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Lithops spp.
Have you ever ever joked about wanting a pet rock? How a few dwelling stone, as an alternative? And sure, I’m speaking about rising lithops succulent crops!
Masters of mimicry, dwelling stones are fascinating succulents, however these quirky little crops even have quirky little care routines.
We hyperlink to distributors that can assist you discover related merchandise. Should you purchase from considered one of our hyperlinks, we could earn a fee.
You’ll actually need to study what’s required of you earlier than you purchase considered one of these – or as quickly as attainable after bringing a lithops dwelling!
Able to learn how to develop and look after dwelling stones? Right here’s what we’ll cowl:
What Are Lithops?
Should you have been to ask a toddler to make a drawing of a plant, you’d probably get a picture of a stem with massive inexperienced leaves.
The topic of our article couldn’t be additional away from this verdant imaginative and prescient of planthood – and most dwelling stones are usually 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 developed this development behavior to cover from hungry animals trying to find leafy inexperienced meals.
This low-profile development 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 higher perceive them and to understand the looks of the totally different dwelling stone species and cultivars, it’s value taking the time to study 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 remaining is seen aboveground.
The our bodies of those crops – made up of two fused leaves – are about two inches tall, kind of, 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 relatively 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 huge, relying on the species.
The time period “head” is one other time period for physique, however often refers back to the a part of the plant that’s above floor.
Some dwelling 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, known as “lobes” – two lobes make a head.
The lobes of some species are equal in dimension, whereas others are barely (or fairly) asymmetrical.
Moreover, there’s 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 dwelling stone lobes, when considered from the aspect, may be both kind of flat, or rounded.
Be aware that this look can change when the plant is well-watered, during which case the lobes could turn into extra convex, or when the plant is thirsty, when the tops of the lobes could turn into barely concave.
Wanting down on them from above, lithops heads are kind of spherical or oval formed, and considered from this angle, every leaf is named 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 clean surfaces, others are tough and may be textured with furrows, bumps, warts, wrinkles, or pits!
Fissures and Molting
Each flowers and new leaves emerge from the slit (often known as the “fissure”) between the 2 fused leaves, every at totally different seasons within the 12 months – most lithops species produce flowers in autumn and new leaves in spring.
When new leaves emerge, the physique goes via a course of known as “molting” (much like that of animals), during 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 dwelling stone species ultimately 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 quick stem.
Flowers are daisy-like, and often yellow or white – or yellow and white. In some species, flowers may be shades of bronze or pink.
These emerge in fall in most species, and in brilliant solar, often at midday.
Home windows
To make up for retaining their leaves largely underground, the highest a part of every lobe has what is named a “window” – a translucent part of the face.
Home windows are additionally typically known as “seas” or “lakes.” These home windows enable mild into the plant, the place photosynthesis takes place.
Should you have 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 a lot of the face – crops like these are typically known as having “open” home windows.
On the opposite excessive, some lithops have home windows which are utterly opaque wanting, also known as being “absent.”
Most lithops, nonetheless, have markings on them that obscure the home windows a minimum of considerably.
Generally small spherical dots of window are current among the many opaque markings, and these are known as “miniature home windows.”
There are particular phrases used to explain these markings.
Whilst you don’t have to know these phrases to get pleasure from your crops, understanding what these phrases check with can assist you recognize what makes totally different species, subspecies, and varieties distinctive!
Able to study extra about these markings?
Islands and Peninsulas
Many dwelling 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 may be giant or small, few or quite a few, and their edges may be kind of rounded, or fairly jagged.
As they do in actual our bodies of water, “peninsulas” on dwelling stones jut out from the perimeters 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 perimeters of the face.
Residing stone crops typically have each inside and outer margins however not all species have discernible margins.
Generally dwelling stone margins are the identical shade because the physique, typically they’re totally different colours.
The time period “shoulders” is used to explain the perimeters 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 are nonetheless obvious get a reputation change and are known as “channels.”
Channels may be slender or broad, are typically furrowed into the face’s floor, and are typically lined with extra markings.
Dusky Dots
Some species have what are known as “dusky dots” adorning their surfaces.
These may be indented, flush with the floor, barely raised, or very a lot in reduction, during which case they might be known as “warts” or “pimples” relying on how massive they’re.
Dusky dots may 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, known as “rubrications.”
Rubrications may be within the type of strains, dots, checks, or stars, they usually usually line channels, creating both a linked community of patterns, or a damaged community.
Be aware that not all of those options are discovered on every plant. The mixture 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 usually rocky and sandy.
These succulents have tailored to situations with little rain. Their native areas obtain a mean of 20 inches of rain per 12 months or much less.
Populations of lithops in some places get lower than 4 inches of rain a 12 months, and a few are watered primarily by fog and mist.
Nonetheless, most species originate in climates which are 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 embrace ice plant (Delosperma lehmannii) New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides), and child toes (Fenestraria spp.).
Kinfolk from this household embrace extra mimicry crops which can be enticing to succulent collectors – equivalent 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 “dwelling stones.” For causes that ought to want no rationalization, some additionally name them “butt crops.”
The topic of our article, in addition to another members of this household are sometimes known 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 have 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 present lithops populations are beneath growing menace within the wild as a consequence of habitat loss and poaching.
Whereas plant accumulating is a enjoyable pastime, you’ll want to restrict your purchases to specimens which are nursery grown relatively than obtained via poaching wild specimens.
Apparently, these diminutive succulents can reside to be fairly previous in cultivation – as much as 50 years – becoming a member of the ranks of different long-lived houseplants equivalent to Christmas cacti and hoyas.
Whereas succulent fanatics can develop these crops indoors, lithops will also be grown exterior 12 months 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 simple strategies. Let’s take a look at every of those:
From Seed
Late spring, late summer season, and early autumn are all good occasions to propagate dwelling stones from seeds.
Right here’s what you’ll want for this mission: lithops seeds, nice sand, small river rocks or coarse silica sand, three- or four-inch nursery pots or a propagation tray, a twig bottle crammed with water, a humidity dome, and rising medium designed for cacti and succulents.
Whereas grownup lithops may be grown in a gritty, largely mineral primarily based combine, seedlings want a medium with a bit extra moisture retention.
A perfect 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, obtainable in a 1.5 cubic foot bag by way of 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, equivalent to this coarse silica sand obtainable from Miukada in 3.3 pound luggage by way of Amazon.
Now combine the very tiny lithops seeds with a few tablespoon of nice 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 nice 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 often include vents – you simply must open them barely.
Find the pots at room temperature in oblique, brilliant mild to germinate. Though they’ll have the ability to survive in full daylight as soon as they’re established, younger seedlings shall be scalded by direct solar.
Keep watch over 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 exchange the overlaying.
Anticipate germination to begin in 5 to 10 days, although some seeds shall be a lot slower to germinate – some can take as much as a 12 months, so be sure you sow greater than you want.
Two weeks after germination, progressively transition the seedlings to ambient situations 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 improve 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 totally different pots.
From Division or Transplants
Whereas many succulent collectors worth multi-headed lithops specimens, some houseplant dad and mom could want to experiment with dividing these crops.
Residing stones which have multiple head may be propagated on this manner.
Bear in mind, every head is made up of two leaves. Some species can kind multi-headed crops, however not all.
So, simply to be clear – don’t break up a single head aside, as an alternative, wait till a plant has a minimum of two heads – or in different phrases, a minimum of 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 study extra about creating an acceptable rising medium for dwelling stones later within the article, so hold studying to study extra!
Whenever you’re able to divide, first put together small pots for transplanting, equivalent to these two-and-a-half-inch ceramic pots with bamboo saucers, obtainable by way of 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, you could want to chop them aside with sterilized scissors or snips.
Take away any dry leaves or useless flower stems from the physique, then enable 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 degree ought to attain roughly to the leaf fissure. Relying on the species or cultivar, the plant shall be largely buried with solely the highest inch or half inch above the soil line.
This may fluctuate relying on the species, so it’s greatest to know which sort you’ve got!
End up by including a half-inch layer of coarse silica sand or nice river rocks to the floor of the rising medium as a mulch. This may assist hold the higher portion of the plant physique dry.
Repeat the method with any extra heads, or just return the guardian plant to its pot, filling in with further rising medium if wanted.
For lithops which were 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.
How you can 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, nonetheless, so you’ll want to verify particular instructions to your chosen species.
Solar
Lithops may be grown in direct solar, or a mixture of direct solar and brilliant, oblique mild.
Intention for a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of direct solar per day. This desire makes dwelling stones nice candidates for all times on a south-facing windowsill since additionally they don’t thoughts cooling off a little bit at evening.
Nonetheless when transferring specimens grown in partly shaded situations to better direct solar publicity, accomplish that progressively, in any other case they are often broken by solar scald.
Additionally, if your private home will get significantly sizzling throughout summer season as a consequence 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 transferring 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 needs to be restricted.
They may even be happiest in low humidity with good air circulation.
Water
The quantity of water dwelling stones will want will depend on how a lot direct solar they’re receiving, how sizzling the indoor setting is, how moisture retentive their rising medium is – and the species!
Crucial factor to know is that it’s best to err on the aspect of underwatering relatively than overwatering.
Typically, in case your plant begins to shrivel a bit and really feel mushy, it is likely to be time to water.
Nonetheless, earlier than you choose up your houseplant watering can, there’s additionally a seasonal watering schedule you’ll must learn about first.
Late summer season to autumn is when nearly all of dwelling stones want essentially the most water, earlier than they start to bloom and whereas flowering.
Beginning in late summer season, 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 have to 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, provide a really mild watering of some drops or a lightweight misting of the rising medium.
In late winter or early spring a dwelling stone will begin to molt, shedding its previous pores and skin to provide a brand new pair of leaves, or two new pairs of leaves.
It’s necessary to not water at the moment. The brand new development will take the moisture it wants from the previous development, leaving the previous leaves to show into a skinny, desiccated pores and skin.
This course of is critical for the brand new development to emerge correctly – in case you water, you’ll forestall the previous development from drying out.
As soon as the dwelling 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 situations begin to get sizzling in summer season, the plant will expertise one other dormancy interval, and watering needs to be withheld or a minimum of, decreased. Water provided that the plant is shriveling, and if it’s extremely popular, cut back direct solar publicity considerably as nicely.
Start watering once more in late summer season – and proceed the lithops’ yearly cycle.
Should you’re having a tough time retaining observe of the watering schedule for this plant, contemplate retaining notes within the calendar part of a gardening journal.
How have you learnt in case you’re watering a lithops an excessive amount of?
Overwatered dwelling stones can develop ailments and typically even burst – however the first signal you’ll discover is elongation.
Nonetheless, word that some species are naturally elongated, so it pays to know the standard traits of the species of lithops you’re rising in an effort to accurately spot when one thing goes incorrect!
As soon as a plant has been affected by overwatering, there’s little that may be finished to return the plant to its former glory, making correct watering your first step in retaining 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 sort of rising medium.
Since lithops’ native habitats include rocky, gritty, sandy soils, you’ll need to attempt to mimic these situations when selecting a rising medium.
Keep away from rising mediums that comprise non-renewable peat, which isn’t an applicable ingredient for these succulents anyway.
To study extra about what skilled lithops growers use in the way in which of rising mediums, I reached out to Jane Evans, co-owner of Residing Stones Nursery in Tucson Arizona, a enterprise which solely sells to native clients.
Evans advised me that their lithops potting combine is actually 50 % cactus combine and 50 % pumice.
Pumice is a superb horticultural ingredient to have readily available when your love for houseplants is popping into – nicely, let’s name it a pastime.
You should purchase an eight-quart bag of horticultural pumice from Tank’s Inexperienced Stuff by way of Amazon.
So hold this 50:50 ratio in thoughts when creating your individual succulent potting soil for transplanting, dividing, or repotting your dwelling stones. A ready-to-use, industrial cactus and succulent soil in itself is not fairly proper for lithops. Extra grit is required.
Rising Ideas
- Present a minimum of 4 hours a day of direct solar.
- Water throughout late summer season 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, the easiest way to care to your dwelling stone is to know what to anticipate from it all through the seasons in an effort to present water on the applicable occasions.
Listed here are a couple of different solutions to upkeep questions you’re sure to surprise about!
Mulch
A mulch of gravel or coarse sand is usually added to the highest of the rising medium. This retains the dwelling stone’s head dry and likewise helps to maintain the plant upright.
In case your lithops rising pastime 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 shouldn’t be essential with these succulents, which developed to thrive in poor soils. Some skilled growers fertilize incessantly, nonetheless, and others accomplish that very not often or by no means.
One choice for dwelling growers of dwelling stones is to supply a mild fertilizer when repotting, equivalent to Dr. Earth’s Succulence Natural Pump and Develop Cactus and Succulent Plant Meals.
Dr. Earth’s Succulence Pump & Develop
It’s obtainable in a 16-ounce pump bottle by way of Arbico Organics.
Repotting
You gained’t need to repot your dwelling stone fairly often – on common, solely about as soon as each two years if it wants further room as a result of it’s producing a number of heads.
When selecting a pot, shallow pots are preferable, however they’ll have to be a minimum of two inches tall to accommodate the big portion of the plant that grows underground. These which are two to 3 and a half inches tall are supreme.
You possibly can repot lithops into small, particular person pots, or embrace them in a large, shallow succulent dish, both with different lithops or with some easy-care succulent buddies – simply ensure that to decide on succulents with related water and humidity wants.
In case your dwelling stone nonetheless has loads of room in its container, enough drainage, and the container is to your liking, the plant shall be comfortable to stay there completely.
Nonetheless, older specimens with a number of heads needs to be repotted as their pots turn into crowded.
Encouraging Flowering
Should you’ve propagated a specimen from seed, don’t anticipate flowering till the plant is 2 or three years previous.
To encourage flowering, ensure that the plant receives enough daylight.
Flowering is typically higher on specimens grown in small, particular person pots relatively than huge dishes – although not all growers discover this to be true.
Saving Seeds
Should you’re hoping to provide dwelling stone seeds for propagation, know that you simply’ll want a minimum of two specimens since they should cross pollinate.
To save lots of seeds, after flowering ensure 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 a minimum of one 12 months earlier than planting. Seeds will stay viable for a few years.
Lithops Species and Varieties to Choose
There are lots of species, subspecies, naturally occurring varieties, and cultivars of lithops obtainable to succulent collectors with out bothering with the loathsome follow 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 Advantage in 2002.
With a variety of variability, the species can seem in shades of brick crimson, beige, yellow, brown, pink, grayish white, or grayish inexperienced.
This species often 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 relatively like brains!
‘High Pink’ is a cultivar of L. karasmontana that has a beige to grey physique, and broad, furrowed, brick crimson channels.
Lithops Karasmontana ‘High Pink’ Seeds
Need to strive rising your individual from seed? You should purchase 50 L. karasmontana ‘High Pink’ seeds from Dichondra by way of Amazon.
Otzeniana
L. otzeniana is a species that’s often present in an olive inexperienced shade, however may seem in muted shades of pink, cream, or blue.
This dwelling stone has a deep fissure between its two leaves, and lobes which are 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
Should you’re able to propagate your individual, you’ll discover packs of 15 L. otzeniana dwelling stone seeds for buy by way of Amazon.
Rubra
A cultivar of L. optica, ‘Rubra’ is milky pink to reddish purple in shade, with translucent home windows and clean faces.
There’s a really deep fissure between the 2 leaves, which supplies this plant a unique profile than many different lithops species.
This dwelling stone’s stunning faces are clean with broad, darkish purple or reddish home windows, and distinct margins. They often lack islands.
The flowers of L. optica ‘Rubra’ are white, and infrequently have pink suggestions.
Lithops Optica ‘Rubra’
Received your eye on these dwelling stones? You possibly can hold them nicely inside view – buy a 3 pack of one- to two-year-old L. optica ‘Rubra’ lithops by way of the Micro Panorama Design Retailer by way of Amazon.
There are lots of extra forms of dwelling stones obtainable to domesticate at dwelling or to admire from afar. Uncover extra in our information to 37 several types of lithops. (coming quickly!)
Managing Pests and Illness
On the subject of pests and ailments, anticipate wholesome lithops specimens to stay pest free.
Nonetheless, be looking out for mealybugs, scale, thrips, aphids, and spider mites. Fungus gnats could be a drawback for younger seedlings that are saved in additional humid situations.
Rot is the one actual threat of illness for this succulent, and may be prevented with correct watering, the proper soil, and wonderful drainage.
Learn our article about rotting in succulents to study extra.
Finest Makes use of for Lithops
As mentioned above, lithops make nice windowsill crops, and could be lovely as a part of a tiny plant assortment. You may additionally contemplate together with them in a succulent fairy backyard!
They will also be included into huge, shallow succulent planters with different specimens, so long as the opposite crops have related water and soil necessities.
Outside lithops may 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 situations.
Fast Reference Rising Information
| Plant Sort: | Succulent | Flower/Foliage Shade: | 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: | High 1/2 inch or so of plant above rising medium (crops), floor (seeds) | Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Top: | 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 Ailments: | 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!
Residing stones are distinctive and compact succulents that make wonderful houseplants supplied you’ve got loads of daylight and simply the correct quantity of restraint with the watering can.
And whereas for a lot of the 12 months they might appear to be nothing greater than pet rocks, you’ll know these dwelling stones are prepared to provide magic all through the seasons – stunning flowers, and units of recent new leaves.
What do you like most about lithops? Their petite statures, or their mesmerizing patterns? Inform us within the feedback part – and in case you need assistance troubleshooting, tell us, we’d be comfortable to assist!
Need to hold studying about cultivating cacti and succulents? Have a learn of those guides subsequent:
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