Since lithops seed resembles dust, seeding needs deft hands; alternatively, the seed can be mixed with silver sand for simpler handling. The optimal seasons to start are fall and spring, and it’s recommended to use a heated propagator or heat mat to keep the seeds’ germination temperature at a constant 20°C. Press the seed into the surface without covering it—seeds need light to germinate—and prepare a mixture of ready-dampened fine grit or sand and high-quality cactus compost that is split in half. Place the seeds in a plastic bag or under a transparent plastic top; after two to three weeks, or whenever the seeds sprout, remove the container. 12–18 months after sowing, leave in place until they are ready for pricking out.
Is it simple to grow Lithops from seeds?
Learn to raise lithops; they will not let you down. As long as a few simple guidelines are followed, these intriguing “living stone” plants have adapted to life in captivity quite well.
They are among the succulent house plants that have successfully adapted to growing indoors.
Although they can be grown quite easily, these xerophytes can be picky about their soil, temperature, time of day, and watering requirements.
It won’t take you long to develop a passion with cultivating them once you understand the fundamental requirements.
In a climate-controlled setting, such a greenhouse, lithops thrive in shallow containers.
See how these amazing plants change with the seasons
Since they won’t need it all day, they should be shielded from the sun starting at noon.
They will favor a bright, filtered light source, such as those found under grow lights, behind sheer curtains, or beneath shade cloth.
When you do water them, give them a good soaking so the earth is totally soaked. After that, let the soil totally dry out.
How long does it take a living stone to grow?
If pollinators are present or you’re willing to manually pollinate the plants using a little paintbrush, Lithops blossoms mature into a seed capsule. For effective cross-pollination, make sure to transfer pollen from one plant to another. It takes the lithops seed 8 to 9 months to mature completely inside the capsule. Pick the capsule up and crack it apart with a hard instrument to release the seed when it is dry but before it cracks open (don’t worry, you won’t harm the seeds inside). Although living stone plants grown from seeds are very easy to germinate, they take several years to reach a flowering maturity.
Make use of a cactus-specific potting mix while planting lithops seeds. Sand should be used to very lightly cover the seeds, and frequent misting with a pump-style mister should be used to maintain moisture. It’s important to prevent the soil’s surface from drying out. Keep a transparent plastic wrap over the pot until the lithops seeds start to sprout, which could take several months.
When growing lithops from seed, you’ll occasionally find fascinating natural hybrids with unusual color patterns that are often distinct from their parents. When the tiny plants are a few months old, divide and pot them.
How are Lithops grown from seeds?
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 often should Lithop seedlings be watered?
The natural range of Lithops, often known as Living Stones, is in southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa). They are relatively small succulents that are prized for their exquisite, sometimes breathtaking, leaf designs and hues. If you know what you’re doing, growing your own lithops is actually quite simple.
Lithops Care
It’s crucial to get the fundamentals correct while cultivating succulents like lithops. temperature, water, light, and soil. These are the essential components for good Lithops cultivation and propagation.
All succulents require a well-draining soil. Typically, regular potting soil plus 25% pumice, coarse sand, or fine lime will do. Even more drainage is preferred for Lithops. It is ideal to have at least 50% drainage material.
Light Lithops plants require bright light, although they do not enjoy prolonged exposure to extremely direct sunlight. Here in the Netherlands, my plants thrive best with a few hours of early sun and brilliant, filtered sunlight. Please be aware that young plants and seedlings generally prefer a little more shade from the sun. After germination, my Lithops plants spend the first year without any direct sunlight.
In the spring and fall, water lithops species grow most actively. They essentially rested during the scorching heat. When you water your plants, remember to keep this in mind at all times.
As was already indicated, good drainage in the soil is essential for growing Lithops properly. Long-term wet feet are not good for these plants. After watering them, the soil needs to be dry once more in a day or two.
Depending on the weather and light, we water our Lithops plants once to twice a week in the spring and fall. Use little water when it’s cold outside in the spring or fall. In the winter, we keep our Lithops nearly dry. We water once a week in the summer heat, and the majority of the time we only give the plants a quick spritz or sprinkle with the garden hose.
Temperature Temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius are ideal for lithops growth. That’s spring and autumn, as was previously mentioned. If necessary, they can withstand extremely high summertime temperatures. When that occurs, avoid overwatering them and keep them out of direct sunshine.
Lithops Maintenance
Lithops upkeep is not difficult. In fact, it’s rather simple if you know what to do. Tip: Avoid doing any maintenance in the spring and fall when the plant is actively growing. Just before the new growth phase begins is the perfect time to trim roots and remove old skin. Late summer and early spring. We do four crucial actions when maintaining Lithops.
Step 1: Take the Lithops out of the soil
Remove the plant from the ground with care. Avoid tugging the plant head erratically to prevent damage. Use a teaspoon to pry it out. The roots can spread far and wide! If you like, you could also simply drain the soil and plants from the pot.
Step 2: Remove the old dry skin
With a brush or a gentle tug, remove any old, dried skin from the plant. In the natural world, where plants grow outdoors in the direct sun, the dead skin serves a role. It shields the body below. Therefore, if you grow your plants outdoors, feel free to ignore it. We take it out because it looks better and grows a little more quickly inside the greenhouse. Most likely because when the old skin is gone, it can absorb more light for photosynthesis.
Step 3: Trim the roots
People occasionally ponder why we prune the roots so severely (0,51 cm). This encourages fresh, robust growth. The plant will integrate more easily into the soil. Lithops can be planted without the roots being trimmed, but it’s crucial that they point downward. They dislike having their roots curl upward because it prevents them from growing. Recommendation: Wait a couple of days before planting your Lithops after trimming. The root cut must develop a callus.
Step 4: Plant you Lithops in fresh soil
The final step should be clear. Plant your Lithops in fresh soil that drains well and contains lots of pumice, coarse sand, or lava. As seen in the picture, make sure the plant head is almost level with the soil.
Lithops Propagation
The majority of lithops are grown from seeds. For us, the spring months of March and April are the greatest for seed germination. You can either purchase seeds or attempt to produce your own seeds by using a tiny paintbrush to pollinate your own Lithops plants. The same species’ individual plants are more numerous. Brush the inside of a blossom gently before moving on to another plant and repeating the same there. Brush as many blossoms as you can from several Lithops plants that belong to the same species. When your blooms come into contact with pollen from another plant, pollination will be most effective.
Lithops germination steps
- Succulent soil should be added to a pot.
- Add a top coating of fine lava or pumice (Bims).
- Over the top layer, equally distribute the seeds.
- The seeds should be watered down.
- Within 7–14 days, germination begins.
The ideal germination range for lithops seeds is between 18 and 24 C. To increase the air humidity for germination, you can cover the seed container or tray with some clear plastic. If the air humidity where the seeds are being germinated is already high, this is not necessary.
For at least the first three to four months following germination, lithops seedlings require appropriate protection. Extremes do not appeal to them. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. During the day, give the seedlings good filtered light but stay out of the sun. Try to keep the temps constant. 20 to 24 C during the day and 14 to 18 C at night, for instance.
Lithops FAQ
Numerous inquiries are made concerning Lithops. Here are a few significant ones. Please leave a comment on this site if you have any queries, criticisms, or additional stories about growing Lithops.
My Lithops plant feels soft and looks wrinkled. What should I do?
This is typical and typically happens in the summer when the Lithops body is dehydrating. Not to be concerned. On warm summer evenings, you can occasionally spritz the plant with water. In the autumn and spring, when it is actively growing and absorbing more water through the roots, the body will become firmer once more.
My Lithops is growing very long and looks pale green.
Most likely, your plant isn’t getting enough light. Try to gradually increase it. Another possibility is that the plant is receiving excessive amounts of fertilizer and water. It is challenging (nearly impossible?) to grow a Lithops plant that is typical in shape once it has become elongated (grown too long).