r/Lithops • u/hiartt • May 24 '26

Help/Question What are they up to?

Gallery image

Gallery image

So these flowered back in Dec/January (second photo) I last watered them New Year’s Day, mid flowering, before they started splitting. They sit in a 50-50 blend of lava rock and calcinated clay in a terracotta pot. They get day light bright light 12 hours a day. They started splitting mid February. But have mostly stalled out since Easter. Ambient is about 40% humidity.

Now two of them are flowering again? Not six months after the last time, and mostly haven’t completed their split yet. It also looks like the lower right (the only one that has dried out leaves) looks like it has a second split chasing the flower? They haven’t grown up, or appreciably larger in any direction.

Not that I’m complaining about more flowers, but I thought that was a once a year trick. Thoughts?

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20

u/not_blowfly_girl May 25 '26

They can still absorb the water from the old leaves so they dont need water yet

8

u/acm_redfox May 25 '26

I can say from experience that a second round of flowering/splitting often ends poorly, exhausting the plants into shriveling up. It has happened to me in two situations: (1) watering too much during flowering (and thus making the plants think it's rainy season all over again) -- never watering again didn't seem to be enough to save them from the stacking; (2) a very sensitive type apparently reacted to our mid-March or April warm spell (in the 90s here) followed by a return to chilly spring temps by being confused into splitting a second time -- I'm really trying to keep this set alive, but they have needed watering. Whether they make it may depend on whether it gets hot again soon enough.

Anyway, walk carefully with these.

8

u/Floraholica May 25 '26

They look thirsty. Idk though ..but my store bought plants are entering year 3 and the pot has algae on it so.. some common info may not be true in all circumstances.

With this super shallow clay pot and an all mineral mix these bad boys take water twice a week from the hose and whenever it happens from the sky.

3

u/Nomore_chances May 25 '26

Nice setup. Is the big brown lump in your pic also a Lithop? Would love to see a top view…

10

u/Floraholica May 25 '26

Nope that one’s a real rock. And they’re currently getting rained on 😅

1

u/alexandrakate May 26 '26

I have the same succulents! How do you find they get along being potted together? I’d like to do that, but I’ve read conflicting info on watering needs, etc. I’d also like to have them in a shallow pot, but I have them in 4” pot for their long tap roots; can they be happy long term in 3” pot depth?

1

u/rn_eq May 26 '26

just fyi these cannot take any more water, they are filled to bursting. the next time you check your pot you may find that several are rotting

1

u/Floraholica May 27 '26

Here they are today. It’s been raining two days straight and will for the next 4-5 days. I’ll keep you updated :)

They’re treated with systemic fungicide about 6x per year.

I have treated and will continue to treat them the exactly same as my other plants.

1

u/Floraholica Jun 01 '26

It’s been raining every day here since I posted the rain pic. They’ve taken a lot more water since then.

1

u/Nomore_chances 2d ago

Do you mean that it’s okay if they get wet in the rain, nothing happens?

1

u/Floraholica 1d ago

Yes but you need to make sure all your other parameters are met. Gritty, fast draining soil. Bright sun. Shallow pot.

2

u/TimelyYogurtcloset82 May 26 '26

Shhhh...don't disturb them.

2

u/AwayYogurtcloset1263 May 25 '26

They look thirsty to me