Lithops aka 'Living Stones'

Lithops are in a very special group of plants called Mesembs and must be treated very differently to regular cacti and succulents. They are commonly known as ‘living stones’ and are incredibly beautiful. The chunky stems are satisfying to look at, and the colours are fascinating.

Lifecyle

January: new bodies emerge from the centre of old heads

April: old bodies will start to shrivel away

May-June: watering begins

September: flowering starts and watering stops

October-November: flowering continues & seed pods emerge if fertilised (see below)

Winter dormancy

Firstly, do not water from September to May! They have a much longer dormancy period than regular cacti and succulents and will rot if any water is given during this time. They need bright light during this time, and plenty of air flow at all times. Humidity and rot is what kills them every time.

Placement

Lithops are not tough enough to be grown outside, so windowsills, conservatories and greenhouses are ideal. Be aware though – if you have the plant close to a single glazed window in the winter, there will likely be too much condensation.

Temperature

They are very tolerant of the cold, provided they are completely dry and have adequate air flow, as mentioned above. If they are inside the house, you must keep them away from too much humidity and condensation.

Watering

Give them a small water – a few teaspoons for a small plant – in early May. You will see the old plant bodies have shrivelled away and the nutrients have been taken in by the new emerging bodies. Wait until the plant has dried out before introducing thorough waterings from June onwards.

Reduce watering by 50% from August, coming to a complete stop by late September.

Soil

Lithops like a very sandy, soft mix as they have very fine roots. They do not need anything too deep as they also have very shallow roots. Rocks around the top will help regulate temperatures and also looks good as decoration!

Repotting

As with all cacti and succulents, try and only repot during the growing period. They do not need repotting very often, as they are slow growing and small. Some of our most recent stock has been grown in the same tub for over 10 years, so no need to stress.

Flowers & reproduction

One of the most beautiful things about Lithops is the fact that they flower continually from September to November, and the flowers open all at once in the afternoon. When multiple plants are together, it is an impressive sight. 

The plants can also be pollinated easily with a soft paintbrush or cotton bud. Just brush the flowers of one plant, and then brush another to mix the pollen. Just like a bee would! This will then produce a seed pod, and there are hundreds of seeds in each plant. Once dry, the seeds can be sprinkled on the top of some damp vermiculite, and if kept warm, you will have tiny baby Lithops in a matter of days.

Once the old flower heads have shrivelled and dried up, they can be pulled off gently to avoid staining the plant.

They are a truly fascinating plant and as always, if you have any worries in keeping them alive, please do reach out.