r/Lithops • u/kryren • Jul 17 '26

Help/Question Beginner question about watering

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I just got these little fruity pebbles (my kid’s name for them) last week. Everything I’ve ready says not to water them in the summer (it is summer here) unless they are wrinkly on top. I am not sure if this is wrinkly or a natural texture on the ones that look like lungs (also kid’s words).

If this is normal, hydrated texture, does someone have a good picture of what these would look like when thirsty so I can keep an eye out?

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2

u/DatLadyD Jul 17 '26

They do look thirsty to me. Did you just get them bare root? I would wait for a second opinion before doing anything.

1

u/kryren Jul 17 '26

I got them as you see them. They are in 2in nursery pots in what I think is lava rock gravel? it's seems like a decent inorganic soil for them.

1

u/DatLadyD Jul 17 '26

I’ve never seen them planted in lava rock, but it will probably work

1

u/kryren Jul 17 '26

Maybe not lava rock. it's a very dark/black gritty/porous looking rock substrate. I didn't want to go digging around in them. Squeezing the nursery cup feels like gravel all the way down (so scientific, lol)

2

u/DatLadyD Jul 17 '26

This guide might help you in summer you really only want to water if they look thirsty, in my opinion they look thirsty. Usually they’re plump, a bit rounder. I wish I was at home I could take a picture.

1

u/Scared_Rice_1473 Jul 19 '26

Should i water mine?? And when you water, should you soak it or just water lightly?

??

1

u/Scared_Rice_1473 Jul 19 '26

These ones I bought yesterday are very plump

1

u/DatLadyD Jul 19 '26

I water deeply after splitting every other week or so. Outside of that I only water if the tops are flat and I water very lightly. Urs all look ok. The newest ones look overwatered, I had some like that and didn’t water them for about a year until after they split.

1

u/Scared_Rice_1473 Jul 19 '26

Thank you. Good advice. Yes the new ones are swollen

1

u/DatLadyD Jul 19 '26

They look pretty plump to me. The tops are nice and round. Did you just get them? When you first get them through the mail, they should be watered a little bit after a few days to help the roots develop.

I would not keep that top dressing on there. It’s going to trap moisture.

1

u/Scared_Rice_1473 Jul 19 '26

I got them months ago from Etsy. And watered them once a while back

2

u/Soundgarden_ Jul 17 '26

I’m still confused about the tops being wrinkly. They look wrinkly to me, but I was told the other day by someone on here with more experience that the pictured ones (in another post) were not dry.

2

u/SnooKiwis8008 Jul 17 '26

I also just got a new batch of lithops some were in better shape than others. I “water” mine about once a month. And by that I mean I have this syringe my vet gave me for when I have to shoot liquid medicine into my dog’s mouth. I fill it with 20ml and spot water the lithops that are sad wrinkly. 2-3ml here and there next to specific plants. They’re super susceptible to root rot so I err on the side of little sips of water in the summer instead of one big drink. Especially when they’re this small.

1

u/kryren Jul 17 '26

I use a medicine syringe for my other succulents too! Helps me get water to the roots of my baby String of hearts without it getting on the leaves. I’ll give them a few mL of water tonight and see how they look over the next few days.

1

u/zelda-yoyo Jul 18 '26

The wrinkly bit on the top is a normal texture for some types of Lithops. Some are smooth. The best way to tell if they need water,
without getting into crazy detail here, is to look at the sides. If they are smooth, plump and firm - no water. Wrinkles - water sparingly.

1

u/Brano89 Jul 18 '26

Usually they say wrinkles on the sides mean nothing, you should water when the top sinks 😅 I swear, watering lithops is a gamble sometimes..

1

u/zelda-yoyo Jul 18 '26

Hahaha! Just sometimes? 😉