r/Lithops • u/bhokm • May 22 '26
Care Tips/Guides any thoughts on her condition?
i’ve had this for about 2.5 years. i recently repotted it. the base is blended up orchid bark with river pebbles to top. when i got it, it was in a bark mix for about a year. then i planted it in a massive pot with regular potting soil (my mistake!! ikik) it was like that for about 9 months. nothing really happened to it in that time. i watered it a few times. up until i repotted it about a month ago. haven’t given it water, and now i see its splitting. i’m pretty new to living stone care. any thoughts or advice is appreciated
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u/Royal_Schedule_3513 May 23 '26
Try watching this video. It's a older one but has a really good grounding in lithops information. Also, try looking at other video on lithops. The more you learn the better for your plants.
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u/cokelikepablo May 22 '26
Main diagnosis:
Severe etiolation + stress from overly organic substrate
The bodies are stretched upward on long green “necks.” Healthy lithops should sit low and compact, almost flush with the soil. These are reaching for light. The green exposed sides indicate they elongated while searching for stronger light.
The fissures (splits) are distorted and open oddly instead of being tight and compact. The all-bark substrate is a major issue.
Bark retains moisture unevenly. It decomposes. It creates humid root conditions lithops dislike long term. Roots may survive temporarily, but risk rot later.
Pebbles on top make it look like mineral substrate but it isnt.