Lithops are succulent plants which are native to southern Africa. The plants consist of one or more pairs of bulbous, almost fused leaves opposite to each other and hardly any stem. The leaves are patterned in various shades of cream, grey, and brown, with darker windowed areas, dots, and red lines, according to species and local conditions. The markings function as remarkable camouflage for the plant in its typical stone-like environment. Yellow or white flowers emerge from the fissure between the leaves after the new leaf pair has fully matured, one per leaf pair.
Description & Information
Name: Lithops
Common Name: Lithops, Living Stones, Pebble Plants
Native: southern Africa
(Our seeds are imported from a succulent/cacti specialist in Arizona)
Planting Instructions
- Lithops seeds are extremely small – empty the seeds onto white paper, then tip or sprinkle onto soil
- Sow into the pot you want to keep them in (no need to repot them)
- plants have very thin roots which can be damaged
- leave to grow for a couple of years
- Sow into cactus potting mix
- Soak the soil with water
- Sprinkle seeds over soil
- Cover seeds with thin layer of sand
- Keep moist and reduce watering as the plants grow
Cultivation Tips
- Living stones prefer full sun year-round
- Make sure the plants have good drainage
- Lithops will be most active and need most water during autumn
- Don’t water in summer
- Don’t water in winter when plant is dormant
- Water the plants to mimic seasonal rainfall –
- In spring, soak soil then leave for 2 weeks
- Allow to completely dry before watering again
- Once new leaves form, moisten soil only when dry
- low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer helps encourage flowering
20 Lithops Seeds: £3.75 inc P&P
