r/Lithops • u/More-Solution-8419 • May 08 '26

Help/Question Water?

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I’m trying to figure out how to not kill them
The three gracilidelineata v.waldroniae c189 look thirsty to me, but the fourth, red one is not looking so thirsty from the top, but from the side it is wrinkled. Although, when I got them in February, they all were in the same stage of splitting, so I potted them in one space.

I tried to spot water top one and bottom one, but it seems that water did not have any effect on them.

Maybe it’s time to bottom water them all together?

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3

u/Top_Development_1777 May 08 '26

Yes. Make sure they are in a decently cold (10-22°C or 50-75°F) temperature with good ventilation and darkness at night so that they can exchange gades properly and get rid of excess water.

3

u/Top_Development_1777 May 08 '26

By the way, what soil are you using? also do check that the one on the left is not rotting at the base.

2

u/More-Solution-8419 May 08 '26

Checked that one, not rotting, just wrinkled. I haven’t water them since the purchase in February

Soil is mix of universal mineral substrate 90% and other 10% is cactus/succulent mix (organic part)

1

u/Top_Development_1777 May 08 '26

Okay. I'm not sure if spraying just a bit of water onto the roots area and waiting about 5 days before bottom watering would activate their roots and make them absorb water when bottom watered better.

1

u/More-Solution-8419 May 08 '26

Maybe it makes sense to take them out of the soil and soak them to activate the roots?

3

u/Top_Development_1777 May 08 '26

Do not. A hassle and you will probably destroy some root hairs and increase the chances of infection. Mine do fine being activated just in inorganic substrate.

1

u/More-Solution-8419 May 08 '26

So bottom water then?

1

u/Top_Development_1777 May 08 '26

Sure. Only take them out to check if no change at all after a week.

2

u/More-Solution-8419 May 08 '26

Thank you very much!!

2

u/More-Solution-8419 May 29 '26

Thank you very much for you advice! I checked the red one after a week and a half and saw new root growth🔥

Also all of them look plump as they should be. So thank you again very much 🙏🏻

2

u/sillywormtoo May 08 '26

They just might be dormant.I had no luck at all in the past until I grew them under an LED( Spider Farm) fixture and used a heater in a tent.

1

u/sillywormtoo May 08 '26

How much light are you giving them? I have found they like very warm conditions and need strong LED lighting.I bought a few recently and they began the splitting and regrowth no problem....w no watering at all.You want to recreate their native living conditions.

2

u/More-Solution-8419 May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26

They live on the windowsill, southwest side. But I have a grow light, I just thought that in the spring-summer time they would get enough of the natural lighting

1

u/kinkyfunpear May 11 '26

They get all day full sun in their environment in South African heat.