How to grow lithops at home

These are the most unusual of the green inhabitants of our planet. Since ancient times, each of the lithops has lived in a separate territory, among fragments of stones and rocks, copying the shape and color of the surrounding boulders. With visual contact, it is impossible to determine that these are plants until you touch them with your hands. How to grow lithops, amazing and amazing living stones, this article will tell.

Description of lithops

Living stones of lithops are characterized by a huge variety of petal colors during flowering - from carmine and lilac to white, cream, yellow. Flowers in appearance differ little from ordinary daisies and are comparable in size to or exceed the leaves. And when the mass flowering of living stones begins in their habitat, this spectacle is one of the most delightful in nature.

Lithops Lithops is a genus of succulent plants of the Aizov family, numbering more than 30 species. These "stones" come from the sandy and rocky deserts of Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. Living in natural conditions, they have adapted to the harshest conditions of existence in an arid desert climate. And in order not to become the prey of wild animals, which sometimes have nothing to eat in these harsh places, they disguise themselves as rocky ground with such care that you can distinguish them from real stones only if you touch them.

Lithops form vast colonies, populating dehydrated places of the planet, on the most impossible soil - quartz, limestone, granite. The terrestrial part of lithops consists of two thick leaves that have grown together, containing a reserve of moisture, consuming it during the most severe drought. The gap between them is shallow or can reach the ground itself, cutting the "stone" into two halves. New leaves and inflorescences appear from this cut.

Young lithops shares a root with the mother plant until it dies. The color and pattern of the leaves follows the pattern and color of the stones of the surrounding area. The underground part of the lithops consists of a short stem and a long root that goes deep into the sand in search of life-giving moisture. With the onset of drought, the roots pull the entire plant in depth so that it practically disappears from the surface. Lithops flower is similar to chamomile - in young plants they close at night. This way they save moisture.

How to care for lithops

Living stones lithops how to care for succulents at home Reproduction by seeds Photo of flowers

In order to avoid mistakes when keeping lithops, one should understand the cyclical nature and conditions of its growth in the homeland.Living stones are often sold, and the only reason for the low prevalence of these interesting plants is a poor knowledge of their biology and, as a result, improper care, which leads to their death.

It is a very decorative but also extremely sensitive plant. They peek out from under the sandy ground to get their share of the sunlight. These small succulents are extremely varied in color. The top of the leaves is mottled and can be dark red-brown or yellowish, orange, blueberry, dark purple.

Spots, lines and streaks on the surface are a kind of windows through which the plant covered with sand absorbs weak light. With the onset of spring, a pair of new leaves appears from the gap, which replaces the old ones, which have given up their strength to resume growth.

• Lithops feels great on light windowsills, reacts positively to airing.
• He needs direct sunlight or artificial lighting for 12 hours every day for 4 hours.
• In low light, the plant may die.
• In winter, it is worth keeping the temperature at 10-15 degrees. Since December, watering is completely stopped, resuming it in March. Lithops can be sprayed only occasionally. Its life cycle ends - it consumes moisture from dying leaves.
• Watering begins in spring, when a new life cycle begins, resulting in new leaves.

The best way to water is to pour water into the pan and pour out the rest after 10 minutes. Or place the container in a bowl with moist peat, which is periodically moistened. At the end of our summer, the life of the lithops stops again - watering should be stopped. In September, lithops bloom, after which watering is again reduced. During the growing season, you can put the container with "pebbles" outside under a canopy to prevent rain drops.

Leaving for a dormant period, it ceases to develop, and its leaves fade. Having noticed these signs, it is worth stopping watering and placing the pots in a bright, cool place.

Twice a year, you can fertilize with complex fertilizer, which should be added to the water for irrigation in minimal quantities. This should only be done for plants that have not been transplanted for more than 2 years.

Soil for lithops

Growing lithops How to grow lithops Reproduction and care photos of species

For live stones, pots with a height of about 7 cm are selected. When selecting a container, the size of the root system is taken into account - too much soil will lead to acidification, decay and death of the root system. Be sure to arrange drainage at the bottom of the planting tank.

• The soil substrate can be prepared from the store soil for succulents, sand, perlite (1: 2: 2).
• Live rocks can be planted in wide bowls in combination with other desert succulents.
• It is necessary to grow living stones in groups - this is how they grow in nature, closely pressed against each other. Planted alone, they grow poorly, do not bloom and may die.
• It is good to do mulching with small decorative stones: this will have a positive effect on the microclimate in the soil and will create an additional decoration for the composition.

Most succulents are not picky about the composition of the soil - the main thing is that it passes water well and does not contain a lot of humus. To reduce acidity, crushed wood ash or chalk is included in its composition.

Diseases and pests of living stones

• Well-groomed lithops are rarely susceptible to pest attacks and the development of diseases.
• If signs of the disease are noticed, the affected particle is cut out with a knife, and the wound is dried and sprinkled with activated carbon.
• Sometimes they are affected by mushroom gnats or worms, which happens with excessive watering. In this case, the soil substrate is watered with a very weak solution of potassium permanganate, followed by drying.

Lithops from seeds at home

How to grow lithops from seeds Growing lithops from seeds Photo of seedlings

Seed propagation of lithops is quite simple. It is better to immediately purchase a bag of the mixture - then you will get many different types at the same time.

• Sowing is carried out in a wide, shallow dish with a transparent lid and drainage holes.
• The soil mixture for sowing is prepared from standard store soil, sand, perlite (1: 2: 2).
• The soil is thoroughly moistened and seeds are distributed over the surface as rarely as possible. Sprinkle thinly with sand on top, cover the container with a lid or glass, cling film.
• Seeds do not lose their qualities for a long time, so the germination rate can be 100%. They germinate unevenly. The first ones may appear during the first week.
• To accustom small plants to air and for ventilation, the lid on the container is lifted every day.
• Watering is carried out through a pallet - water is poured into it and drained after a while.
• Pebbles grow very slowly. Sometimes they fall on their side, since the roots are not yet sufficiently developed - in this case, we help them to take a vertical position with a toothpick, pressing them a little into the ground.
• It is better if the container with seedlings is placed in a sunny place.

The first flowering under optimal conditions can occur 3 years after sowing.
Living stones grow very slowly - this can be used to create mini-compositions that will remain in their original form for several years. Lithops literally emit positive energy that people in the room feel.

When properly planted, they require almost no maintenance - you can forget about them for several weeks. And "pebbles" will only be grateful to you for this, because they do not like excessive attention. Such a composition is ideal for people who cannot devote a sufficient amount of their time to caring for indoor plants, but want to have a living corner at home. Lithops will perfectly cope with this task, creating a piece of the unique landscape of the sultry desert in the house.

Lithops species

Living stone Conophytum Lithops Conophytum

Succulent Lithops Conophytum Lithops Conophytum photo How to grow

Its leaves are connected, and at the top of the rounded "stone" there is a scanty hole for flowers and leaves of the next season.

Living stone Argyroderma Lithops Argyroderma

Lithops argyroderma Lithops Argyroderma how to grow a photo

It imitates sharp pebble chips, its paired leaves are somewhat pointed at the top and loosely adjoin each other. The name of this species alludes to the silver color of the leaf skin.

Living Stone Fenestraria Lithops Fenestraria and Fritia Lithops Frithia

Lithops fenestraria Lithops Fenestraria growing and caring for succulent photos

Keg-like leaves form continuous thickets. They are slightly distant from each other so that the rounded shape of each does not undergo deformation.

Lithops pseudo-chopped Lithops pseudotruncatella

Lithops pseudo-chopped lithops pseudotruncatella photo of flowers

It is distinguished by the presence of a shallow break and a pinkish-gray color of leaves with a pattern of a more intense shade. Golden yellow buds appear in the fall.

Lithops salt tolerant Lithops solicola

Lithops salt tolerant Lithops solicola photo How to care

Outwardly, it looks like a slingshot, which is stuck in the ground. The upper side is darker than the lateral ones. During flowering, a chrysanthemum-shaped snow-white flower shoots.

Lithops beautiful lithops bella

Lithops beautiful Lithops bella photo Growing and care at home

A deep rift is visible between the olive-gray leaves. The pattern on the surface is formed by thick broken lines, and the flowering is accompanied by a pleasant aroma.

Lithops fuller

Lithops Fuller Lithops fuller maintenance and care Photo of succulents

Height does not exceed 1.5 cm. Leaves are gray-blue or brownish-yellow with a convex top surface covered with brownish-green pattern and red-brown spots. The flower is a white daisy.

Lithops Optics Lithops Optica

Lithops Optics Lithops Optica photo How to grow and care for a cactus lithops photo

These stones are painted in a lilac-lilac tone, and the inner surface is slightly lighter and does not grow more than 3 cm. The white flower with yellow stamens is located deep in the crevice.

Lithops Olive green Lithops Olivaceae

Lithops Olive green Lithops Olivaceae how to care photo

Its shape resembles a heart with cut tops. These are greenish-gray pebbles with whitish chaotically located specks. Delicate yellow buds are located on light green peduncles.

Lithops Marble Lithops Marmorata

Lithops Marble Lithops Marmorata growing and care at home photo

Their upper gray-greenish surface, dotted with many gray lines, looks velvety. Chamomile flowers bloom after rain.

Lithops Lesliei

Lithops Leslie Lithops Lesliei how to grow indoors photo

Its fleshy leaves are strongly shortened, gray-blue in color with a shallow arcuate crack. Their flat part is dotted with a fine mesh pattern.

Lithops Brownish Lithops Fulviceps

Lithops Brownish Lithops Fulviceps growing and care in indoor conditions photo

Irregular stains are scattered over the coffee-brown flat surface of these stones, giving the impression of a squeezed out irregular grid. The diameter of the yellow flower reaches 3 cm.

Lithops Aucamp Lithops Aucampiae

Lithops Aucamp Lithops Aucampiae cultivation and care at home photo

Intense chocolate shade with lighter blotches of leaves resembles chocolate truffles.

This article will consider the issue of the care and maintenance of lithops, in addition, it will talk about diseases and methods of dealing with them. Lithops are plants that belong to succulents; they have two dense leaves, separated by a cut of different depths. These plants are popularly called "living stones". Such plants are very loved by flower growers, but they are of particular interest to collectors.

When did they first become known?

Lithops were first discovered by William Burchell in 1811. He described them in his book of travels in South Africa. And in this description he mentioned the bizarre "living stones", painted their appearance. There were also sketches of these plants, which make it possible to understand what he said about the current lithops ("living stones").

What is this plant?

Lithops is a flower with unique decorative properties. It belongs to succulents, that is, representatives of vegetation that have the ability to accumulate fluid in their body. The "reservoir" is the deciduous part of the plant. The sheets are dense, have a variety of colors and are strewn with spots or other patterns.

Lithops has a small size and is very similar in appearance to a stone. The plant consists of two leaves, which are separated by a depression (or gap). Leaves are renewed throughout the entire period of life. However, the number of leaves remains unchanged. Lithops flowers are somewhat similar to chamomile and are relatively large in comparison with its main body.

A unique property of this plant is its disguise as pebbles. This is especially noticeable in the homeland of its growth, since lithops is very similar to desert African stones, which are somewhat reminiscent of our pebbles.

This very circumstance is the most attractive aspect. Florists are happy to expand and supplement their collections with "living stones". This plant can be attributed to centenarians. With good care and maintenance, lithops can live for about 15 years at home.

Conditions for keeping

Lithops care and maintenance includes abundant lighting. It is very important for them to get enough sunlight, as this is due to their natural habitat.

An ideal place to grow lithops would be one that has plenty of sun, but does not expose the flowers to direct sunlight. This may seem strange, given the fact that they grow in nature under the open sky and the scorching sun.

But there are some nuances that distinguish the cultivation of lithops at home and their livelihoods in natural conditions. First, lithops that grow in the wild rather than in pots have better root cooling. After all, the area of ​​land in the desert does not warm up as intensely as the scanty area of ​​the pot. Secondly, plants in the wild receive sun protection through shade from the surrounding rocks and plants.

Living rocks in their natural habitat tend to grow on slopes that are in the shade. Ventilation is also very important. Good airflow maintains temperature and reduces humidity in the air.

We draw conclusions: if you do not have such a place that it is without direct sunlight, then you will need to protect the flower with something from the activity of sunlight. In this case, "sunbathing" should be at least 5 hours a day. Only then can the plant survive.

In principle, if the lithops is very hot, he lets you know about it. Its skin, which covers the leaves, begins to wrinkle and resemble a “baked apple”. This is a clear sign of water shortage.

Watering "living stone"

The plant is native to the very arid regions of South Africa. There, the lithops flower receives a minimum amount of moisture almost all year round. Now we will look at how to water and care for lithops at home.

There are many species of this plant, so it is difficult to describe the rules for watering each, especially since the climate is different everywhere, and a lot depends on the latter. However, some key aspects can be highlighted given their growth cycle.

An improperly selected watering regime for lithops can lead to plant decay. Moreover, both the root system and the leaves. In this case, it is better to water less than waterlogged. In a plant, the leaves are arranged in such a way that they play the role of a reservoir with water and in case of drought they use these reserves.

During the period of active growth of "living stones" it is necessary to regulate the level of irrigation, starting from the temperature regime of the environment. Naturally, in the summer and the flowering period, watering is more active, and in the cold season, the watering intensity decreases.

It is important! During watering, water should not get into the groove between the leaves. This can provoke rotting. Therefore, it is better to water "from below". It is forbidden to water the lithops during the active sun, it is better to do this in the evening.

But you can still give the average irrigation rates for Russia. This is about once every two weeks. The watering period begins in spring and ends closer to October. Winter, as we have already said, refers to the dormant period, so in winter you should not be zealous with watering, you can even stop altogether. And it should be renewed again only after the change of leaves.

Signs of over-watering can be manifested in the softness of the leaves. They become liquid or jelly-like products. This indicates that you have "drowned" the plant.

Soil and its characteristics

Soil selection is very important for the care and maintenance of lithops. There are a variety of soil “recipes” that have been developed by the growers themselves, and each uses the soil that, in his opinion, is most suitable for lithops.

However, it should be said that the soil should be "light", moisture-permeable and not collect in a heavy lump when watering. This is important, as water should not be trapped in the soil, it should drain off immediately.

If the climate is excessively humid, then drainage stones should be used. But if the climate is very hot and dry, then it is allowed to use a denser soil to retain moisture.

When preparing the soil, it is advisable to add compost.In doing so, you must make sure that it is crumbly enough. You can sift the fertilizer to be sure to remove large particles.

What to prepare the soil from?

Various mixtures and materials can be used to prepare the soil, however, as mentioned earlier, you need to build on the climate in order to determine the density.

One of the best basics for growing lithops is granite soil, but it's not always easy to get it. Too fine sand cannot be used in its pure form, as it has poor drainage properties. But a small amount of sand can be added to the ground pumice stone. A material such as perlite is also suitable for preparing the soil.

Planting lithops in clay soils is also a very bad idea. Such soil has poor air permeability and retains moisture.

Below is the composition of a mixture that is well suited for the care and maintenance of lithops:

• 4 parts of fine river sand;
• 4 parts of coarse river sand;
• 4 parts sifted compost;
• 1 part perlite;
• 1 part vermiculite;
• 1 part coconut fiber

This is just one example of soil preparation. In fact, there are many more “recipes”. But one is better for someone, for someone else. The main thing is to take into account the climatic features of your region.

Pots and materials

When the soil is ready, you need to find a suitable pot for planting lithops. You can use plastic or ceramic containers, but keep in mind that it is better not to plant a flower in clay pots.

Clay pots will draw moisture into themselves, and it will take time for it to evaporate, and this is bad for our flower, especially during periods of cold and high humidity.

The size of the pot also matters. Lithops have rather long roots, so the pot should not be small, especially for an adult plant.

The approximate size of the pot is 12 x 12 x 12 cm. This is enough for the Lithops root system. It is better to choose lighter pots for the care and maintenance of lithops, since the black ones get very hot, and they do not need it.

How to germinate and grow?

Growing lithops from seeds is possible at any time of the year. The main thing is to observe the temperature regime and other features of care. It is most preferable to germinate seeds in early spring, such as mid-April.

Let's consider in more detail how to grow lithops at home.

• Take a small container and fill it with prepared soil, if there is none, then try to find a loose substrate that allows moisture to pass through easily.
• Now plant lithops seeds in this container. Seeds need to be evenly distributed over the surface.
• Cover with glass on top, place in a well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight.
• When you see that the shoots have reached 1-2 mm in diameter, they need to be strengthened with coarse sand so that the flowers grow evenly and do not fall on their side.
• Sprouts are sprayed only after the soil is completely dry. Gradually, as the "living stone" grows, it is necessary to introduce the most abundant watering. Water every three or four days. Can be sprayed overnight.

But you need to remember about the danger of rotting, so be sure to wait until the soil is completely dry! Your climate may be very humid, and you will not need to water every three days, for example, every five days. Correct this data for yourself.

Blooming lithops, why not blooming

For the successful flowering of lithops, it is necessary to follow the rules of not only watering, but also the temperature regime. Ideally, if the air temperature in the warm season does not exceed 27 degrees. Flowers can be taken outside, they love fresh air, but you have to protect them from drafts and direct sunlight.

In winter, the flower rests, and the temperature can be about 10 degrees with a plus mark. It can be lower, but not lower than 8 degrees. Again, watch out for moisture. In winter, it should be even less than on summer days.

It is better to replant flowers once every two years. It is possible every year, but you should use the same soil composition, so as not to experiment again.

Lithops bloom at about three years of age. The flowers are most often yellow or white and appear between the leaves. There are other color options, but this is already a rarity.

The flowering of these plants occurs in August-October, each flower lives from 5 to 10 days and blooms closer to lunchtime.

Most often, lithops form entire thickets, similar to meadows. And they are characterized by weak growth, development and lack of flowering, if planted in free-standing pots. Therefore, if you want to see flowering lithops, then it is more logical to plant them in one common pot - this way they will feel much better.

"Living stones" can be mixed and combined with other succulent species that are similar in content. This will make the pot even more interesting and attractive.

Popular lithops: species and varieties

There are about 40 species of lithops, among which some of the most popular are:

• Lithops is false truncated. Plants of this species are distinguished by a grayish or slightly brownish tint. The surface is stained and has a flat leaf shape. The flowers are bright yellow.
• Lithops Leslie. The most popular of all, as it is the easiest to care for and “forgives” irrigation errors. The plant has yellow or white flowers. The leaves are dark brown, covered with "freckles" of a lighter shade.

• Lithops Aukampi. A large species reaching 4 cm in height and width. The leaves are purplish brown and the flowers are yellow.
• Lithops Optics. This plant is one of the most recognizable species, as the leaves are deeply cut and are dark gray-green in color. There are varieties with a purple leaf. Flowers are white.

In addition to these varieties, there are many more species of lithops and each of them is beautiful in its own way. The care and maintenance of lithops depends on the variety, so it is advisable to choose flowers not only in appearance.

Problems and illnesses

Lithops, like any other plant, are susceptible to disease, and you need to be on the lookout at all times.

The most common problem is the mealybug, which feeds on plant sap. It usually settles on a plant where it is difficult to notice. For example, on roots, in a crevice, after a flower bud has been opened, or in the spaces between old and new leaves.

Mealybugs prefer warm, humid conditions, which makes greenhouse-grown plants particularly vulnerable. It sticks to the plant, and later produces a waxy-like powdery layer that acts as a defense against other parasites. This waxy substance also repels water, so insecticidal sprays usually have no effect. There are some types of insecticides that can penetrate this plaque, but they tend to be quite poisonous.

A less harmful way to fight the parasite is to use rubbing alcohol, which must be applied liberally to the affected area with a brush, cotton swab, or other applicator. The alcohol dissolves their wax coating and kills the pest. However, you must immediately clean the plant with water after treatment. If the pest has settled on the root system, then the plant will have to be dug out of the pot.

Other parasites that attack lithops are much easier to spot. These can be caterpillars and crickets, of course, provided that the plant is kept outdoors. However, if you place flowers not on the ground itself, but on some kind of hill, the problem will be solved by itself.

Lithops can also undergo bacterial and fungal infections. However, this only happens due to improperly selected soil, as well as due to excessive watering.

Conclusion

As you can see from the article, there is nothing supernatural in caring for lithops.Yes, this plant is not the easiest to care for and very finicky in places, but it is very unusual and beautiful. With proper care, it will live from 5 to 15 years, and all this time it will delight you with its exotic look.

Therefore, if you have enough sun and not very high climatic humidity, you can try to grow this interesting flowers.

Lithops are original flowers belonging to the genus of succulent plants. People also call them "living stones". They grow in the sandy deserts of the African continent. There are more than 40 varieties of lithops, but only 15 of them are suitable for breeding as a houseplant. Given the characteristics of this flower and following the rules, it can simply be grown in indoor conditions. The article describes how lithops reproduce by seeds and how to grow them correctly.

…

When to start growing live stones?

Vegetative reproduction of lithops is possible, however, they are mainly grown from seeds. In order to grow healthy lithops, the life cycle of the flower must be taken into account. It is directly related to the length of daylight hours.

Reference. When grown in an apartment, the life cycle of the plant may shift slightly.

The dormant period of the lithops plant falls in the summer.when the longest daylight hours. At this time, a drought occurs in the homeland. But at the end of August, the flower wakes up and blooms. After flowering, leaves begin to change. And only at the end of February, old leaves completely give way to young shoots. It is at this time that sowing of young seeds is recommended.

Step by step instructions on how to grow at home

Germinating Lithops seeds is a painstaking business. However, observing certain rules, a novice gardener will be able to cope with it. The main thing is to properly prepare and take into account the characteristics of this plant. Sowing seeds can be carried out from late autumn to late spring, but the most favorable period is the beginning of March.

Priming

The first step is to prepare the ground. For sowing lithops, the usual peat soil is not suitable. It is necessary to prepare a special mixture that is as similar as possible to the desert soil native to lithops. To prepare it, you need to take:

• 1 part of crushed red brick (the size of the fragments should be about 2 mm);
• 2 parts of sod land;
• 2 pieces of sand;
• 1 part clay;
• 1 part peat.

Stir the ingredients and bake in the oven, then cool and loosen well. At the bottom of the pot, you need to pour drainage from fine gravel, about 25-30% of the height, then the harvested soil and moisten it well. After that, the soil is ready for planting seeds.

Recommendation. Adding ash to the soil mixture will prevent rotting.

For growing lithops at home it is better to choose a pot that will not taper towards the bottom. It's good if it's a wide bowl. The choice of such dishes will provide good ventilation and moisture permeability.

Landing

When choosing seeds, you need to know their age. Lithops seeds remain viable for 10 years, but they best germinate in the third year of storage. How to plant and how to germinate seeds?

1. The seeds must be soaked before planting. To do this, they are placed in a manganese solution for 6 hours, but not more.
2. How to plant? After that, they need to be distributed over the surface of the soil without drying. After planting them, you do not need to sprinkle them with earth on top.
3. To create comfortable conditions, the sown seeds are covered with foil or glass. The container should be well lit, but it should not be in the scorching sun.

From the video you will learn how to sow lithops at home:

Leaving for the first time

A certain microclimate is required for seed germination. When creating it, it is necessary to focus on the conditions in the natural habitat.

Temperature and lighting

Seeds germinate at a temperature of 10-20 degrees. In this case, it is desirable to create temperature drops during the night and daytime. During the day, you need to adhere to a temperature of 28-30, and at night 15-18. This will create conditions that approximate the habitat of lithops in nature.

Important! Lithops do not like high temperatures in confined spaces. It is imperative to ensure the flow of air.

If the seeds were planted in summer, at the age of one month, you can leave them open or make the shelter spacious enough - at least 10 times the size of the bowl in which they grow.

Lithops needs bright lighting all year round. If there is not enough light, the leaves will stretch out and darken.

Air humidity

Once or twice a day, you need to open the seeds, ventilate them for 2-3 minutes and spray them with a spray bottle. It is important that the water droplets are not large, they must imitate dew, otherwise the plant will die from rot. Lithops do not like waterlogging, there is no need to water the ground. With this care, the seeds will germinate in 6-10 days.

After the seedlings have emerged, the number of airings can be increased up to 3-4 times a day, and the airing time can be extended to 20 minutes. Now the soil can not be moistened every day; this should be done only as needed. Moisten only if the soil surface is dry.

Transfer

After the seedlings emerge, the soil can be mulched with small pebbles. First, it will give support to young plants prone to lodging. Secondly, it will prevent rot.

Seedlings need to dive only if they are cramped. However, experts recommend not to do this before the plant overwinters for the first time. In addition, even an adult lithops does not need frequent transplants. If the need for a transplant has arisen, it is better to do this during a period of active growth.

Recommendation. Lithops does not like growing alone. It is advisable to plant them in a group of several or with other undersized succulent plants. It has been proven that they grow much better this way.

Watering and feeding

Watering an adult plant must be very careful. It is better to pour water with a spoon into the soil near the seedlings, or just put the pot for a while in a pan with water. The root system of Lithops is very developed and he himself will take nutrients from the soil. It is necessary to ensure that water does not fall into the hollow between the leaves - this can lead to rotting of the plant. In the autumn-winter period, lithops do not need to be watered at all.

Lithops, like other succulents, is very hardy and does not need constant feeding.... It may be needed only if the plant has not been transplanted into new soil for many years.

From the video you will learn about the features of watering lithops:

Photo

Next, you can take a look at the photo and see how lithops grown from seeds look like:

Can I plant outdoors?

In the period from May to September, lithops can be brought into the fresh air. This will harden the seedlings and promote flowering. However, you should not plant them in open ground.

Reference. In winter, they can simply freeze, he will not like frequent transplants from the pot and back. In addition, rains can fall into the hollow between the leaves, which is harmful for lithops.

Why isn't it growing?

For the proper development of the plant, you need to carefully monitor the soil moisture. Lithops comes from arid places and does not like stagnant moisture, therefore, abundant watering is contraindicated for him. Sometimes it can be wiped off with a damp cloth, but no water should remain on the surface of the plant.

Often it is violation of the watering regime becomes the reason that the small lithops stops growing. If, nevertheless, the soil was waterlogged, it is necessary to completely stop watering and wait until the soil is completely dry.

Disease can also cause stunting. Lithops are quite resistant to disease, especially in hot weather. However, as the temperature drops, they become more susceptible.The most common pests for lithops are:

• Aphid. She sucks the juice from the leaves. In the initial stages, an infusion of hot pepper or garlic will help fight it, but if more serious measures are needed, insecticides (Actellik or Aktara) can be used.
• Spider mite... When a white bloom appears, the plant should be treated with Actellik's solution. Process every 5-7 days.
• Mealybug. If the disease is noticed in the early stages, you can wash the plant with soapy water. In a more advanced case, treatment with Aktara or Phosphamide will help. Process once a week.
• Root rot. To combat it, you need to dig up the plant, examine the roots and remove the areas damaged by the disease. The treated plant roots are immersed in a 2% solution of Bordeaux liquid for half an hour, after which the lithops can be planted in a new soil.

Lithops are amazing plants that amaze with their appearance. They are quite unpretentious to care for, however, with comfortable conditions created, they can grow into a whole colony, capable of delighting with bright flowering.

Lithops are very beautiful unique plants that outwardly resemble stones, inside which a flower has settled. In nature, there are 37 species of these "living stones" from the Aiz family. Each species has its own color, making it invisible in the environment. Growing lithops is easy. Any florist who has had experience of keeping succulents can handle this. The most important rule for caring for "living stones" is moderate watering: they cannot tolerate excessively high moisture.

The natural conditions in which lithops grow are rocky slopes and African deserts, so they are very fond of high temperatures. "Living stones" can withstand temperature drops from +5 to +50 degrees, but they are very afraid of high humidity.

Watering these plants should be abundant so that all the soil in the container is wet, but at the same time all moisture should drain very quickly through the drainage holes. Plants need to be watered every two to three weeks. In the period from January to March, lithops hibernate, so there is no need to water them at all at this time.

Typically, these plants are propagated by cuttings. But you can also grow a "living stone" from seeds.

Existing seeds need to be soaked in water for 4 hours. After that, it is necessary to scatter wet seeds from a bag over the soil surface, and lay a layer of sand 1 mm thick on them. Cover the pot with glass or a thick plastic sheet. Every day, the seeds must be sprayed, and then the greenhouse must be ventilated for 5-10 minutes. Sowing can be done at any time of the year, but Lithops emerge best in mid-July, because their seeds like high temperatures - about + 25-28 degrees.

After two weeks, sprouts will appear, then the glass can be removed from the pot. The container with sprouted seeds must be placed in a bright place, instead of watering, sprinkle them every day. After about 5-6 months, the seedlings can be dived. But the best time to transplant small lithops into separate pots is at the end of March.

Lithops are grown in very poor soil, which is based on sand. The main thing is that it allows air and water to pass through well. You can buy a store mix for cacti for "living stones", add river sand and drainage to it - crushed expanded clay, gravel, pebbles, broken brick. Be sure to lay a layer of stones at the bottom of the pot and on the surface of the soil. Lithops look very nice in a bowl together with other succulents. Such a composition is not only beautiful, but also useful for lithops: neighbors take away excess moisture from them.

In the first year of independent life, lithops do not feed. If lithops are not transplanted into another soil, after a year they begin to fertilize with a nutrient mixture for cacti, half diluted with water. Such feeding is carried out in every month of summer and in the first month of autumn.

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