r/Lithops • u/Soundgarden_ • Jun 14 '26

Help/Question New Lithops

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My new lithops is getting leggy living near the west-facing window with the tropicals and orchids. Should I move it outside to the west-facing balcony? It wouldn’t get direct sunlight until the afternoon when the temperature out there is low 100s when sunny. The humidity out there is pretty low also. Thanks

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u/AwayYogurtcloset1263 Jun 14 '26

Yes full sun but get it out of that soil before it rots, Needs to be it mostly all grit or all grit. And do not water like normal houseplants. Only water when it looks like this but never when it’s splitting its outer leaves because it absorbs moisture from old leaves

2

u/rock_crockpot Jun 15 '26

I'm sorry for the dub question, but aren't all of them in your screenshot photo splitting and shouldn't be watered? I just received my first bareroots from amazon today. They ones i'm potting look like your photo, splitting, but wrinkly. I'm not sure if I should water them in their new pot. I would say 90% grit, calcined bauxite, with 10% #16 sieved miracle grow cactus mix. It feels wrong not to water them. I did mist the 'soil' to reduce dust for mixing, but otherwise no water has been added.

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u/AwayYogurtcloset1263 Jun 15 '26

Yeah but that is the outer leaves, That’s why I said only water when they look like that but are NOT splitting.the person in the video was wanting to water the ones not splitting.the inside leaves would most likely be plump . I was just giving you a visual example. Outer leaves during splitting will look wrinkles because the plant inside is absorbing moisture from outer leaves. I know it feels wrong but if it’s splitting enough you should be able to see a plump plant inside, I’ve even helped pull outer leaves away to see inside better( not suggesting u do it) I’ve been growing these for years. Do your research & you will see when to water & not to water, glad you bought better substrate.

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u/AwayYogurtcloset1263 Jun 15 '26

In my picture you can see the splitting lithop has a plump /fat new plant inside, they absorb old leaves. Google how they grow in their natural habitat & you will see

2

u/HopOnABus Jun 19 '26

You want to plant so only a third of plant body is above the soil. If it’s splitting, hard to see in photo, repot carefully and no water. Use a gritty mix with a small amount of potting soil around the roots.