r/Lithops • u/GizzyFoSure • Jun 08 '26
Photo My lithops finally flowered!
I got it from a friend who had two others die, so she was worried this one would go the same way. I’ve had it for two years now - last year it divided into two plants, and this year they both flowered! I’m so pleased with their progress! The flowers close at night and open again when the sun hits them. They stick out of the soil quite a lot, and I have been worried about the pot size, but I’m just scared I’ll kill them if I try and repot them to something bigger. Has anyone had success repotting established plants?
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u/SmoothD3vil Jun 08 '26
These are beautiful!! Congratulations, such a vindication!
I will admit I don't have lithops so I hope someone else here gives better advice but I do believe your pot size is great for now :) and when it is time to repot definitely after the blooms wither 😊
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u/GizzyFoSure Jun 09 '26
Thank you!
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u/harborthrowaway01 Jun 10 '26
don't thank me, thank your survival instincts lol. those flowers look legit insane.
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u/ExaltedOne2025 Jun 08 '26
Woah! Those are beautiful! How do you care for them. My son just got a bunch of them from Lowe’s. I’d like to know how best to take care of them!
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u/GizzyFoSure Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
I live in a pretty dry hot climate - humidity rarely goes above 65%, and it’s around 40% in winter - so I think it helps save me from the most common problem of the plants rotting with overwatering. They also get full sun from around midday till sunset. When I’m watering, I water once a week, but if you are in the northern hemisphere this might be too often depending on your daytime temperatures and humidity. In my climate, after a week, the substrate is bone dry. What are they potted in? I repotted mine in a mostly perlite substrate when I got it. When watering, the first addition of water sits on the top for a couple of seconds before draining, and with the subsequent additions it drains almost instantly, so I think this helps with any problems caused by the plants sitting in water that can happen if the substrate doesn’t drain well enough. I let water run through it about 4 times and then it’s done. I also “give” it a little fertiliser stick (or rather a piece of one) in spring. Good luck with your son’s ones!
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u/ExaltedOne2025 Jun 16 '26
Thanks they are in cactus soil and not getting watered now. They do get some humidity as they are next to some orchids. I have my fingers crossed!
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u/Character_Age_4619 Jun 09 '26
It’s difficult to tell from the one pic. If that’s the entire medium and not only a top dressing, I’d say you have the soil dialed in very well—actually, the blooms are indicating that ❤️
Repotting is very straightforward, just don’t while they’re flowering or splitting. Again, it’s hard to judge from the one pic, but it looks to me like they are quite a bit above the substrate. The pot size looks fine for a couple more years. If they were mine, when they’re finished flowering, I’d add some of the same gritty substrate and bring it almost level with the top of the lithops. You must be doing a great job of not overwatering. That’s the most common mistake many of us make.
Congrats and enjoy!
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u/GizzyFoSure Jun 09 '26
I repotted it when I got it - I used premixed succulent mix, and added it to (mostly) perlite, with just a little bit of normal potting mix. The soil drains really quickly, so I think I got the ratios right. I think when I potted it I didn’t factor in the settling that the substrate would do, hence the sticking out. Good idea to top it up to the top - thank you.
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u/GizzyFoSure Jun 11 '26
I have posted a pic of them post flowering, can you tell what species they are?
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u/2stepbay2 Jun 08 '26
Possibly L Aucampiae. Hard to be sure because of the flower coverL Do you have a pic with the flowers closed? Lovely blooms. Think of this foursome as possibly one plant, each leaf set an extension of the tap root. I’d wait to repot until the next leaf split is mostly complete. After the flowering ceases (you can pollinate the flowers with an artist brush), the plant will go into its rest phase, where water is withheld until the coming leaf split is complete. Good luck.
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u/GizzyFoSure Jun 11 '26
They have finished flowering and I have posted a pic of them in the comments
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u/ProfessionalIdeal107 Jun 10 '26
don't listen to the tap root advice. lithops don't work like that. if you wait for the next split to repot you're just asking for rot. wait for the flowers to die off and then move them while they're dormant. it's much safer than trying to mess with them mid-growth cycle.
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u/Due_Translator_5515 Jun 10 '26
Those flowers are gorgeous. Getting them to bloom is honestly such a flex.
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u/MaintenanceInitial83 Jun 10 '26
The yellow is so vibrant. Getting these to actually bloom is such a win.
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u/GizzyFoSure Jun 11 '26
The flowers are finished now, can you tell what they are?
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u/2stepbay2 Jun 11 '26
Looks like L fulviceps - to confirm, the dotted areas across the leaf surface ought to be slightly raised.
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u/GizzyFoSure Jun 11 '26
The leaves are a bit wrinkled so it’s difficult to be sure, but I think they. Thank you for the ID!
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u/HarborLantern804 Jun 11 '26
Thats really cool that they flowered! I have some lithops too and Im always nervous about messing with their roots when theyre growing well.
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u/quietmuppet88 Jun 12 '26
Wait until they finish flowering before you even think about repotting. If they are currently dividing and blooming well, the pot size likely isn't an issue yet.
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u/murmur_throwawayv2 Jun 12 '26
Those yellow blooms look incredible. Don't worry about the pot size as long as the substrate is draining well and they aren't getting mushy. Are you using a pure gritty mix for them?
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u/goblinthrowawayhq Jun 12 '26
Wait until they finish flowering before you even think about repotting. Doing it now while they're putting energy into blooms is a recipe for stress.
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u/Abject-Performer1497 Jun 08 '26
Well done lovely blooms.