Care Tips
Light, Soil, Humidity, Water, Temperature
Lithops
LIVING STONES
Lithops are exciting little plants, surprisingly easy to take care of. As long as you have enough light and the right substrate, they thrive when left alone. They grow in the remote deserts of South Africa, blending in with surrounding rocks.
They reproduce by flowering, then splitting down the middle to reveal a larger plant—or multiple little ones—underneath.
-
65-95°F
-
Very low
In the wild, they mostly subside off of morning fog. -
Bright, south-facing window or outdoors. Grow lights when indoors is ideal.
-
In Summer, once a month.
In Winter, pretty much never.
When splitting or flowering, not unless wrinkly.
-
Depends on where you live. In NM, you want 80% rock with 20% soil. This maintains a little moisture in the dry climate. Everywhere else (where humidity is higher), 90% rock with 10% soil.
Recommendations: Pumice, chicken grit, zeolite, lava rock, charcoal, Black Gold Cactus Mix
-
If the plant is splitting, do not help it. Don’t force the petals open
Don’t try to remove flowers after they die, no matter how tempting it may be.
These plants are not like other succulents. Any significant damage to their body will likely result in death.
They should look like the picture on this page with their tops barely above the substrate. If they start growing long, they need more light.Leave them alone. No picking, pulling. Don’t trim the roots. Let them do their own thing.