Lithops
Lithops spp.
Lithops are tiny succulents made of two fused leaves that look exactly like pebbles. They flower in autumn and replace their leaves each year. Their watering rhythm is unusual and easy to get wrong.
Photo: yellowcloud · CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Bright indirect light
Watering
Low
Water only in the growing seasons (usually spring and autumn) when the leaves wrinkle slightly. Do not water while old leaves are shrivelling and new ones are emerging, or in summer and winter.
Soil
Very gritty mineral mix with little organic matter.
Temperature and humidity
5–35 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
Rarely needed; once a year at quarter strength at most.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed, division
None; let old leaves shrivel naturally.
Lithops are not toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Overwatering is the main cause of death.
Give lots of bright light to stop them stretching.
Use a deep pot for the long taproot.
Split or bursting leaves mean too much water.
Common problems
Mealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →DiseaseOverwatering
Too much water, or water that cannot drain away, starves roots of air and is the most common cause of houseplant death.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →
