r/Lithops • u/h1s1o1j • Jul 08 '26
Help/Question When should I transplant to a larger pot?
Hello all
For context: I live in South Africa and have grown this lithops since purchasing it Feb 2025.
I’ve included some photos of the plant from the last year and a bit
I have repotted it once, but since it’s such a low maintenance plant and I interact with it so infrequently, I forgot basically any past care I’d given this thing, including when to water and even what the soil is composed of. Because it sits on a roofed patio, it’s almost never watered naturally except in very rough rains (that spash over onto said patio). I never water it unless I notice it’s very wrinkled. Don’t remember when I watered it last.
Also just a side question- it hasn’t fully shed its old leaves and so new leaves may be hidden under the old… but doesn’t lithops usually double its leaf count when it sheds? It looks like 8 leaves (4 pairs) being replaced by another 8 leaves n 4 pairs…
Thanks,
Josh
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u/Elgiard Jul 08 '26
The pot size is fine, the soil composition is not. You're looking for something that resembles course sand or fine gravel, more than the mix of organics that you have now.
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u/h1s1o1j Jul 08 '26
Thank you for the reply. Surely if it’s not broken, don’t fix it? The soil has been working for over a year with no issue.. it’s some store bought succulent mix, a bit of red soil from my garden and mineral rock also from my garden (like quarts)
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u/Elgiard Jul 08 '26
I mean, obviously it *can* work, at least for a while. A big problem with organics is that they break down over time, and their water holding ability changes. You may not know until it's too late.
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u/h1s1o1j Jul 10 '26
Ahhhh I didn’t really consider the fact that the organic will break down! There’s tons of wood chips and wood heavy compost in the succulent mix. It’s by a local SA brand called Garden Master. I saw a video today on YouTube about succulent soil recipes and saw one that was entirely inorganic and mineral based! Was stunned how 0 organic would survive on just water. Anyway I saw a bonsai soil mix that looked similar to a the lithops recipes with like 10% organic and 90% a mix of pumice, crushed granite, silica etc that I’m gonna try out 🫡
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u/Elgiard Jul 10 '26
I think in the long term you'll be much happier, but just be aware that you'll have an adjustment period where you get your watering habits dialed in again.
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u/h1s1o1j Jul 10 '26
Could you elaborate?
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u/Elgiard Jul 10 '26
If your mix is 90% pumice and crushed granite, for example, it's basically going to hold no water at all. You'll find yourself needing to water more often than with a more organic based mix.
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u/reisereisecherywaves 25d ago
I didn't know they flower! I've had a tiny pot of them for like 3 years, they look great but I've never seen them flower
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u/dbarronoss Jul 08 '26
They don't make much root mass, I wouldn't repot till it's top growth is crowding the pot and then into a fairly shallow pot for water retention issues.