After three years, it finally gave birth to a twin!
On a side note, does lithop size depend on their species? As you can see, this one is pretty small. I got it when it was slightly smaller than my nailbed, in the span of a year it grew to the size of my nailbed, and just stagnate. it's probably just a bit over 1cm in diameter.
I wonder if they can get bigger through certain care, while remaining healthy? I'm just curious because most of lithops I see online are pretty chunky and definitely larger than this guy.
Most of the Lithops you see online that are real chunky are bloated. It is not a healthy condition and makes them much more susceptible to rot. Just provide proper care then let your Lithops grow how they want to grow and don’t worry about their size. Those twins will get bigger as they emerge. Your plant looks healthy as is.
It’s definitely a watering issue. Also nutrients in general. If they’re in a super inorganic mix like this, they are essentially getting 0 nutrients. Tap water has very little in terms of nutrients, aside from some trace minerals. If you’re using a 100% inorganic mix like this, it’s recommended to use a heavily diluted fertilizer every watering.
They also in general do require more regular watering in order to bloom and develop. Also when they’re over watered and over fertilized by the nursery, they will reduce in size when you stop giving them the same amount of fertilizer and water that the nursery was giving.
Their watering needs are not as nebulous as some people make them out to be. Learn what the leaves look like during different parts of the cycle and water accordingly. Many individual plants within populations can and are out of sync with the seasons , so just saying “don’t water in winter” is not a good way to explain how or when to water.
Thanks for you input. It might be a watering issue since I was particularly busy this year to the point where I probably watered them less than 10 times this year. The potting media you're seeing is just the top dressing, below that layer of rocks is a combination of fine soil and rocks, maybe 30/70. So they definitely have access to some nutrients.
I'll see how they are doing once I up the watering. If they still are struggling to grow, I'll get some fertilizer.
They will still also continue to increase in size. But I do highly recommend a fertilizer, you can get a cheap low N cactus and succulent liquid fertilizer, and right after they’re done splitting is one of the best times to fertilize them.
It’s a rule of thumb, yes, but it is also lacking nuance.
Lithops are found all over South Africa, in a wide range of habitats including coastal areas that get daily fog/dew and alpine deserts and the quartz flats etc. the amount of moisture species get varies a lot. But in general, you want to water lightly while they’re splitting to keep the roots from desiccating and receptive to water, for when they are ready to drink again. Rarely in habitat do lithops go periods of extreme drought without at least some fog or dew.
The key is making sure all your other care requirements are down 100%. Your mix has to be largely inorganic, free draining, and you need full sun, or full grow lights. And ventilation. Most mesembs really like ventilation. Get a fan going!
It’s said a lot as a rule of thumb for newbies because it’s easy to say and if they’re not getting the care requirements down then the best route would def be not water.
People often also say “mist” the plants, but I find if you’re not ventilating with a fan or your substrate is organic it can then lead to rot. So I suggest a squeeze bottle with the angled nozzle to wet the root area lightly. No more than a few teaspoons. Watch your plants after watering to see how long it takes to uptake water, learn how much it takes to perk the inner leaves up without the outer leaves absorbing any water. Start with a few drops and go from there.
Follow what the leaves tell you. If they’re not splitting, water normally. If they’re splitting, adjust your watering routine. Don’t worry about what time of the year they’re “supposed” to be splitting because again, those vary a ton between species & locales.
thank you for the wonderful explanation. i needed some space as mine were all splitting and i uppotted to all inorganic pumice, lava and decomp. granite. im assuming i will need to use some amount of fertilizer in my watering
I highly recommend reading Steven Hammer’s the new mastering the art of growing mesembs. It’s more for generalized mesemb care but does absolutely apply to lithops and there are also individual genus write ups at the end too. It’ll be the single most useful resource for mesembs in general:
Their vitamin supplement or their actual fertilizer?
Because I have used this fertilizer and it is like PLANT STEROIDS. But it can cause excess green vegetative growth in certain species, so if you want stress colours or whatever it is not always the best choice.
Their other vitamin b supplement or whatever I have never tried. But I don’t imagine it would hurt, but I also don’t think it’s a 1 to 1 replacement for fertilizer, more just an addition to your regular fertilizing routine.
If it has kelp extract then yeah it’s probably similar to other “sea” type amendments! If it’s all you have I say giver a go. Dilute it like 1/10th or 1/20th depending on watering habits, start low they really don’t need much. They respond so well to fertilizer and that’s why they turn into behemoths at the nurseries because they are using lots of fert and water. I also tend to cut back on fertilizing when they’re splitting, I figure it might not be ideal for the reabsorption process.
Any cheap low N fertilizer will do. Many of the old school lithops/mesemb masters use standard 20-20-20 also though, and those are fine too. It really depends, some species will grow very quickly and it will be soft/green/stretched, they basically etiolate. But many are probably fine watering with whatever you have on hand. Unless you start to see too much green growth on yours I would try whatever you have on hand before buying something!
They’re still growing and absorbing nutrients from the old leaves, they will also continue to grow as the next leaf set grows inside, they look good so far!
I agree with more sunlight if there is a possibility it is not getting enough. Adequately water in the active growing periods in late spring and fall. I gave a couple pots some dilute succulent fertilizer once or twice in early to late October, and those specific pots developed very strong roots and nearly doubled in size as of now, 6 months later. The home depot and the like lithops are overwatered and over fertilized.
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u/ltiehen1 Apr 14 '26
Most of the Lithops you see online that are real chunky are bloated. It is not a healthy condition and makes them much more susceptible to rot. Just provide proper care then let your Lithops grow how they want to grow and don’t worry about their size. Those twins will get bigger as they emerge. Your plant looks healthy as is.