Please take note that lithops are NOT a “Water When Dry” sort of plant. ONLY water once the old leaves have withered and the new leaves have emerged. This might happen twice a year. In the sweltering summer months, a gentle sprinkling once a month is OK. NEVER water plants throughout the winter as they go dormant. That is all they require. They are quite susceptible to root rot!
Lithops, also known as Living Stones, are a collection of individual lithops that are packaged in 2.5-inch plastic containers. Each container often contains 2-4 lithops, but occasionally/rarely only one very huge and mature one, depending on the stock, size, and other circumstances. We also occasionally package them in multiples in 2-inch square plastic containers. Lithops come in various sizes and hues depending on the availability and time of year! Please be aware that browns and grays make up the majority of lithops. Rarely do you see other colors. We cannot guarantee the colors we have in stock, so if you need a wide range of hues, please email us first.
Container sizes are indicated by numbers like 2, 2.5, 3.5, etc. Unless there is a precise listing for several containers, each quantity refers to ONE container.
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Occasionally, lithops will start to split, crack, etc. spontaneously depending on the growth season. It’s normal for lithops to have scars on their sides and tops; this doesn’t indicate that your lithop is dying. Lithops broke up. Any scarring is temporary and will fall off as they split. With Lithops, this is a typical progression. Additionally, they are among the most challenging succulents to grow! Some simply pass away. Nothing to it; it just happens. They are unusual and so distinctive! Enjoy yourself and them!
Many mesembs are grown from seeds and are transplanted and moved numerous times throughout their life! Sometimes soil gets displaced during shipping, and sometimes a plant can come out of its container. Just gently place back in, it won’t kill the plant! After transplanting or replanting, wait three weeks before watering.
Assume that fine gravel is not there because it is very difficult to contain; if it is present and you can rescue it, go on.
Now providing Exact Lithops containers and sets. You are buying the lithops seen in that image if the description is “exact.” Additionally, we’ll be adding new ones every few days, so be sure to check back!
(Lithops) Rock Cactus
Lithops come in well over 300 different varieties. Everybody has a Cole system name ( after the man who found the while exploring Africa). They differ in size, color, and texture.
Water for watering can be distilled or from the tap. This plant doesn’t require humidity. Consider it a cactus. Do not overwater, please. All of the water that is added to the pot will be absorbed by it. Therefore, if a plant receives too much water, it will expand and split. A grower of lithops informed me that a small mist every few weeks during the winter is acceptable.
Light: Lighting is equally simple. The Lithops can endure the sun at full vigor. Shade is not necessary. But if you do, make sure to water once every week (instead of every other ). A window sill with light coming from either direction will do for interior use. Light in excess is not a problem. It is not enough light. When a plant looks to be “reaching” for light, it is not getting enough of it. It will become less rocky-looking and grow taller. If this is discovered, just go to a location with more light.
Temperatures: The Lithops will function normally in almost any temperature. The plant, which is native to the deserts of South Africa and the northern hemisphere, can survive in temperatures between the upper 90s and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other end of the spectrum, avoid letting your Lithops freeze. It will function well in temperatures that are at least in the upper 40s. It will perish if it freezes.
Fertilizer: Growers have differing opinions on this requirement. To be safe, use a diluted dose of 20-20-20 plant food (about 1/4 strength) once each month. Nothing more, please. No fertilizer should be applied to the plant until after the new growth appears, which should happen when the plant blooms in late fall or early winter (see special comments).
Soil: Each person will have a different combination of soil for this plant. To allow for drainage, the ideal mixture would be 60% perlite and 40% peat moss. The pot must be able to drain any extra water ( for fear of plant swelling). Therefore, loose soil is ideal.
Growth: The Lithops have a very distinctive growth cycle. Basically, there are three steps. The plant doesn’t go into dormancy ( that is noticeable ). The Lithops will shoot a blossom up between the leaves in the Fall (and occasionally in the Winter). It will resemble a little daisy ( most colors are yellow and white). ALL WATERING/FERTILISING SHOULD BE STOPPED AFTER THE FLOWER DIES! At this moment, the plant will take a brief break. Two new leaves will then begin to emerge from the middle once more. They will remove all of the nutrients and moisture from the old. This is why it’s crucial to avoid watering and fertilizing ( it will disrupt the process ). The new leaves will supplant the old ones after the old ones shrink and die. It is safe to resume watering and fertilizing after that point.
Reproduction: The runner (a “root” that spreads out) is how the Lithops reproduce. A fresh plant will sprout (usually by the parent.) They can also reproduce through the use of seeds.
Important Remarks 1) Do not overwater a plant. It will sometimes swell and split. If this occurs, specific chemicals will need to be used to prevent the entry of germs, which would kill the plant. 2) Avoid letting your plant freeze. Temperatures exceeding 50 degrees can be tolerated by lithops across a wide range. 3) When your plant is putting out new leaves, avoid watering or fertilizing it. This will prevent it from completing the process that it must.
Mesembs, often referred to as Mimicry succulents, are among the most intriguing and unusual-looking succulents around. Natural habitats for this species include hot, dry desert regions where water is a rare visitor. Five separate mesemb-type plants, potted in their respective round 2.5″ plastic containers, are included in this item. They are identified and available for your enjoyment. Some of the sorts we have are depicted, but there are additional varieties as well. Although the availability of our Mesemb mimicry succulents fluctuates weekly, monthly, and seasonally, we always try our hardest to ship out the best selection we have!
Some Mesembs can lose their skin, and like people, they can have nicks, markings, minor scars, and other flaws.
They are not your typical succulents that only require water when dry and don’t water when wet care. Really, really watch your watering with these guys, look up information on each one, and understand what they prefer. These creatures sometimes need to dry out for months!
Baby Toes are extremely delicate. Occasionally, during shipping, some of its numerous stems may become fractured or otherwise harmed. When we have them accessible, we’ll strive to add them because they are one of the most intriguing succulents there is. In time, damage will become obsolete. If this is a problem, please indicate before checkout that Baby Toes should not be included; nevertheless, this will be your loss.
Many plants are produced from seeds and are transplanted and relocated numerous times throughout their lifetimes. Sometimes dirt gets displaced during shipping, and sometimes a plant can come out of its container. Just gently push it back in; it won’t harm the plant.
How are Lithops reproduced?
A south- or east-facing windowsill is the best location for lithops, as they require a sunny place with at least five hours of direct sunlight each day. Keep in mind that if winter temperatures drop drastically, you might need to remove your lithops from your windowsill.
How to plant lithops
Online purchases of lithops could arrive bare-root, requiring you to plant them yourself. Lithops require a compost that is extremely free-draining, like a cactus compost. To ensure that the compost dries out fast, choose a terracotta container because it is more porous than a plastic or glazed one. You can plant them alone or in groupings.
Propagating lithops
Lithops can be multiplied by seed or division, albeit both methods need a lot of work. Lithops must mature into a cluster over a number of years before being divided. Make sure each component of the plant still has a functional taproot before carefully removing it from the pot and cutting through the roots. Each division should be repotted into a pot that is deep enough to allow the taproot to expand without being compressed.
Prepare a pot with free-draining cactus compost and extra grit to grow lithops from seed. Give the compost some water and let it drain. Cover the area with a thin layer of sand or vermiculite after scattering lithops seeds over it. Until germination takes place, keep somewhat wet; after that, gradually cut down on watering.
How to water lithops
Lithops have a very specific growth cycle, hence they require extremely specific watering. At first, this might appear difficult, but once you get the feel of it, it’s simple.
The development of the new leaves should be taken into account when watering lithops. Each year, Lithops produce new leaves that appear between the two elder leaves before progressively shriveling up (pictured). The watering schedule is determined by the development of these new leaves. The old leaves may not shrivel up properly if you water too soon after the new ones have appeared.
In contrast to most succulents, lithops begin to grow in the fall. Give your lithops a good watering during this time since it coincides with seasonal rains in the wild (early September). Around this time, flowers begin to bloom; keep an eye out for the fissure to open and the bud to emerge. For lithops to flower, they must be at least three years old.
With the new pair of leaves growing inside the old, lithops continue to grow throughout the winter and into the next spring. However, it’s crucial to avoid watering in the winter. The soil should be extremely dry since the new pair of leaves actually grows by taking water from the old pair.
The new leaves emerge in the spring as the old leaves begin to shrink. When the old pair of leaves has fully withered, begin watering once more. Water sparingly, letting the compost dry up in between applications.
Summertime, often the hottest time of year in their native southern African climate, is when lithops go dormant. Then, in early September, when growth resumes, give them a big drink. Avoid watering them during this period.
Growing lithops: problem solving
The primary issue with growing lithops is overwatering or watering at the incorrect time of year. The plants’ markings may also fade in the absence of light. The red spider mite can be a nuisance in greenhouses and conservatories.
How frequently do Lithops reproduce?
Every year, lithops grow a fresh pair of leaves. The old leaves must wither in order for the new ones to develop because they only have one pair of leaves at a time. New leaf growth typically begins following the blooming season. Lithops will go into dormancy for a period after they flower in order to be ready for fresh growth. Old leaves will continue to provide the plants with nutrition, and ultimately, new pairs of leaves will push through the crack left by the old ones.
Your Lithops may occasionally produce new leaves without blooming. Most of the time, it is difficult to determine the precise cause, but the Lithops may be in the early stages of their growth cycle.  
Checking the leaves of your Lithops is one technique to see whether it is producing new leaves. The outer leaves are likely in the process of shredding if they feel mushy and spongy to the touch. You will quickly notice new leaves growing after a few days. If not, it can simply be underwatering. Do not water your Lithops during this time until the old leaves have fully withered.
Size
Usually growing no more than an inch above the dirt, these plants are on the smaller side. Nevertheless, they will extend outward, frequently forming patterns that resemble clusters of stones. Each plant can range in width from 1-3.
They make the perfect house plants because they are so little. They have a long lifespan of up to 50 years. The plant can potentially live for 10 to 20 years in a single pot, making them incredibly low maintenance.
Flowers
Most Lithops start to bloom in the late fall and early winter. Flowers have numerous petals and are daisy-like in hues of orange, yellow, and white. On bright days, the blooms will open up before closing down later in the day, just like a shamrock. (This characteristic is known as nyctinasty.)
In the gap between the leaves, flowers sprout. Some have a faint fragrance. The flowers are between 1/2 and 1 1/2 in height.
As seen by this Lithops Dorotheae in blossom, if you have a group of living stones, the flower creation can cover the entire plant and conceal the little living stone beneath it.
Colors
Lithops are available in soft hues. There are varying tones of pink, rust, green, gray, and rust. Additionally, they differ in terms of leaf design and texture. Lines, spots, and dots may be present on the leaves.
This enables them to imitate their environment. Lithops Optica Rubra is the name of this pink cultivar with smooth skin. Just now, it has completed blossoming.
Lithops divide in what way?
It enters a period of dormancy after Lithopsflowers, during which at least one new body grows. It typically begins to reabsorb the old leaves in the spring as the new ones emerge. Finally, the divide between the old leaves allows the new body to push out.
The new leaf splitting occurs at a roughly 90-degree angle to the old splitting. The old leaves eventually decompose into a dry, papery sheath on the side of the new body. Lithops require sufficient strong sunshine, appropriate watering, and good soil drainage to flourish.
The main cause of the splitting of Lithops, which occurs in two ways, is overwatering.
- The leaf bursts open in order to adjust when it is overwatered since it lacks the space to hold the excess water. It will appear as though your Lithops leaf has a split lip or has been chopped jaggedly.
- By pushing the young leaves up from the root system, Lithops splits in the opposite manner. The existing leaves are replaced by the new ones, which appear after the existing leaves shrivel and die.