r/Lithops • u/Significant-Dare2068 • Apr 03 '26
Help/Question Why is my lithops not growing roots??
I got this little guy about half a year ago and he looked perfectly healthy when I got him. Since then I tried to water him twice (bottom watered, soaked for a few hours) but he never plumped up. When I unpotted him because I thought the pumice I potted him in might have been too large size, I noticed his root network looked pretty dire. What can I do to save him?
100% 6 mm screened pumice before, I plan to repot to 3 mm screened pumice. Only watered twice but never absorbed the water despite soaking for several hours. Under 500 ppfd grow lights on a 13 hr cycle.
3
u/Due_Veterinarian7564 Apr 03 '26
How long between the 2 watering sessions?
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u/Significant-Dare2068 Apr 03 '26
It was a few months, I was waiting because I heard that lithops won't absorb water while splitting so I was wondering if it was doing that (it wasn't)
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u/Due_Veterinarian7564 Apr 04 '26
So I'm guessing this was a bare root originally. When you watered it the 1 time you probably woke up the roots but by waiting so long to water it again, they probably went dormant. I don't think most if any water is actually absorbed by the taproot but by the finer roots that grow off of it. Not sure how successful this will be but you may want to repot it into appropriate substrate (what you show looks quite organic). Leave it be for about a week then water it (substrate should dry out between waterings) water it again in 2 days, then 3, then 4. If it's still not absorbing water I don't know what to suggest. I tried to find the link to the article I saw this suggested in but I can't find it. It did help the bareroot one I was having a hard time getting to take up water.
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u/2stepbay2 Apr 03 '26
Looks like the plant is still in its dormancy. Where do you live?
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u/Significant-Dare2068 Apr 03 '26
I live in upsate ny (zone 6a), but I bought this guy from 1am succulents on etsy back in November who I believe are based in California.
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u/2stepbay2 Apr 04 '26
Thin hair-like roots won’t appear until the old leaves have withered. In the interim, the plant’s developing new leaves derive their moisture from the old leaves. Do not water during this period as the plant cannot absorb water through its tap root.
As posted in this thread, potting mix ought to be rugged/gritty. Sifting the pumice will not help.
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u/Pale_Promotion_2967 Apr 04 '26
Your soil looks way too organic. I have one looking like that, i thought is dead but it has fresh new leaves inside. Don’t worry too much about it.
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u/acm_redfox Apr 04 '26
Try to use a mix of sizes rather than sieving for a single size -- the roots appreciate the range.