Lithop care

When you purchase new Lithops or find another reason to repot them, you should try to do it during a growing season (spring or autumn).

The best time to replant succulents is right before you water them.

Watering helps promote new root growth, and helps to stabilize succulents in a new pot.

However, if you need to replant Lithops at a time when you should not be watering (summer or winter), just don’t water it. Lithops Watering This is the most important part of Lithops care and the one that most people get wrong.

By the time succulent enthusiasts acquire their first split rocks, they have probably been growing for a while.

They know all about basic succulent care and have propagated many a fat plant.

But Lithops do not follow those same rules. They have a very distinct seasonal cycle that determines watering schedules.

Summer:

Do NOT water.

They are dormant during the summer, and any watering could kill them.

They expect this season to be bone-dry with no humdity or rain.

Watering will cause them to become mushy and rot.

Make an exception only if they become very wrinkled then you can water a very small amount of water and they will plump up again within a week.

Autumn:

In the early autumn, Lithops resume growth.

The first sign is often a bud that forces its way out from between the leaves.

This shoot becomes a flower, and you can often see the beginnings of new leaves around this time.

Jump-start the growing process by giving it a full watering at the beginning of this season, entirely drenching the plant.

Continue watering as necessary.

Remember to never water a succulent if the soil is still damp from the last time.

Winter:

Do NOT water.

During this season, the new pair of leaves are drawing water from the old ones.

They will appear to shrivel over time, and the new pair will steadily grow.

If you water, the old leaves will try to drink it, which ultimately confuses the plant's growth and will cause both sets of leaves to die.

Just leave your Lithops entirely untouched during this season.

Additionally, make sure they are not exposed to temperatures below 55°F.

They are made of mostly water, and do not do well in cold temperatures.

Spring:

Once the old leaves have shriveled up into paper-like husks, you may finally remove them and resume watering.

Water lightly to encourage the new bud to begin growth, then gradually increase it to full waterings as necessary.

If you follow these guidelines on watering, your Lithops should live a full life (40 to 50 years).

Be aware that for some Lithops watering may only be necessary 3 or 4 times a year.

For others, you can water them every couple of weeks during their growing seasons (spring and autumn).

When it is time to water, water them like any other succulent pour water near the base of the plant until the soil is drenched and water begins to drain out of the bottom.

If in doubt, don’t water until you see visible wrinkling on the leaves.

You will still have plenty of time to rectify any thirst problems before permanent damage comes to your plant.

If possible, water in the morning.

This allows the water to evaporate during the day, and less harmful moisture is retained in the roots.

Lithops Sun

Like all succulents, Lithops love lots of sun.

Place them in a place with lots of direct light.

If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, a south-facing window is ideal.

Flip that if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

Lacking an ideal window, a grow light might be necessary to supplement their light.

If your plant begins to grow elongated, or leaning to one side, it is suffering from etiolation.

While not inherently harmful, it is not especially aesthetic.

If you are just bringing home a new pal from the store, be cautious about introducing it to bright light too quickly.

Sun burn is a very real issue for succulents.

Either use a shade cloth initially, or put them in an area with less direct sun.

You will want to work them up to about 5 hours a day of direct light, and the remainder of the day in indirect light.

Proper lighting is important in maintaining the vibrant coloring of succulents.