How to Care for Lithops

Lithops are also called living stones. They have become very popular due to their unusual appearance and because they require very little maintenance.

However, Lithops are known to die a lot. Most Lithop owners have killed at least one. Most of the time time, this is because new Lithop owners do not understand how little care these plants need.

Plant Lithops in a well-draining soil that contains very little organic matter. Be careful not to overwater. Lithops also require very little watering and should not be watered at all when they are dormant. Finally, make sure your Lithops are placed near a south-facing window if grown indoors.

People grow many types of Lithops in many growing conditions, so it is difficult to provide universal advice on how to care for all Lithops. Hopefully, the information provided in this will at least give you an idea of how to take care of your Lithops so you can enjoy them for years to come.

About Lithops

Lithops is a genus of succulents that belong to the Aizoaceae family. The name is derived from the Greek word lithos which means stone and the Greek word ops which means face. Dr. N.E. Brown gave the name Lithops to this group of plants in 1922.

However, Lithops were actually discovered by William J. Burchell, author of Travels of the interior of Southern Africa, in 1811. It was not until 1918 that Dr. Pole Evans “rediscovered” them in the same area in southern Africa.

Lithops are native to the dry regions of southern Africa. In this environment, Lithops blend into their natural surroundings. Otherwise, grazing animals would eat them in order to extract the moisture from the plants.

Although Lithops do not grow very tall, the roots can grow very deep.

Another fascinating aspect of Lithops is its long lifespan. Lithops typically live 40 to 50 years. In 1951, a botanist found a Lithop ruschiorum in southern Africa that was at least 95 years old (Fearn, 1981).

There are nearly 40 species of Lithops, and they come in almost 100 colors and patterns. Some of the species are presented below. These images were obtained from the collection of A. Neumann, B. Pfau, and Y. Shimada.

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Growth Cycle of Lithops

In order to properly care for your Lithops, it is helpful to understand their growing cycle. Lithops have different water requirements depending on where they are in the growth cycle. The following table, which was obtained from Crisan et al. (2015), describes the typical annual cycle of Lithops.

Months	Growing Stage
January – April	The old leaves dry out and new leaves emerge.
May – July	Main growth period
August – September	Period of growth or dormant if very hot
October	Flowering
November – December	Beginning of the dry period and fruit development

Each of these stages is described in further detail below.

Lithop Blooms

Lithops usually need to be at least three to five years old before they flower. Typically, the Lithops you buy at the store have been growing in a nursery for about two years.

I have read several sources that state most lithops flower during the late fall or early winter. However, my lithops flowered in February and again in August. The flowers will stay open during the day and close at night.

How Lithops Grow New Bodies

After flowering, Lithops will begin producing new leaves. During this process, the old leaves will begin to shrivel. This is because the old leaf is supplying nutrients and water to the new leaf. Therefore, you should not remove old/shriveled leaves from your plant during this part of the growing cycle.

Once it looks like there is no more water in the old leaf, it is okay to remove it.

Lithop Dormancy

Many Lithop species go dormant during the summer months. For this reason, you should not water Lithops in the summer.

Growing Cycle that Depends on Length of Daylight

It is important to note that the growing cycle of some species of Lithops depends on the length of daylight rather than the availability of water (Fearn, 1981). Such species include Lithop localis and Lithop comptonii var. comptonii. These species are native to South Africa.

Best Soil Mix For Lithops

Lithops are actually fairly tolerant of soil conditions (Fearn, 1981). In the wild, Lithops tend to grow in alkaline soils at the bottom of limestone hills. Some even grow in soils with concentrations of salt.

Brian Fearn, an author of several works related to Lithops, recommends planting them in sandy loam soils. Others have seemed to have good luck with even coarser soils. Because some species of Lithops are sensitive to overwatering, they should be planted in well-draining soils. A good soil mix for Lithops would consist of pumice, shale, or perlite. Alternatively, you could use cactus/succulent soil mixed with sand.

My Lithops are planted in cactus soil, and they have been doing well for over a year. However, I live in a relatively dry climate. If you live in a location with a humid climate, it is a good idea to plant your Lithops in one of the well-draining mediums listed above. Otherwise, your plants could be susceptible to fungi and root rot.

Lighting Requirements For Lithops

Lithops should receive four to five hours a day. If they are not exposed to enough sunlight, the plants will elongate towards the light. However, Lithops that are exposed to excessive or intense sunlight can burn.

If you are growing your Lithops indoors, you should place them near a south-facing window. However, an unobstructed east-face window is a good alternative (Crisan et al. 2015). This will expose your Lithops to gentler morning sunlight and protect them from the intense afternoon sun.

Ideal Temperature Range For Lithops

Lithops are hardy plants that can survive in extremely hot and dry environments. With the exception of the germination stage of their life, Lithops like warm days and cool nights. They do best when the temperature is between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and when temperatures do not fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter (Crisan et al., 2015).

Lithops should not be exposed to temperatures lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, they could be susceptible to frost damage. If you keep your Lithops indoors, make sure they are not too close to a window during cold winter weather.

Fertilizing Lithops

Lithops require virtually no fertilizer. If you must fertilize, consider using a dilute solution of tomato fertilizer once a year. Make sure that the fertilizer has a low dosage of nitrogen.

Watering Lithops

Lithops’ water requirements vary significantly by species. For example, some species such as Lithop lesliei and Lithop aucampiae are native to areas that receive an average of 30 inches of rainfall per year. In contrast, species such as Lithop francisci, Lithop erniana, Lithop comptonii var. divergens, and Lithop otzeniana are native to areas where it hardly ever rains and are very sensitive to overwatering.

In general, the Lithops sold in nurseries and large box stores need very little water. In general, I recommend watering your Lithops once or twice a month. If you live in a humid climate, consider watering them about once a month. During certain parts of their growth cycle, you should water them even more infrequently.

As discussed above, the Lithop will begin to grow a new leaf after the flowering stage. During this time, the old leaves will start to die. It may seem like the Lithop needs water, but you should not water your Lithop after the flower dies. The old leaves are providing the water that the new leaves need to grow.

After the old leaves have dried out, water your lithops. Water them again if they show signs of wrinkling in the next couple of weeks.

Propagating Lithops

Unlike other types of succulents, Lithops cannot be propagated quickly. They can only be propagated from seeds or the division of existing plants.

Seeds

It can take several months for Lithop seeds to germinate, and the plants grow rather slowly. Growing Lithops from seeds is more economical than propagating from divisions.

To successfully grow Lithops from seeds, complete the following steps:

1. Mix a potting soil that consists of two parts coarse sand, one part peat, and one part garden soil (Fearn, 1981).
2. Fill a pot containing drainage holes with the soil you mixed in step 1.
3. Sprinkle seeds on top of the soil and cover the seeds with a thin layer of sand.
4. Mist the soil with a spray bottle. Cover the pot with plastic wrap, and keep the soil moist throughout the germination period.
5. Put the pot in a warm, bright area, and consider putting a heating pad under the pot.
6. After 12 weeks, the seeds will start to germinate. Some seeds may take much longer to germinate. Remove the plastic wrap once the seeds germinate. Water the seedlings once the top 1/4 inch of soil is dry. Make sure the seedlings are exposed to at least four hours of sunlight each day.

Divisions

You can only propagate succulents using this method when there is a clear split on the Lithops. Remove the plant from its pot, dust off the Lithop, and cut through the plant. Replant each of the Lithops.

Pests

Spider mites are the most common pest problem associated with Lithops. They like to live in the crevice between leaves and in the space between the old leaf and new leaf. If your Lithops have a spider mite problem, consider using Mite-X along the crevices of the plant.

Like other succulents, Lithops can also be susceptible to mealybugs. If mealybugs invade your Lithops, remove the plants from the soil. Then spray it with Confidor and let the Lithops dry out. Repot the plants and water.

Other possible pests include aphids, snails, and thrips. In some cases, mice and other small animals may eat Lithops because of their moisture content.