Guys look at this new plant I got what are your opinions ...
Guys look at this new plant I got what are your opinions on it
0ft to light, direct
5” pot with drainage
Last watered 5 days ago
1
Do you mean opinions on the health of your particular plant, or of the species in general..? I will tell you that several people on here who are very big into succulents and knowledgeable about their care have confessed to killing their lithops lol 😂 So, being an experienced plant parent doesn't necessarily equal success with these weirdos. Somehow I've managed to keep my lithops going for almost two years, but I think it's more luck than anything 😛
Lithops are an odd plant with some specific needs that set them apart from other plants. They don't have just one "active" growing season and one "dormant" season a year, but several shorter periods of activity/dormancy. They grow new "leaves" by a process called splitting, where the old leaves begin shriveling up as new leaves push up from inside the old ones. One of the most important parts of lithops care is NOT watering them while they're actively splitting. As the old leaves shrivel up, the new leaves absorb all the moisture and nutrients they need from them. If you water during this process, there's a good chance they'll rot. When the old leaves have almost completely dried up and disappeared, you can resume normal (light, infrequent) watering.
I'd highly recommend transferring them to a small (3 inch) terracotta pot and some gritty, well-draining soil in the near future. Terracotta pots are porous, which helps the soil dry out faster. For the soil, mix cactus or succulent soil with equal parts perlite. As for light, they can burn if they get too much intense direct sun, and start to stretch out if they don't get enough. I see your plant card says they're in a north-facing window getting 6+ hours of direct sun?? That can't be right since you're in the northern hemisphere 🤔Do the sun's rays come into direct contact with the plant in the morning or the afternoon? If it's morning, it's fine where it is; if it's getting direct sun in the afternoon, it might get scorched (afternoon sun is stronger than morning sun). Lithops like lots of bright, indirect light.
Let me know if you have any questions! 🪴💚
Lithops are an odd plant with some specific needs that set them apart from other plants. They don't have just one "active" growing season and one "dormant" season a year, but several shorter periods of activity/dormancy. They grow new "leaves" by a process called splitting, where the old leaves begin shriveling up as new leaves push up from inside the old ones. One of the most important parts of lithops care is NOT watering them while they're actively splitting. As the old leaves shrivel up, the new leaves absorb all the moisture and nutrients they need from them. If you water during this process, there's a good chance they'll rot. When the old leaves have almost completely dried up and disappeared, you can resume normal (light, infrequent) watering.
I'd highly recommend transferring them to a small (3 inch) terracotta pot and some gritty, well-draining soil in the near future. Terracotta pots are porous, which helps the soil dry out faster. For the soil, mix cactus or succulent soil with equal parts perlite. As for light, they can burn if they get too much intense direct sun, and start to stretch out if they don't get enough. I see your plant card says they're in a north-facing window getting 6+ hours of direct sun?? That can't be right since you're in the northern hemisphere 🤔Do the sun's rays come into direct contact with the plant in the morning or the afternoon? If it's morning, it's fine where it is; if it's getting direct sun in the afternoon, it might get scorched (afternoon sun is stronger than morning sun). Lithops like lots of bright, indirect light.
Let me know if you have any questions! 🪴💚
