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Lithops Care – How to Grow Living Stones

Lithops, a variety of succulent from South Africa, has the common name living stone. 

The term living stones seems to be a paradox?  How can a stone be alive, you might ask?  

Keep reading to find out more about his unusual plant.

Lithops, commonly known as living stones, are an interesting succulent that makes a great house plant.

Succulents like lithops are drought smart plants that are super easy to grow and make fantastic houseplants.  Be sure to check out my tips for how to care for succulents.

This interesting succulent has a shape that resembles a cloven hoof, and it looks right at home in any rocky or sandy garden setting.

You will find them in garden centers and big box stores in their garden area year round.

They make a wonderful indoor plant. The plant has many common names – flowering stones, pebble plants, mimicry plants and of course, the most commonly used one – Living Stones.

Lithops were discovered in the early 1811 by John Burcell on a trip to South Africa. He picked up what he thought was an oddly shaped pebble and discovered that it was actually a living plant.

Interestingly, lithops are know in South Africa by hoof names, rather than stone monikers.

There, they are called beeskloutjie – cattle hoof, skaappootjie – sheep hoof, and perdeklou – horse’s hoof, because of their similarity to cloven hooves.

Lithops are very popular with collectors of succulents plants.

Tips for Growing Lithops

Size

These plants tend to the small side, rarely growing more than an inch about the soil.  They will spread outward though, often forming clusters of the stone like formations.

The width of each plant can be 1-3″.

Since they are so small, they make ideal indoor plants. They live for a long time – up to 50 years!  

It is possible for the plant to live in one pot for 10-20 years which makes them very easy to care for.

Even they don’t need to be repotted into larger pots, they benefit from having their soil changed.

Lithops - Living Stone

Flowers

The flowers of most Lithops appear in the late fall and early winter. Flowers are daisy like in orange, yellow and white shades with many petals.

The flowers will open in on sunny days and then close later in the day, like a shamrock does. (This trait is called nyctinasty.)

Flowers appear in the fissure between the leaves. Some are lightly scented. The flowers range from 1/2″ to 1 1/2″.  Lithops Salicola in flower

If you have a cluster of living stones, the flower formation can cover the whole plant, hiding the small living stone beneath them as this Lithops Dorotheae in flower shows.Lithops Dorotheae in flower

Colors

Lithops come in subtle colors.  You will find shades of gray, rust, green, brown and pink. They also have differences in texture and leaf patterning.

The leaves can contain lines, patches and dots.

This helps them mimic their surroundings. This smooth skinned pink variety is called Lithops Optica Rubra.  It has just finished floweringLithops Optica Rubra after flowering

Soil and Watering

Root system

There is no actual stem in this plant.  The fissure a the top of the plant is actually a division between two leaves, which look more like lobes.

The root of the plant joins directly to the leaves above the soil area.

The root system is large compared to the plant, so grow them in a 3-5 inch pot. Lithops root system

Soil Needs

Well draining soil is a must.  The plant does when when grown in cactus soil.  Adding sand, perlite or other gritty material to normal potting soil helps drainage. too.

Plant so that the leaf lobes sit just slightly above the soil level.

I like to add gravel to my plants as top dressing for a natural look.Use rocks for a natural look

Water needs

Lithops are able to survive in very dry areas. They have a capacity to store water. Almost the entire plant is devoted to just this function.

In the wild, the thick leaves of the plant can store water for months without rain.

When there is a drought, they will shrivel and shrink below the soil level.  It is important to remember this.  The most common problem with caring for lithops is over-watering.

Too little water will give you stunted plants, though. Let the plant dry out completely between waterings for best success.Watering lithops

Sunlight needs

Lithops need sunlight to keep growing. They like bright light.  Since they are very small and have a large portion of the plant underground, getting sufficient light can present a problem.

The answer comes from the “leaves” of the plant.

The wide leaf tips of the plant have windowed cells that allow the light to get to the inner portion of the leaf. Since the majority of the plant is underground, this helps with light penetration.

Lithops Optica Rubra before flowering

Indoors, they like 4 or 5 hours of direct sunlight in the early part of the day, and partial shade in the afternoon. A sunny south or east facing window sill is ideal.

You will know if it is not getting enough sunlight. The plant will start to elongate as it reaches for the sun.

If this happens, move it to a more sunny location. The Lithops Optica Rubra in the photo above is about to flower but also has an elongated body.

It needs a bit more sunlight.

Types of Lithops

Varieties

There are several dozen species and over 100 varieties of Lithops, all having a similar look from one to the other.  The differences come from the markings, colors and textures of the body of the plant.Varieties of Lithops

Hardiness Zones

Lithops is only cold hardy in the very hottest of zones. In colder climates, grow them in pots and bring them indoors over the winter months.

Never allow them to freeze, since the leaves are basically a water reservoir for the plant.Cold hardiness zones

Getting new plants

Propagation

Propagation comes from division of existing plants or from seed. Division is the easiest method but can take several years.

The baby lithops will emerge from the center of two older leaves and can be potted up. Once a cluster has formed, you can divide the plant.

Carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently separate the pups, ensuring each baby has some roots. Repot into a new pot.

Growing Lithops from seed can take many months to get them established, and years before they resemble the parent plant. Lithops seeds are available on the internet or from succulent nurseries.

In the photo below, the older leaves are shriveling away and new leaves are growing. The two on the left side are forming two plants. These could be divided.Lithops shedding old leaves and dividing

Fertilizing

Lithops need very little fertilizer. If you do add it, use a low nitrogen, high potassium variety of fertilizer.

To encourage flowering, a diluted cactus fertilizer can be added in spring when you commence watering after the dormant period.

Dormancy

Once the plant has flowered, it will go into a period of dormancy. At this time, a new body will develop.  

A new body will grow out between the fissure in the leaves. The old leaves will wither away and more than one leaf pair may grow.

If this happens, once they are established, they can be divided, making sure each body has some roots. Withhold water during the dormancy period.Old shriveled leaves

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Where to purchase living stones succulents

Check the garden center of both Lowe’s and Home Depot. I found my plant at a small local garden center.  The Farmer’s market is also a great place to purchase succulents. The plant is also available online:

Be sure to check out my tips for buying succulents. This gives information on what to look for both locally and when buying online.

Lithops are easy to grow, unusual and look great in dish gardens. They are resistant to most plant pests. Over-watering is the common problem.

Go lightly with the watering can, give them sufficient light, and enjoy this unusual plant for years to come.

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KATARINA DANCER

Thursday 11th of July 2019

how long does it take for the Lithops to open

Carol

Thursday 11th of July 2019

It normally takes a month or two from the time that the split starts.

Marilu’

Friday 15th of February 2019

Very interesting plants. Will try to get some because I like them. Never seen them before but keen to have one of them. Thanks for the information.

Joseph F. Elliott

Friday 3rd of July 2020

Very interested in growing Lithops, however, they seen to be extremely difficult to grow from seed. I won’t keep ant plants I have not grown myself.

Due to the extremely small seed size, what is the ideal way to propagate the seeds?

Thank YOU!

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