Lithops Care Guide: How to Grow and Care for Lithops

Adding a few plants is a great way to add color and interest to both outdoor and indoor spaces. While many are grown for their attractive foliage or delicate flowers others are cultivated for their medicinal or culinary benefits. However if you want to add something a little bit different to your home or garden why not try cultivating a lithops? In this Lithops care guide we walk through everything you need to know to care for these succulents.

Lithops are distinctive succulents that have evolved to resemble cloven hooves or the pebbles and rocks that litter their native, African habitats. For this reason they are often called “living stones”.

Originating in South Africa and Namibia Lithops are slow growing plants typically with two leaves that like to hug the ground. Lithops can take years to fill even a moderately sized pot. A distinctive looking succulent, structurally these succulents are comprised of two fused leaves that connect to an underground stem, vital for conserving moisture, and long root. The new leaves grow out of the slit between the pair of old leaves. Most have two leaves, but some varieties appear to have only a single leaf.

Lithops are also known as living stone plants because of their unusual appearance.

Once established, if cared for correctly, from mid to late summer you will be rewarded with delicate, daisy like flowers. These blooms emerge from between the old leaves of the succulent and have a distinctive, spicy scent. Flowering usually precedes the emergence of a pair of new leaves to replace the old leaves. The new leaves will burst through the old leaves, and the old leaves will then shrivel.

Incredibly collectible living stones are ideal for low water gardens, or people in desert regions. Happy to grow as either a houseplant or in a dry border, living stones are also easy to cultivate.

Easy to cultivate lithops are a bright, distinctive addition to any home or garden.

	Lithops
Common Name	Living stone, split rock, pebble plant, mimicry plant, flowering stone
Family	Aizoaceae
Light	Full sun to partial shade
Water	Sparsely
Temperature	Ideally 65-80F. They can tolerate up to 100F but nothing under 50F
Soil	Well draining, sandy or rocky
USDA Zones	All as a houseplant

Types of Lithops

There are over 37 different species of living stones, and at least 145 different varieties. Some of the most popular are:

Lithops aucampiae

First discovered in South Africa by Juanita Aucamp, after whom the variety is named, this succulent loves sandy, well draining soil. Generally red or red-brown in color this variety produces delicate, pale yellow flowers. A hardy variety, it is more tolerant than other living stones of incorrect watering. This robustness makes it a popular choice for beginners and casual gardeners.

The aucampiae is a hardy variety that is a forgiving succulent plant that is a great starting point for novices.

Lithops dorotheae

Originating in South Africa this species is named after Dorothea Huyssteen, who first recorded its existence. At home on the feldspar, this particular variety thrives best in grit laden soils. Lithops dorotheae has dark green or brown new leaves that are mottled with cream colored speckles. All of this is complemented by the plants bright, yellow flower.

The bright yellow flower of the dorotheae variety sits in eye catching contrast to the plants plain surroundings.

Lithops optica rubra

A Namibian variety this succulent is one of the few living stones that can tolerate winter watering. Proudly producing a purple or pink colored new leaves to replace the old leaves, which act as a dramatic backdrop to the plant’s white or yellow flowers, this is a distinctive variety if you want to cultivate something a little bit different.

The bright red leaves are a dramatic contrast to the more stone like new leaves of other varieties.

Lithops fulviceps

Another Namibian plant, like other varieties of living stone this succulent thrives in rocky conditions and cold, desert regions. It can also thrive in limestone settings. The grey-green oval leaves of this variety are sometimes mottled with a cream pattern. As the new leaves divide to flower to replace the old leaves they will take on a kidney bean shape. This change heralds the emergence of white or yellow flowers.

The yellow flowers of the fulviceps variety sit brightly against the plant’s kidney shaped leaves.

Caring for your Lithops

Lithops, as long as they are provided with the right growing conditions, need little, regular attention. Here is everything you need to know about Lithops care.

A collection of living stones shows the immense variety of this attractive plant.

Lithops Care – Position

Living stone plants like to be placed near a south facing window or west facing window. This will ensure that the Lithops plant gets lots of light.

In warmer climates, where the living stone plants can be planted outside, chose a location or place where they will receive lots of morning sun and some shade in the afternoon. If you live in a location that enjoys warm summers and cold winters, plant our lithops in a pot or container. This will enable you to relocate the plant indoors, either in your home or into a greenhouse, during the cooler months.

Indoor living stones can be sheltered by hanging a sheer curtain or net curtain in the window. This will provide some protection for the Lithops while still allowing it access to light.

Placing the living stone plant in an area with good air circulation will also help the succulent to stay healthy.

Lithops Care – Light

A full sun plant, living stones need between 4-5 hours of direct sun each day to produce their distinctive coloring. If your living stone doesn’t receive enough sunlight then its color may fade. In cooler climates the plants will require more sun, while in hotter climates providing some afternoon shade will allow the living stones time to cool down and prevent the leaves from becoming sunburnt or damaged.

If you are growing lithops or your living stones as houseplants then make sure that you regularly rotate the pot so that all areas of the succulent receives enough sunlight. Should you be unable to identify a place or location with enough natural light there are ways of providing artificial light. A grow lamp or normal standard lamp is a great way of boosting the amount of light your Lithops receives.

Finally, if your lithops has been indoors over winter, gradually reintroduce the succulent to more sunlight during the spring, effectively hardening it off. This gradual exposure prevents the leaves from becoming sunburned or scarred.

The more light the plant receives the richer its coloring.

Lithops Care – Temperature

A native of Africa, lithops dislike the cold weather. While these plants do best in temperatures between 65-80𝇈F they will grow in outside this temperature range. However, ideally the temperature should never fall below 50𝇈F.

While lithops can tolerate cooler conditions for a short period of time they should never be left outside in temperatures below 40𝇈F. If you are in a cooler climate, grow your lithops in pots or containers. This will enable you to place them in a greenhouse or your home when temperatures begin to fall.

In warmer climates, lithops will tolerate temperatures over 90𝇈F, but only for short periods. If you are growing lithops in a warmer climate try to position them so that they are exposed to the morning sun and shaded from the high temperatures of the afternoon.

A greenhouse is a great way to help maintain constant temperature levels.

Watering Lithops

Knowing how much water to give lithops can be tricky. Originating from an area where droughts are common these tough little plants have evolved to survive with as little as an inch of water a year. This is because the fleshy leaves of the plant are able to act as reservoirs, storing surprisingly large amounts of water. This water storing ability enables the plant to survive in extreme drought conditions. It also means that the plant requires little watering.

Your regime for watering lithops will vary depending on the time of year.

Lithops tend to grow in the spring and fall. During these seasons you will have to water the plant. While it will need water the plant, even when growing, won’t require much, regular watering. Once every 10 days will be fine. For some plants this may even be too much.

In humid areas don’t be surprised if your lithops require no, or hardly any, water during the spring and fall. Many species of lithops are able to take the majority of the moisture they need from humid air and, if outside, the morning dew.

If you are not sure whether to water, wait until the top 4-5 inches of soil has completely dried out. To gauge how dry the soil is stick your finger into it. If it comes out dry then you can safely water the plant. A more scientific method is to use a soil moisture gauge.

As lithops dislike too much water any that are located outside will need to be protected when it rains. Even a short rain shower can dampen the soil around the taproot too much, causing rot or decay. If you are unable to take your living stones inside then cover the pots with a plant cloche.

During the summer months the heat can cause lithops to enter their dormant period. You will only need to water during this period if the leaves start to wrinkle or look like they are drying out. Summer watering should be done in the early morning. Give the plant only a tiny bit of water, even a couple of drops is enough to restore the plant.

Even a light shower may overwhelm lithops and cause root rot or significant damage.

During the winter lithops will again enter a dormant or semi-dormant period. As during the summer, you will not need to water the plant during this period.

When plants require little water it can be easy to overwater. If you are unsure how much to give remember less is more. It is better to underwater the plant than overwater it and cause lasting damage.

Best Soil for Growing Lithops

Lithops naturally thrive in sandy, granite heavy, well draining soils that don’t retain much water. Unlike many other plants growing Lithops also prefer poor soil to rich soil.

A well draining, cactus blend of potting mix, that is rich in grit, is ideal. Alternatively, if you wish to make your own, a mix of 50% soil or compost and 50% grit (pumice, sand, perlite) will provide a well draining home for the plant.

Lithops do best in sandy or granite heavy soils.

Fertilizer

A low maintenance plant living stones don’t require fertilizing.

However, some people like to apply a small amount of heavily diluted cactus fertilizer that is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen, to the plant just before the flowering season begins. This can encourage flowering but is not necessary.

If you do decide to feed the plant don’t apply the feed to the leaves because this can burn or damage them.

Lithops will happily flower without any fertilizing.

Pruning

Lithops require little pruning. Once the older leaves on the plant grow papery, meaning that all the moisture they held has been absorbed by the plant, they can be removed. These older leaves will be replaced by young, fresh leaves.

Repotting

Lithops grow slowly, it may take over 10 years before the plant outgrows its pot. However if you choose to divide the plant you will need to know how to repot it. Some people also like to repot plants soon after purchasing them to stimulate growth. This is how to repot lithops with care:

Select a clean, deep pot that will be able to hold the long taproot. While 3” should be fine, a 5” or 6” pot is ideal. This larger pot, will give the taproot more room to grow without becoming deformed.

The pot can be either clay, terracotta or plastic. Clay pots have better air circulation than the waterproof, plastic pots. Clay or terracotta pots are also porous, meaning that the soil is better able to dry out between waterings. If you don’t have a clay or terracotta pot then a plastic one will be fine. Just make sure that the soil has fully dried out before watering to avoid it becoming waterlogged.

Lithops will happily grow in a pot for many years if you follow our lithops care instructions.

The pot that you select should have drainage holes in the bottom. This will help the soil to dry out and prevent the plant from developing rot during the growth process. If your pot hasn’t got any drainage holes it is a simple task to drill in a few yourself.

Place some well draining cactus potting soil in the pot, see the soil section above for the ideal soil requirements. Position the lithops in the pot and, when you are happy with its positioning, fill the pot with more fresh soil mix.

Once filled the leaf of the plant should sit just above the soil surface. When repotting be careful not to damage the taproot. A damaged taproot can seriously harm your plant and stunt growth.

Topdress the soil surface with gravel or small rocks. This helps to replicate the natural environment of the lithops and promote growth.

Once repotted the lithops will not need to be transferred again for at least 4 years in their growth cycle. If you have planted a division you should wait even longer.

Growing your own Lithops

Lithops can be successfully grown from seed. However it can take up to three years for the plant to reach full maturity and start flowering. For those of you who don’t want to wait this long, adult lithops are readily available.

Harvesting Lithops Seeds

If you want to start growing your lithops collection from seed, seeds are easily purchased or you can harvest your own.

To harvest the seed you will first need to pollinate the flowers. Lithops don’t self-fertilize so you will have to do this for them. This is easily done even if you don’t have a specialised plant pollinator.

With a small paintbrush, makeup brush or Q-Tip brush the flower, gathering pollen. You can then brush this pollen onto another Lithops, pollinating the plant. Pollinating more than one flower increases your chances of producing some successful seeds. .

When the flowers die they will leave behind seed pods. Remove the pods and carefully open them to access the seeds.

Sowing Lithops Seeds

Fill a clean pot with soil as for repotting. Carefully sprinkle the seeds over the surface of the soil and cover with a fine layer of sand. Keep the sand lightly moist until germination occurs. Use a fine spray to water, alternatively a plastic bottle with some holes pierced in the cap will produce a gentle spray.

Cover the pot with a plastic wrap or place in a propagator, this will help it to retain moisture and encourage germination. If you don’t have a propagator a homemade option, made from a plastic food container like these, is just as effective as commercial options.

The pot should be placed in a warm light area. The temperature should ideally be between 65-80𝇈F. A heat mat can help to maintain temperature levels.

Germination times will vary depending on the conditions. The process can take anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks.

Once germinated remove the pot from its propagator or bag. Reduce watering gradually as the seedlings grow.

Once the seedlings start to crowd each other and are big enough to handle, repot them into their own pots. Living stones are slow growing plants so this could take a few months to a year.

Pots should be place in a lighted location. Care for the seedlings as you would adult lithops.

Growing living stones from seed is a long, time consuming process.

Making Divisions

As the lithops gets older during the growing process it will naturally begin to divide itself, one plant will produce 2 pairs of leaves. Both sets will be attached to the same taproot. When this happens you can divide the plant, however lithops can continue growing undivided, producing, eventually, as many as ten plants on the same tap root.

To divide the plant carefully remove the Lithops from its pot. Brush off any soil from the taproot. Take the time to examine the leaves and the taproot and decide how best to make your division.

With a sterile, sharp knife, pocket knife or razor blade cut the leaf pairs, a good amount of taproot should still be attached. This taproot is vital for the plants continued survival. The smaller, feeder roots are less necessary as they will quickly regrow. If you are concerned about the sharpness of your knife a knife sharpener is a really useful tool to have in the kitchen.

Once separated repot the Lithops as described above.

Pests, Diseases and Other Common Problems

Generally Lithops are easy to care for. However there are a few potential issues that you need to be aware of.

Pests

Occasionally spider mites will inhabit the space in the crevices between the leaves. The most visible sign of a spider mite infestation is the appearance of white spots on the surface of the leaves of the plant.

Gently misting the leaves with a product such as Mite-X should remove most infestations.

Thrips, Mealybugs and Aphids can also, occasionally, target Lithops. Attacks by these pests are rare and easily dealt with by an application of insecticidal soap.

Spider mites can be an irritating pest but they are easily dealt with.

If you are growing your Lithops outside then snails or slugs can, sometimes, damage the leaves. Slug pellets, bait or other deterrents can all be used to protect your living stone. If you love your coffee, old coffee grounds are a great, natural slug and snail deterrent that doesn’t harm the environment or other animals.

Root knot nematodes can warp the roots of your lithops, but rarely cause serious damage. This is largely because root knot nematodes struggle in dry soil. Using a well-draining soil mixed with grit will keep them away.

Finally mice are often attracted to the leaves of the living stone. A mousetrap or cloching outdoor specimens will offer some protection.

Disease

As Lithops usually grow in sandy soils they tend not to fall victim to soil-borne fungal diseases. They also rarely develop other fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.