Lithops, a type of succulent, is often called "Living Stone" due to its striking resemblance to rocks. These plants can live up to 40 or 50 years, grow slowly, and are non-toxic to humans and pets, making them ideal indoor plants.

Here, we address common questions about caring for Lithops and provide solutions to help you maintain Lithops health and appearance:

Problem 1: Lithops are becoming leggy

After Lithops becomes leggy, it becomes less attractive and may compress baby Lithops, inhibiting their growth. We will explain the reasons and solutions, including watering, sunlight, soil, and other factors.

Leggy growth in Lithops is irreversible. Before the condition becomes severe, adjusting environmental factors can halt getting Leggy.

Reason 1: Improper Watering

Improper Watering generally refers to overwatering. Overwatering will cause Lithops to leggy, and leggy lithops will swell and squeeze baby lithops.

Poor water absorption at the root level can also lead to root rot.

Correct watering method for Lithops:

● Avoid watering after Lithops' flowers begin to die.

● Water only after Lithops has wholly shed its old skin.

● Determine watering needs by observing if the sides of Lithops appear wrinkled.

When watering, saturate the soil until it is moist and excess water drains from the bottom. Check for water in the saucer beneath the pot and ensure good ventilation after watering. Morning watering is recommended to facilitate evaporation.

Reason 2: Insufficient Sunlight

Inadequate sunlight results in poor photosynthesis and evaporation, causing leggy and a greenish color.

Lithops require 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight daily, supplemented with indirect light.

Because the morning sunlight is gentler, it is recommended to expose Lithops to direct sunlight before noon and indirect sunlight in the afternoon.

In hot tempeture, direct sunlight can hurt Lithops, leading to melting and death. If you place Lithops in direct sunlight, it's advisable to use shade cloth in the afternoon or noon during summer or move Lithops to a shaded area. Additionally, air conditioning can help cool Lithops down.

Reason 3: Poor Soil Drainage

Lithops thrive in well-draining soil to prevent getting leggy. Use specialized succulent soil or create a mixture with 50% hard particles (such as pumice or volcanic rock), 20-30% soft particles (like loam or clay), and the remainder with peat or coconut coir.

When planting Lithops, please ensure the tops are positioned slightly above the soil surface rather than level with it, unlike in their natural habitat. This prevents the Lithops from potentially rotting due to excess moisture in the soil.

You can use topdressing soil to beautify the Lithops, but be cautious when choosing something other than sharp-edged stones.

Reason 4: Pot

Pot drainage significantly impacts water absorption by plants. Choose pots with drainage holes to prevent Lithops from getting leggy and root rot.

You can add a layer of drainage stones or porous materials for pots without drainage holes at the bottom.

Recommend choosing pots that are only slightly larger (about 10% more volume) than the plant's size. Wide-mouthed pots facilitate easier watering without wetting the plant's surface.

Question 2: Can Leggy Lithops be treated by beheading or burying them in soil?

The critical thing is Leggy growth is irreversible; you cannot revert it to its original appearance. However, we can prevent leggy Lithops from squeezing baby Lithops.

A.Beheading

Cutting off the top part of Lithops may or may not be effective. Severe restriction of baby Lithops' growth inside can render this method unsuccessful.

Carefully locate the position of the baby Lithops with your hand before proceeding with the cutting to avoid accidental injury.

B. Burying Lithops in soil

Burying leggy Lithops in the soil is not recommended as it can easily damage the plant's epidermis and introduce infection, resulting in no actual reduction in apparent length.

Question 3: Can Lithops be split?

Under normal circumstances, Lithops naturally shed their old skins without intervention.

The mother Lithops provides nutrients to the baby Lithops. If you split the Lithops, it may affect the health of the baby Lithops and increase the risk of wound infection.

If Lithops leggy occurs without severe issues, splitting can promote early shedding and ensure the health of baby Lithops.

Steps:

1. Check for a noticeable indication of developed baby Lithops.

2. Use disinfected hands to pry open Lithops along the central seam gently.

3. Avoid complete detachment to maintain nutrient supply from the leggy outer part.

If possible use a small stick to gently prop open the separated leaves to facilitate early light exposure for the baby Lithops. Be cautious not to damage the bases during this process.

After splitting, ensure the separated Lithops remains well-ventilated and receives ample sunlight to quickly dry the wound.

Question 4: How can root growth in Lithops be encouraged?

Succulents naturally have slow root growth, and Lithops are particularly challenging. To promote root growth during repotting:

A. Use pure granular soil (e.g., loam or pumice).

B. Wet the soil thoroughly in the pot.

C. Plant the trimmed and dried succulent in the pot.

D. Place the pot in a cool, ventilated area.

E. Water sparingly until roots develop, usually within a week.

For more information on caring for Lithops, visit our blog here.

We will be delighted if you share experiences or ask questions about Lithops care in the comments section. Let's learn together!