not it flowered or not, in winter most lithops species undergo a dormant interval and it’s necessary to withhold water throughout this season. Or on the most, if the plant is shriveling, supply a really mild watering of some drops or a light-weight misting of the rising medium.
In late winter or early spring a residing stone will begin to molt, shedding its previous pores and skin to supply a brand new pair of leaves, or two new pairs of leaves.
It’s necessary to not water at the moment. The brand new progress will take the moisture it wants from the previous progress, leaving the previous leaves to show into a skinny, desiccated pores and skin.
This course of is critical for the brand new progress to emerge correctly – if you happen to water, you’ll stop the previous progress from drying out.
As soon as the residing stone’s previous leaves have utterly dried up, start to water once more, roughly each two weeks, permitting the rising medium to dry between waterings.
When circumstances begin to get sizzling in summer time, the plant will expertise one other dormancy interval, and watering ought to be withheld or no less than, diminished. Water provided that the plant is shriveling, and if it’s highly regarded, scale back direct solar publicity considerably as effectively.
Start watering once more in late summer time – and proceed the lithops’ yearly cycle.
If you happen to’re having a tough time preserving observe of the watering schedule for this plant, contemplate preserving notes within the calendar part of a gardening journal.
How are you aware if you happen to’re watering a lithops an excessive amount of?
Overwatered residing stones can develop ailments and typically even burst – however the first signal you’ll discover is elongation.
Nevertheless, observe that some species are naturally elongated, so it pays to know the everyday traits of the species of lithops you’re rising to be able to appropriately spot when one thing goes incorrect!
As soon as a plant has been affected by overwatering, there may be little that may be performed to return the plant to its former glory, making correct watering your first step in preserving these succulents wholesome.
Soil
In fact, these succulents are additionally much less prone to endure the consequences of an excessive amount of water if they’re cultivated in the proper kind of rising medium.
Since lithops’ native habitats include rocky, gritty, sandy soils, you’ll need to attempt to mimic these circumstances when selecting a rising medium.
Keep away from rising mediums that include non-renewable peat, which isn’t an applicable ingredient for these succulents anyway.
To be taught extra about what skilled lithops growers use in the way in which of rising mediums, I reached out to Jane Evans, co-owner of Dwelling Stones Nursery in Tucson Arizona, a enterprise which solely sells to native prospects.
Evans informed me that their lithops potting combine is basically 50 p.c cactus combine and 50 p.c pumice.
Pumice is a superb horticultural ingredient to have readily available when your love for houseplants is popping into – effectively, let’s name it a interest.
You should purchase an eight-quart bag of horticultural pumice from Tank’s Inexperienced Stuff through Amazon.
So preserve this 50:50 ratio in thoughts when creating your personal succulent potting soil for transplanting, dividing, or repotting your residing stones. A ready-to-use, business cactus and succulent soil in itself is not fairly proper for lithops. Extra grit is required.
Rising Ideas
- Present no less than 4 hours a day of direct solar.
- Water throughout late summer time and autumn, and through spring after previous leaves have dried.
- Develop in a gritty potting medium with wonderful drainage.
Upkeep
As we’ve already mentioned, one of the simplest ways to care in your residing stone is to know what to anticipate from it all through the seasons to be able to present water on the applicable occasions.
Listed here are a couple of different solutions to upkeep questions you’re sure to marvel about!
Mulch
A mulch of gravel or coarse sand is often added to the highest of the rising medium. This retains the residing stone’s head dry and in addition helps to maintain the plant upright.
In case your lithops rising interest is popping right into a ardour, you may need to select gravel composed of the identical forms of rocks out of your species’ native habitat to supply it with five-star care.
You may even go as far as to decide on gravel that matches the colour of their plant, to indicate off its prowess as a mimic!
Fertilizing
Fertilizing isn’t needed with these succulents, which advanced to thrive in poor soils. Some skilled growers fertilize incessantly, nevertheless, and others accomplish that very not often or in no way.
One possibility for house growers of residing stones is to supply a mild fertilizer when repotting, akin to Dr. Earth’s Succulence Natural Pump and Develop Cactus and Succulent Plant Meals.
Dr. Earth’s Succulence Pump & Develop
It’s accessible in a 16-ounce pump bottle through Arbico Organics.
Repotting
You received’t must repot your residing stone fairly often – on common, solely about as soon as each two years if it wants additional room as a result of it’s producing a number of heads.
When selecting a pot, shallow pots are preferable, however they’ll should be no less than two inches tall to accommodate the big portion of the plant that grows underground. These which might be two to 3 and a half inches tall are very best.
You possibly can repot lithops into small, particular person pots, or embody them in a large, shallow succulent dish, both with different lithops or with some easy-care succulent buddies – simply make sure that to decide on succulents with related water and humidity wants.
In case your residing stone nonetheless has loads of room in its container, adequate drainage, and the container is to your liking, the plant might be completely happy to stay there completely.
Nevertheless, older specimens with a number of heads ought to be repotted as their pots develop into crowded.
Encouraging Flowering
If you happen to’ve propagated a specimen from seed, don’t count on flowering till the plant is 2 or three years previous.
To encourage flowering, make sure that the plant receives enough daylight.
Flowering is usually higher on specimens grown in small, particular person pots fairly than large dishes – although not all growers discover this to be true.
Saving Seeds
If you happen to’re hoping to supply residing stone seeds for propagation, know that you just’ll want no less than two specimens since they should cross pollinate.
To save lots of seeds, after flowering make sure that to backside water. It is because water droplets hitting the highest of the plant will trigger the seed pods to open, releasing seeds.
Permit pods to totally mature and dry out earlier than harvesting them, then retailer seeds for no less than one yr earlier than planting. Seeds will stay viable for a few years.
Lithops Species and Varieties to Choose
There are numerous species, subspecies, naturally occurring varieties, and cultivars of lithops accessible to succulent collectors with out bothering with the loathsome apply of poaching wild specimens. Listed here are a couple of of curiosity:
Karasmontana
L. karasmontana is a species that was bestowed with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Benefit in 2002.
With lots of variability, the species can seem in shades of brick purple, beige, yellow, brown, pink, grayish white, or grayish inexperienced.
This species normally produces two to 6 heads, however can typically be present in mature clumps of 12 or extra.
Their faces have a bumpy texture. Youngsters (and the younger at coronary heart) could get a kick out of those as a result of some specimens can look fairly like brains!
‘Prime Purple’ is a cultivar of L. karasmontana that has a beige to grey physique, and broad, furrowed, brick purple channels.
Lithops Karasmontana ‘Prime Purple’ Seeds
Wish to strive rising your personal from seed? You should purchase 50 L. karasmontana ‘Prime Purple’ seeds from Dichondra through Amazon.
Otzeniana
L. otzeniana is a species that’s normally present in an olive inexperienced shade, however may also seem in muted shades of pink, cream, or blue.
This residing stone has a deep fissure between its two leaves, and lobes which might be barely divergent.
With distinct margins round its translucent home windows, L. otzeniana has giant rounded peninsulas and islands framing its home windows.
L. otzeniana bears yellow flowers with white facilities.
Lithops Otzeniana Seeds
If you happen to’re able to propagate your personal, you’ll discover packs of 15 L. otzeniana residing stone seeds for buy through Amazon.
Rubra
A cultivar of L. optica, ‘Rubra’ is milky pink to reddish purple in shade, with translucent home windows and easy faces.
There’s a really deep fissure between the 2 leaves, which supplies this plant a special profile than many different lithops species.
This residing stone’s stunning faces are easy with broad, darkish purple or reddish home windows, and distinct margins. They normally lack islands.
The flowers of L. optica ‘Rubra’ are white, and infrequently have pink ideas.
Lithops Optica ‘Rubra’
Obtained your eye on these residing stones? You possibly can preserve them effectively inside view – buy a 3 pack of one- to two-year-old L. optica ‘Rubra’ lithops through the Micro Panorama Design Retailer through Amazon.
There are numerous extra forms of residing stones accessible to domesticate at house or to admire from afar. Uncover extra in our information to 37 several types of lithops. (coming quickly!)
Managing Pests and Illness
In the case of pests and ailments, count on wholesome lithops specimens to stay pest free.
Nevertheless, be looking out for mealybugs, scale, thrips, aphids, and spider mites. Fungus gnats generally is a drawback for younger seedlings that are saved in additional humid circumstances.
Rot is the one actual threat of illness for this succulent, and could be prevented with correct watering, the proper soil, and wonderful drainage.
Learn our article about rotting in succulents to be taught extra.
Greatest Makes use of for Lithops
As mentioned above, lithops make nice windowsill crops, and could be cute as a part of a tiny plant assortment. You may also contemplate together with them in a succulent fairy backyard!
They may also be included into large, shallow succulent planters with different specimens, so long as the opposite crops have related water and soil necessities.
Open air lithops could be grown in rock gardens with cacti and different succulents in USDA Hardiness Zones 9b to 11b, supplied they’re given the proper soil and moisture circumstances.
Fast Reference Rising Information
Plant Sort: | Succulent | Flower/Foliage Coloration: | White, yellow, pink, bronze / foliage colours extraordinarily variable |
Native to: | Southern Africa | Upkeep: | Reasonable |
Hardiness (USDA Zone): | 9b-11b | Tolerance: | Drought |
Bloom Time: | Autumn | Soil Sort: | Rocky, gritty, sandy |
Publicity: | At the least 4 hours direct solar | Soil pH: | 5.6-10.0, relying on species |
Time to Maturity: | 2-3 years | Soil Drainage: | Extraordinarily well-draining |
Spacing: | 1-2 inches, relying on species | Makes use of: | Rock gardens, succulent collections, succulent fairy gardens, succulent planters |
Planting Depth: | Prime 1/2 inch or so of plant above rising medium (crops), floor (seeds) | Order: | Caryophyllales |
Peak: | 1/2-2 inches, relying on species | Household: | Aizoaceae |
Unfold: | 1/3-2 inches per head, relying on species | Subfamily | Ruschioideae |
Water Wants: | Low | Genus: | Lithops |
Widespread Pests and Illnesses: | Aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips; Rot | Species: | Aucampiae, fulviceps, hookeri, localis, optica, otzeniana, salicola, viridis |
Lithops – A lot Extra Enjoyable Than a Pet Rock!
Dwelling stones are distinctive and compact succulents that make wonderful houseplants supplied you may have loads of daylight and simply the correct amount of restraint with the watering can.
And whereas for many of the yr they might appear to be nothing greater than pet rocks, you’ll know these residing stones are prepared to supply magic all through the seasons – stunning flowers, and units of recent new leaves.
What do you’re keen on most about lithops? Their petite statures, or their mesmerizing patterns? Inform us within the feedback part – and if you happen to need assistance troubleshooting, tell us, we’d be completely happy to assist!
Wish to preserve studying about cultivating cacti and succulents? Have a learn of those guides subsequent:
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