Lithops are succulents belonging to the family Aisaceae, or mesembryanthemum. These amazing plants look like pebbles, which is why they are called “living stones.”
Exotic plants are dwarfs. Their height does not exceed three to four centimeters.
The body of “living stones” is formed by paired fleshy leaves that grow together at the base. The stem is missing. The color of plants can vary greatly depending on the color of the soil. It can be green, yellow, gray, brown, brown, beige, pink, red, purple, blue. The unique leaves of Lithops (convex or flat) are covered with various patterns. Every spring, old leaves are replaced with new ones.
The flowers of these original representatives of the plant world resemble chamomile in appearance. They are quite large (2–4 centimeters in diameter) and exceed the size of the succulent itself. The buds are laid in late summer or autumn. Flowering lasts about 10 days. The buds close at night and open in the afternoon. Exotics bloom annually, but only after reaching 3–4 years of age. Able to live 15–18 years.
Please note that “living stones” contain toxins. Therefore, you need to keep them out of the reach of small children.
There are 37 known species of Lithops, which, due to their tendency to modification, can only be classified by specialists.
The following species are most often grown indoors:
- Beautiful. Brown-yellow leaves reach 3 centimeters in length. White flowers emit a light, pleasant aroma.
- Divided. Green leaves (their length is 1–3 centimeters) are covered with gray-green spots. The flowers are yellow.
- Soleros. The length of the leaves is 2–2.5 centimeters. The side part is painted gray, and the top part is olive green and has dark spots.
- False truncated. The leaves are brownish or grayish, and may have a pinkish tint. The top surface is covered with dots or lines. The length of the leaves is 1–3 centimeters. The flowers are bright yellow.
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Botanical description
Lithops is a genus of succulents, it belongs to the Aizaceae family. The height and diameter of the plant do not exceed 5 cm.
- The leaves are fleshy, fused at the base, separated by a hollow slit. The leaf plates are dense, can be green, brown, gray, red-brown, covered with spots and patterns.
- The peduncle appears from the hollow in late summer - autumn. The flowers are white, yellow or orange, up to 3 cm in diameter.
- The root system is long and branched.
Forced to adapt to a dry climate, the plant has an unusual development cycle - every year an old pair of leaves is replaced by a new one.
Varieties
If about forty species grow in natural conditions, then in indoor floriculture a dozen to one and a half popular species and hybrids are grown. Let's look at the most famous varieties of “living stones”.
Aucamp
The leaves have a rounded upper part, reaching four centimeters in width. The main color is green, but there are varieties of gray-blue color. And there are brown spots scattered on the top. The gap between the leaves is deep. The flowers are large and yellow.
Leslie
It is distinguished by its small size - the diameter of the upper part is from 1 to 2 cm. Colors: gray; brown with a pink tint; coffee with milk; reddish green. The upper part is covered with marble stains of a darker color. The size of the flowers exceeds the diameter of the leaves, reaching five centimeters. Yellow or white flowers emit a light scent.
Most suitable for beginner gardeners, as it tolerates errors in watering more easily than other types.
Marble
The gray leaves expand upward, reaching two centimeters in diameter. The upper part is covered with a marble pattern, which gives the species its name. Flowers are white, 5 cm in diameter.
Olive green
The olive green color of the leaves at the top is complemented by spots. Plant dimensions: height – 2 cm, width – 1.5-2 cm. It is distinguished by a small depth of the gap between the leaves, not exceeding 5 mm. Flowers are yellow.
This may be interesting: Sedum or Sedum - photos of species and varieties with descriptions
Optics
The leaf size is 2 cm. The color of the leaves ranges from light green to gray-green. There is a subspecies with purple leaves. The leaves are separated by a deep cleft. Flowers are white.
Beautiful
Size: height - up to 3 cm, and diameter - up to 2.5 cm. It is distinguished by a deep cleft between the leaves. The leaves are yellow-brown, covered with dark sinuous lines at the top. The flowers are white, with a pleasant scent.
Pin-shaped
The red-brown fleshy leaves are about 2.5 cm in diameter. The top of the plant is flattened, covered with dark brown grooves and papillae, which makes the surface rough. The yellow-orange flowers reach four centimeters in diameter.
Divided
The leaves measure 3 cm in height and about 2 cm in diameter. The leaves are separated by a deep gap, practically not merging with each other. The color of the leaves is green with the addition of gray. The upper part is beveled. The small flowers are yellow.
Soleros
The olive-colored leaves have the following dimensions: height – 3 cm, diameter – 2.5 cm. The crevice between the leaves is small. The flat top is covered with darker spots. White flowers grow up to four centimeters.
False truncated
Leaf dimensions: height – 4 cm, diameter – 3 cm. Color: brown, gray and pink. The flat top is covered with a thin pattern of a darker shade. The gap between the leaves is narrow and deep. The flowers are golden yellow and reach 4 cm.
Varieties for indoor keeping
About 40 species of Lithops are known, but much fewer are grown at home. Varieties differ in different sizes, leaf and flower colors.
The most popular of them:
- Aucapm;
- Beautiful;
- divided;
- false truncated;
- brownish;
- olive green;
- Leslie;
- Optics;
- Soleros and others.
Lithops is undemanding in care, but you still need to follow some rules for the plant to feel good.
Read more about varieties suitable for indoor growing here.
Lithops is not afraid of heat and temperature changes. In summer it will grow well at temperatures of 22°C and above, but it is still not worth bringing it to 40°C. In winter, you need cooler air - 10-15°C, but not lower than 7°C.
How to water and spray?
Lithops prefer dry air, so they are not sprayed even in extreme heat. Water for irrigation should be filtered and warm.
Plants should be watered rarely, but abundantly, and at the same time make sure that water does not get on the leaves, especially in the gap.
In the first half of summer, lithops has a dormant period and does not require watering. From mid-August, watering is gradually increased to 2 times a month, and then reduced again to stop by the beginning of winter. With the onset of spring, they begin to water the plant again, bringing it to the usual rate - once every two weeks, and by summer they again stop watering completely.
Lithops diseases
With good care, the Lithops flower does not get sick, but with excessive or improper watering it can become affected by rot. This is the most common disease of the Lithops flower, especially among beginner succulent lovers. If, during watering, water gets on the leaves and in the gap between them, the above-ground part of the plant may rot. With excessive watering, lithops suffer from root rot.
In the first case, it is very difficult to save the lithops. If the roots are damaged, stop watering, remove the plant from the pot and remove all rotten roots. In case of severe damage, you can wash the root system with a solution of potassium permanganate. After this, the plant is transplanted into fresh soil.
Priming
For lithops, store-bought soil for succulents or other universal soil that does not contain peat is suitable. You can also prepare the soil mixture yourself. It should be light and water-permeable.
To do this, mix turf soil with coarse sand in equal proportions. Another substrate option is sheet soil, brick chips, sand, clay and coal (2: 2: 4: 1: 1).
The resulting mixture is calcined in the oven for at least 30 minutes.
Flowering and dormant period
The flowering period occurs in summer or autumn (depending on the variety). At the end of August, a peduncle forms and in the fall you can admire yellow, white or orange flowers. Flowering lasts about two weeks, and the buds close at night to bloom again by noon.
The dormant period of Lithops is divided into two parts: summer and winter. At this time, its growth completely stops. The summer dormant period lasts from June-July to mid-August. The plant's winter rest extends from late autumn to early spring.
Caring for lithops at home
Temperature
In the warm season, lithops is not afraid of heat and drought. At the same time, he can stay in the heat for a long time and nothing will happen to him. In connection with this summer, you can not pay much attention to the air temperature in the room: it can vary from 23 degrees and above. In winter, when the plant’s development slows down, the flower is transferred to a cooler room, where the air temperature should be between 12–20 degrees.
Interestingly, this plant responds well to temperature changes. That is why experienced flower growers advise removing the pot with succulent from the windowsill to the floor at night, where the air temperature is slightly lower.
Spraying
It is recommended to moisten homemade lithops from a spray bottle only in the following cases:
- during the molting period, only if wrinkling of the body of the bush is observed;
- shortly before the start of the dormant period, when a new young body is formed;
- in the first weeks of August, spraying is carried out in the mornings, trying to imitate dew.
Remember that when moistening the bush you must use a fine spray. In this case, there should be enough moisture so that the lithops can dry quickly (in less than 1 hour).
Illumination
This succulent plant is very light-loving. If he lacks sunlight even a little, this will lead to slower growth. A balcony, an open sunny window, or a terrace are perfect for lithops, and the bushes should be covered for a short time from the scorching rays of the midday sun.
In winter, the bush is provided with additional lighting. To do this, it is recommended to use phytolamps installed at a distance of 100 mm from the succulent. If we are talking about recently emerged seedlings, then this distance should be approximately 50 mm.
In the store, lithops are usually kept in slight shade. Therefore, after you buy it, you will need to gradually accustom it to direct sunlight. If you immediately place it on a sunny windowsill, this may cause burns on the surface of the foliage.
Watering
An important rule when moistening and watering a bush is to ensure that there is no stagnation of water in the section of the leaf plates. Try not to let the liquid fall on the plant when watering, and also use such an amount of moisture so that it has time to quickly absorb into the substrate, and does not stand on its surface for several hours.
When watering, try to ensure that water only falls on the surface of the substrate between the bushes. If you do not adhere to this rule, this may cause rot on the living stone or the formation of burns (only if the bush is in direct sunlight). Even despite the wrinkling of the leaf plates, the succulent plant is watered with a small amount of water, and the substrate should be wet to a depth of approximately 10 mm.
Experienced gardeners recommend using a small syringe for children for watering. Thanks to it, the substrate can be moistened by drops and very carefully, without causing harm to the succulent.
Choosing a pot
A pot suitable for lithops should be such that its roots are neither too cramped nor too spacious. A wide, low pot is perfect for the plant, in which you can plant several bushes at once. This planting will speed up the development of lithops.
soil mixture
To plant and replant home lithops, you can take a purchased ready-made universal substrate for cacti. You can also use another ready-made soil mixture, the main thing is that it does not contain peat.
You can prepare the substrate yourself by combining gravel chips (or sand), brick chips, leaf soil, charcoal and clay in a ratio of 4:2:2:1:1. Before planting, it is recommended to disinfect the substrate. To do this, it is placed in a heated oven and calcined for 30 minutes. Don’t forget to place a layer of expanded clay drainage at the bottom of the pot. If desired, after planting, you can sprinkle with a layer of small pebbles 10 mm thick.
Fertilizer
Lithops does not need frequent feeding, especially if it is replanted every year. Fertilizer is added to the substrate only if the succulent has not been replanted for more than one year and the soil mixture has begun to deplete. For feeding, a special fertilizer for cacti is best suited. For live stone, ½ part of the dose recommended by the manufacturer is enough (look on the packaging).
Replanting after purchase
A living stone purchased in a specialized store needs to be transplanted as soon as possible with a complete replacement of the substrate. The fact is that lithops intended for sale are most often planted in a moist peat soil mixture. Since this substrate does not have very high drainage properties, the plant can suffer greatly and even die because of this.
After you remove the bush from the substrate, using a hard brush or toothpick, very carefully remove all the old soil mixture from the roots. If the soil mixture in the pot was wet, then the root system will need to be thoroughly dried before planting. Plant the bush in a new pot with a suitable substrate, while its roots should be straightened during planting. Pour the substrate into the container without compacting it, and the root collar of the bush should not be closed. To avoid the plant falling on its side, it can be “propped up” with a small stone. Remember that it is forbidden to water a planted bush for several days.
Planting LARGE LITHOPS. I answer your questions
Lithops transplantation
Such a succulent plant should be replanted only when its overgrown roots become too crowded in the container. During transplantation, some of the roots can be cut off if desired. However, if the roots are not injured and completely healthy, then it is better not to cut them off at all.
Experts advise planting several bushes in one pot at once, and the distance between them should be at least 10–15 mm. All gaps are filled with soil mixture, which is not compacted. However, try not to leave any voids. Transplanted succulents are not watered for several days. Such bushes will bloom after about 1 year, in the next cycle.
LITHOPS. Transplantation and useful tips for caring for Lithops
Trimming
There is no need to carry out formative or sanitary pruning of indoor lithops. The bush is able to independently get rid of leaf plates that have begun to fade, but it is highly undesirable to remove them with your own hands.
Wintering
In winter, it may seem that Lithops is at rest, but this is far from the case. A very important process takes place inside the plant during this period, namely, new young leaf plates are laid and formed. Their relatively rapid development and growth are possible thanks to the resources available from old, fading leaves.
In the wild, the end of the “molting” process occurs during the rainy season. Under the influence of precipitation, a wilted pair of leaf blades cracks, and new young leaves appear inside. In Lithops growing in indoor culture, you can see how young leaves grow strongly in a short time, while the old ones completely wither and become more like skin.
During the “molting” period, there is no need to take special care of the plant. However, until new leaves are fully formed, it is strictly forbidden to moisten the substrate in the pot.
Rest period
The real dormant period for such a succulent plant is observed in spring and summer. It begins immediately after the “slow” growing season, which is observed in the winter months, ends.
At this time, the growth of the bush becomes very slow, it accumulates strength to form flowers in the fall. There is no need to feed a dormant bush. You should also avoid any watering, as it can cause rot on the flower, which can destroy it. However, if the young leaves begin to wrinkle, then you need to water very sparingly and the plant will quickly return to normal.
Bloom
In order to fully understand all the characteristic features of the flowering period of such a succulent plant as lithops, you first need to understand the main phases of its growth and development:
- At the beginning of June, Lithops experiences a cessation of growth and development and begins a period of rest. At this time, fertilizers cannot be added to the soil mixture, and it is also prohibited to moisten it.
- The resumption of watering the succulent occurs in mid-August. This leads to the bush awakening and continuing its growth. At this time, you can notice that the cut between the two leaves has become larger and a peduncle has begun to form. In autumn you will be able to admire the flowers of this unusual plant.
- In winter, the plant experiences a third phase of the cycle, which is called forced. At this time, the bush begins to grow more slowly, and it also undergoes a change of leaf plates, or “molting.”
- At the beginning of March, the old leaf blades become translucent skin. After some time, it completely fades and young leaves can be seen under it.
The life cycle of this plant is unusual. However, this cycle may vary slightly among different species and varieties of lithops. For example, in mid-latitudes a bush may bloom not in autumn, but in the middle of summer. But this is only possible if the bush was provided with good additional lighting in winter, and also if its leaf plates were renewed ahead of schedule.
Lithops flowering lasts about 2 weeks. The bushes bloom at the age of 3–5 years, and their flowers are chamomile-shaped, yellow or white in color. The opening of the buds is observed closer to noon, and in the evening they close. In a faded bush, the old leaf plates move even further away from each other, and a new pair of relatively actively growing leaves appears between them. In this case, in place of the flower, the formation of a seed fruit is observed, which ripens over several months.
FLOWERING Lithops. Why Lithops don't bloom
Transplantation after purchase and more
The purchased lithops is immediately replanted, completely replacing the soil, since the store-bought substrate is too heavy and is not suitable for long-term development of the plant.
Subsequently, succulents are replanted every three to four years to avoid soil depletion.
The best time for this is early spring.
- First, prepare a new pot, a couple of centimeters wider than the previous one.
- Fill in a drainage layer of expanded clay or crushed brick, and then the prepared soil mixture.
- Water the plant, remove it from the old pot and carefully clean the roots from the soil with a toothpick.
- A lithops with straightened roots is placed in the depression made and sprinkled with earth up to the root collar. You can sprinkle a little sand on top or lay small pebbles.
- The transplanted plant is not watered for several days.
Possible problems
It happens that inexperienced gardeners complain about the problem of a succulent. Meanwhile, if you properly care for the plant, problems can be avoided. Let's look at the most common violations and their causes:
- new leaves are smaller than the previous ones - a failure in the process of changing old leaves;
- the leaves are wrinkled - not enough watering during the dormant period, or an attack by spider mites;
- the roots began to rot - the consequences of being in a wet peat soil mixture;
- the leaves have swollen and begun to burst - the succulent is over-watered;
- “rusty” spots on the sheets – improper watering;
- patterns on the leaves turn pale - lack of sun;
- does not bloom - too much fertilizer or improper conditions for keeping lithops during wintering;
- Shoots do not appear when propagated by seeds - the seeds are waterlogged or planted too deeply;
- the seedlings are stretched out - there is not enough light;
- green deposits on the soil - waterlogging, inadequate drainage.
If you do not water your lithops correctly, your plant may be attacked by wet rot. The plant begins to wither before our eyes, the leaves lose their elasticity, become thinner, and emit a sharp, repulsive odor. The rotting cannot be stopped. The only thing you can do is remove the affected areas with a perfectly sharpened knife, buy a new pot, and replace the soil mixture.
Before buying lithops, study the description of the species, look at the photo and choose the most suitable plant. You might be interested in the idea of creating a lithops mix by placing several varieties in one succulent garden. This is not only beautiful, but also convenient, because regardless of the variety, living stones are grown the same way.
Reproduction
Lithops can be propagated by seeds and cuttings, with the seed method being the main one.
Growing from seeds
- Purchased seeds are soaked for several hours in warm water to speed up germination.
- The seeds are placed on previously disinfected and moistened soil without being buried.
- They are covered with glass or film on top and placed in a warm place, ventilated regularly.
- After germination, the film is removed and the soil is moistened with a spray bottle.
- When the seedlings grow to 10 mm, a layer of expanded clay is added to the surface of the ground, and after a year the grown lithops are planted in separate containers.
Plant side shoots
This breeding option is rarely used. It happens that when the foliage changes, not one, but 2-3 pairs of new leaves are formed. When replanting, such a plant can be divided and planted in separate containers.
Lithops pests
The pests of lithops are the same as those of other indoor plants, most often they are mealybugs and spider mites.
If strange whitish lumps, plaque or cobwebs appear on the surface of the leaves, you need to carefully examine the lithops for pests. In case of minor damage, mechanical removal of parasites helps: the leaves of the lithops can be thoroughly wiped with a damp cloth or washed very carefully, being careful not to wet the soil too much. If there are a lot of pests, you need to use any suitable preparation: Actellik, Aktara, Fitoverm (4).
Useful video
The video provides important tips for caring for the plant:
Lithops is an interesting and unpretentious plant that even a novice gardener can grow. If all care recommendations are followed correctly, it will delight you with its unusual appearance and even flowering for a long time.
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