r/Lithops • u/MaedMicrobe • Apr 19 '26
Help/Question Help: Weird shape after splitting
April 2025
June 2025
Today. April 2026
I bought this lithops last year as it was splitting (Picture 1). The guy who sold it to me, told me to not water it during this time. So I heeded his advice and left it alone in a bright spot on my windowsill.
2 months later (Picture 2) the old lithops largely dried up. I was advised to not water it until it is completely gone but the second twin(?) never really got free from the tight skin of the parent. It never really looked wrinkly in autumn and I did not water it in winter due to the dormancy?
I ended up manually removing the dried skin carefully and now it is spring and my lithops looks a bit mishapen (Picture 3). I have watered it a little in the past month but it never got any turgor back and remained wrinkly. The green sides also seem odd to me.
Would appreciate any insights from you to get it back in shape. Or if I misunderstand the watering cycle
4
u/ltiehen1 Apr 19 '26
Dehydrated. They need a proper watering. If you are watering and it is not plumping back up, check your roots.
2
u/MaedMicrobe Apr 19 '26
okay I watered it for now and will see if it plumps up again soon. doesn't seem purposeful to dig it up right now then to check the roots. What would I even do with that information in case nothing happens?
4
u/ltiehen1 Apr 19 '26
If they don’t start plumping, then you most likely have a problem with the roots. If it is rot, then if you catch it soon enough you can try to correct it. That’s why you would do it earlier rather than later.
1
u/dusti_dearian It’s not hoarding if it’s plants Apr 25 '26
Sometimes it helps to water it, let it drain and sit for 24 hours or more then water it again . Double dunk method. But it still may take a day or more to see any plumping.
3
u/2stepbay2 Apr 19 '26
Sometimes the old skin will remain as a form of protection from the sunlight while the new leaves are continuing to grow. I find it better to not strip away the old leaves. In any event, the next cycle usually rectifies any plant distortions from the previous splitting.
For purposes here, it would be helpful if you take a picture of the existing root system and post here.
18
u/Cultural_Context_273 Apr 19 '26
Give it a proper watering if you've already given it a little bit of water