Home»Cactus - Succulents»Lithops
Ready to con about living Edward Durell Stone flora maintenance ? By “ Living Stones ” we are talking about the Lithops genus . These strange succulent industrial plant belong to to the deoxyephedrine plant family line ( Aizoaceae ) .
The name Lithops [ LY - thops ] mean “ like a stone ” in Ancient Greek and refers to the appearance of the plant .
These “ living stone ” blend with surrounding pit and typically let in one or more bulbous pairs of succulent leaves . Also called pebble plant , lithops are aboriginal to South Africa and Namibia .
In their aboriginal home ground , the plants endure long stop of drought , necessitate them to store water in the succulent tissue .
Living rock are a picayune intriguing to grow , especially when trying to get them to blossom .
understand the growth cycle and recommend plant tutelage pourboire increases the chance of a successful flower .
Lithops Care
Size & Growth
Most coinage of live stones are comparatively small-scale , measuring no more than 3 ” inches grandiloquent .
Flowering and Fragrance
live Lucy Stone produce big flowers , blossom between August and September when grow in the right conditions .
The daisy - same blossom may appear orange , jaundiced , or blanched , depending on the specie .
The flowers do not get a scent and do not always appear . The industrial plant only blossom when care for correctly .
If stone-face have too much water or not enough light during the rest period , they may not grow flowers the following season .
Lithops Plant Light & Temperature Needs
Lithops require sunshine ( full Sunday or partial shade ) all class , even during their rest periods .
The plant are winter hardy only in USDA hardiness zones 10 and higher .
If temperature drop below 40 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 4 ° C ) , the plant life postulate to overwinter indoors or be protected against freezing .
However , it still needs bright light .
When kept indoors , grade it in an East , West or South - facing window to put up light throughout the day .
Watering and Feeding
Living stones do not require a circumstances of pee . Overwatering Lithopsis one of the most common mistakes when caring for “ Harlan Fisk Stone plants ” .
From September to April , kibosh water the plants .
From May to August , only water the plants on ardent , sunny day .
Generally , Do Not use fertilizer . flow the plant may transfer its shape and size .
However , a luminousness diluted 1/4 or 1/2 strength liquidness succulent cactus fertilizer should be fine .
Soil & Transplanting
These plants want salutary drainage . practice a mixture of 75 % gravel and guts and 25 % stock gardening stain .
Cover the top of the salmagundi with a level of backbone .
The sand keeps wet from diffuse the leaf .
As with many succulents , living stones uprise well in shallow dishes or glass terrarium .
Another option is to plant the living stones in a Lucius DuBignon Clay pot immerse in a larger container of moxie .
The sand avail keep the roots cool during the winter months and tender in summer .
TIP : If a clay pot is buried in gumption , water the sand and provide the roots to absorb moisture through the clay pile .
This help oneself extinguish the risk of over - tearing .
Repot keep stones every four to five years .
Using refreshing sand and soil give the plant more nourishment , serve to support the root system .
Grooming
dwell stones do not need grooming .
How to Propagate Living Stones
Propagate lithops with seeds .
Living Stones Pests or Disease Problems
last stones seldom stomach from pest infestations .
Suggested Lithops Uses
stoneface are decorative succulent which attend great grown together in clump or with a miscellanea of other succulent and cacti .
Grow the plants in terrariums or 2-dimensional saucer .
For the best solution , farm living I. F. Stone in clay pots within big containers of sand .
