How do you care for a living stone (Lithops)? This succulent blooms after just three years

Lithops is a succulent plant in the genus Lithops of the family Aizoaceae. It has a peculiar shape and brilliant flowers, looks adorable, and resembles colorful stones, which is why it enjoys the reputation of “living stones” and is loved by many people. So, how do you care for a living stone?

1. An introduction to the living stone!

1. What does a living stone look like?

The living stone is small in size, with almost no stem. The plant is oval-shaped, and the above-ground part is an inverted cone. The leaves are semicircular, and the colors include white, light gray, brown, blue-gray, gray-green, red, purple-red and so on. The top of the plant has a fissure, and the flower blooms from the fissure. The flower is white or yellow.

2. What is the flower language of the living stone?

The flower language of the living stone: strength, gem of life.

2. How do you care for a living stone?

1. Propagation: there are two methods, sowing and division.

Living stones can be propagated by sowing or by division. Sowing is the common propagation method and is usually carried out in spring from April to May. When sowing, plant the seeds in a flower pot, and after sowing there is no need to cover them with soil; then water by the bottom-watering method, not by direct watering. They will sprout after about half a month.

2. Soil: neutral sandy loam.

Living stones are best grown in loose, breathable neutral sandy loam. If the soil has poor breathability, the plant may rot. You can mix 2 parts humus soil with 3 parts coarse river sand or vermiculite, or you can grow them in artificial materials such as akadama soil and sentama soil.

3. Temperature: between 15-30°C.

Living stones like a warm environment and are afraid of low temperatures. The sowing temperature should be between 15-25°C, and the growing temperature should be between 15-30°C. High summer temperatures will cause slow growth or stop growth, and low winter temperatures may cause frost damage.

4. Light: sunlight must be sufficient.

Living stones like a sunny environment, but are afraid of strong direct sunlight. In summer, do not place them outdoors in direct sunlight; use shade material to block part of the sunlight. In winter, place them indoors with sufficient light, and in spring and autumn they can be exposed to direct sunlight.

5. Watering: water after the soil has dried out completely.

For watering living stones, follow the principle of “do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when you do.” That is, wait until the soil is completely dry before watering, and water thoroughly, but do not let water accumulate. Do not water on rainy days, and especially avoid rain exposure.

6. Fertilizing: fertilize once every half a month.

Living stones do not need much nutrients. Generally, apply a diluted decomposed liquid fertilizer once every half a month. From February to April is its skin-shedding period; at this time, stop fertilizing and control watering. When the skin-shedding is basically finished, apply a compound fertilizer once more.

7. Pests and diseases: pay attention to prevention and control.

The main diseases of living stones are leaf spot and leaf rot, and the pests include ants and root-knot nematodes. Diseases can be controlled by spraying, and pests can be controlled by changing the soil and by using the double-pot water-isolation method.

3. When do living stones bloom?

1. When is the blooming time of living stones?

Living stones generally bloom after being grown for 3 years. The blooming season is usually in October in autumn. The flowers usually open at 3-4 p.m. and close in the evening. The flowering period lasts about 6-7 days, and the flowers are usually white or yellow.

2. How do you care for living stones after they bloom?

After living stones bloom, they need sufficient sunlight, but still be careful not to expose them to overly strong light. After blooming, do not water too much, otherwise the plant will rot easily. Other routine care is enough. In the second year, pay attention: it will shed its skin, so stop fertilizing and control watering.

3. How do you get seeds from living stones?

If you want to get seeds, you need to carry out hand pollination. If two flowers bloom at the same time, on the third day of blooming, after the pollen has matured, use a pollination brush to dip up pollen from one flower and apply it to the stigma of the other. If they do not bloom at the same time, you can collect the pollen from the flower that bloomed first and store it in the refrigerator, then pollinate after the second flower blooms.

Living stones are relatively difficult to grow, but if you manage the soil, temperature, light, watering, fertilizing and so on well, you will succeed in growing them, and they generally bloom after being grown for 3 years.