Lithops — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Lithops spp. |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–45 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 21.1–26.7 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 730–1460 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 5.1–10.2 |
| Mature height (cm) | 2.5–5.1 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 5.1–10.2 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 10–11 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Division |
Growing directions
Grow in a shallow pot of very lean, gritty, mineral succulent mix in bright, direct sun, following a strict seasonal watering rhythm rather than a fixed schedule. Lithops (living stones, pebble plants) are southern African mesembs that mimic the pebbles and stones of their native habitat as camouflage from grazing animals, each plant consisting of a single pair of fused, fleshy leaves with a translucent 'window' at the top that admits light to the photosynthetic tissue below while the plant sits nearly buried in the substrate. Each year a new leaf pair emerges from the center and slowly absorbs the old pair, which shrivels and splits away, a process that requires almost no supplemental water; water sparingly in fall as the growing season begins, taper off through winter, and withhold water almost entirely while the old leaves are being reabsorbed in spring, resuming light watering only once new leaves are fully formed. Bright, direct sun year-round is essential to keep the body compact and prevent the plant from stretching; daisy-like white or yellow flowers, larger than the plant body itself, open from the cleft between the leaves in autumn.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0