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Living Stones: When in Doubt Do Not Water

Lithops, also known as living stones, are succulent plants from deserts that receive little to no water. They can survive over a year without rain. The plant lives underground with only a single pair of exposed leaves that function as windows for photosynthesis. When potting lithops, use a well-draining soil mixture and plant the lithop dry, watering sparingly around 3-6 times per year during its growth period from July to January. Lithops take 3-4 years to mature and may divide every 1-2 years after.

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84 views1 page

Living Stones: When in Doubt Do Not Water

Lithops, also known as living stones, are succulent plants from deserts that receive little to no water. They can survive over a year without rain. The plant lives underground with only a single pair of exposed leaves that function as windows for photosynthesis. When potting lithops, use a well-draining soil mixture and plant the lithop dry, watering sparingly around 3-6 times per year during its growth period from July to January. Lithops take 3-4 years to mature and may divide every 1-2 years after.

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skoiper
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Collectors Corner Fact Sheet

Living Stones
Living stones (Lithops) belong to
the mesembryanthemum family
and is the most extreme member of
the group. They come from deserts
that receive almost no water and
can survive a year or more with no
rain. The plant lives underground
with only a single pair of leaves
exposed. The light penetrates the
windo ws on the leaf and
photosynthesis occurs inside the
leaf.

The plant you receive has been bare rooted as it would fall out of its pot when
transported in the mail. Pot the plant in any sandy well drained mix, coarse sand
can be added to be up to 50% of the mix, this however is not necessary. The plant
should be planted dry and not watered. About 50% of the plant should remain
above the soil. After one week a small watering, enough only to penetrate 2cm
into the soil is required. The Lithop can be watered about 3 to 6 times per year.
The watering period is during the growth period from July to January, from March
the plants flower, replace old leaves and divide, during this period they do not
require water. A firm plant has enough water in it to sustain itself. A Lithop takes
3 to 4 years to mature to about 2 to 3 cm across, after this it may divide every year
or two.

When in doubt do not water


Position Lithops must be grown in some sunlight, a sunny window indoors or a
covered outdoor area will do well. If the plant grows tall it is to dark. Outdoors it
must be out of the rain and preferably in a dry position. In window sills check the
temperature in summer, if it is very hot the plant may suffer.

Pests & Diseases


Lithops have no pests but can easily die if over watered or kept to wet. Once the
rot they will not recover.

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