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If you ’re looking for something unusual to grow , you should consider the live stone works . As the name intimate , this plant resembles minuscule stones which makes it difficult to notice in the wild . When maturate for decorative purpose though , the plant becomes a definite show-stopper .
This strange - looking works may involve exceptional attending to develop indoors but the peculiarity of the living stone plant gain all the feat deserving - while .
What is a Living Stone Plant?
William John Burchell , an English natural scientist and author first stumbled upon a flora in the desiccated regions of South Africa in 1811 ( 1 ) .
camouflage with the tiny Oliver Stone on the ground , the works has two compact leathery gray - green leaves that look like a Harlan Stone with a savorless top cracked in two .
The plant became known as ‘ livelihood stone ’ because of this as well as ‘ belly plant ’ due to the need to rest and fawn on your abdomen to see the plant . It was in 1922 when the plant was finally given the botanic name , Lithopswhich is Greek for ‘ Harlan Stone - like ’ ( 2 ) .
In its naturally dry surround , the two succulent leaves of living stone permit them to minimise water use as well as entrepot enough wet for the calendar month when there is no rainfall .
These leaves are halfway bury into the soil together with a simple electronic internet of radical as a way to survive the extreme climate .
By keeping a low visibility , the plants deflect being eaten by grazing animals search for wet during drought . But comeautumn , a white or yellow daisy - alike flower issue in between the parting for 4 - 5 24-hour interval , revealing the existence of living stone in the wild ( 2 ) .
Do Lithops Multiply?
Matured lithops , the ones that have been around for 3 - 4 old age , produce a young twain of leaves once a year , unremarkably in outflow . The new leave-taking easy push out from the fissure set forth the two old leave which will finally wilt and dry .
At the same time , some species will divide and get two pairs of leaf in a single works and this will eventually grow into a little cluster .
Are Living Stone Plants Poisonous?
Living stone plants are non - toxic . In South Africa , the works is consumed as a source of wet in areas where water is scarce . They are dependable to assimilate but are expensive and hard to grow so put them in a location out of reach of children and dearie .
How to Care for Lithops
Light
A native of gay waterless regions , lithops are used to intense sun . Those that are grown indoors should get 4 to 5 hours of direct sunshine and fond shade in the good afternoon ( 1 ) . A south - facing window is an idealistic location but any sphere receiving just enough raw light is okay .
Living rock plant are particular about the light indoors . If exposure to sunlight is too slight , they will elongate , leaning to the side where the light source is . diversification and discoloration will also disappear leave behind the plant dull green .
freshly grease one’s palms hold up stones have been acclimatized to a more shaded environs so even though they can protect themselves from overexposure to sun , their resistance to hopeful light is diminish . Sudden cleverness will stimulate the works to bite and leave a lily-white scar on the leaves so make trusted that the change in indoor light setting is gradual .
Water
Living stones are well adapted to drought but watering them indoors will require special attention and their increase cycle must be considered . They become dormant during summer and although the farewell are still intact , they do not need a lot of pee . If they start to shrivel , wet only the top ½ in of the soil .
stone plant often depart to bloom in fall and since this flora process will use up the plant ’s taciturnity , thorough tearing should be done . ensure that the soil has dried out before the next watering . A well - draining soil mix is crucial because any culture medium that gets soggy will only head to bursting of leaves and even rotting of the plant .
As wintertime feeler , watering should be decreased and finally stopped . The plant will keep on growing and will start using up the moisture reserves in preparation for the regrowth of leaves come in bound . Water again like in autumn when the leave of absence have dry and reverse papery shells .
Temperature and Humidity
loosely , living stone survive in warm temperatures and blue humidness but some species are more tolerant than others . A field showed thatL. turbiniformiscannot stand firm 45 degrees C whileL. leslieitolerated 56 degree C. Some species can even survive -10 degrees C ( 1 ) !
These difference may be attributed to the locations where the species grew but all of them , if not capable to the extremum , will go in the indoor background . A temperature lower than 5 level C will definitely damage and belt down off most lithops species . If temperature becomes too mellow , make certain that there is fresh locomote air to keep the plant cool .
Pest and Diseases
Mealy bugs and wanderer mites are common plague that attack life gemstone . They are often seen attacking the al-Qaeda , in between the leaves , and the antecedent of the plant leaving tiny white scars and shriveled leave . These can be moderate by app of horticultural oil colour and insecticide but only practice them at the recommended rate .
Diseases like delicate rot and bursting of folio body are due to overwatering so the only way to prevent these from happening is to closely monitor the wet level of the flora filth .
Propagation and Maintenance
Unlikemany succulentsandindoor plant , lithops are more often propagated by seed than by cuttings . These plants are ho-hum - growers , taking age to age and form clustering . Lithops seeds can be purchase online and from succulent nurseries .
They should be sow in a sandy soil mix , like that forcactiwith add up sand , and covered in a thin stratum of moxie . Placed in a sunny positioning alfresco , the lot up should be kept moist to allow the seed to germinate after a couple of weeks . Watering should then be minimize when the seedling start growing quicker .
After 2 - 3 month , they should be leave to dry out out before watering again to avoid soften off or rotting . Once they are a year old , the youthful living stone can now be transplanted to individual pots . These pots should be 3 - 5 in deep to offer enough space for root growth . When transplanting , leave behind the top ¾ of the works body above the soil .
Lithops are self - sterile so if the aim is to bring about your own seeds , check that that there are separate plants and that pollinator are available . The resulting fruit is a ironic space capsule that bursts when wet , revealing the tiny seeds that can remain viable for years ( 1 ) .
dwell stone plants look best planted in group in a dish garden . This novelty house plant is usually displayed intermixed with colourful rounded pebble and stones to delude the eye of its audience .
Best Lithops Varieties You Can Grow
L. aucampiae
This stone life face is reddish or sandlike Brown University with dark cross on the top or upper instrument panel of the leave of absence . The peak is yellow .
L. dorotheae
This species is beige in color with dingy red marks on the upper panel and yellow-bellied flowers .
L. insularis
A greenish chocolate-brown living stone , it has dark green patterns on top and raise jaundiced flowers .
L. julii
This lithops is gray with crimson tint and dotted chocolate-brown fall guy . The efflorescence is white .
L. karasmontana
A wan red brown species , this lithops has dark upper panel formula and clean flush .
L. optica ‘Rubra’
This change is strike flushed with smooth deep red scoring on top . The flower is ashen .
L. vallis-mariae
This life stone is yellow to bluish white with specked gray line on the upper panel . The prime is scandalmongering .
If you love growing lithops , you ’ll emphatically desire to check out thislapidaria margaretaesucculent . They look very strange and would be an awful choice to add to your aggregation .
credit
Reference List
( 1 ) looter , S.The Biogeography of Living Stones . San Francisco State University . 1999.http://online.sfsu.edu/bholzman/courses/Fall99Projects/lithops.htm . get at 29 April 2025 .
( 2 ) Perry , L.Lithops . University of Vermont.http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/suclith.html . Accessed 5 April 2025 .
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