How to Grow Lithops (Living Stones) So They Bloom Early: A Detailed Guide to Planting Precautions

Lithops is a succulent plant, also known as living stones because its surface closely resembles stone. It not only produces “small daisies” but can also multiply itself exponentially through molting, making it very popular among succulent enthusiasts. So how do you grow the succulent lithops so it blooms early? What are the planting precautions?

1. How do you grow the succulent lithops so it blooms early?

Generally speaking, lithops grows rather slowly. From planting to blooming takes about 3-4 years. So when growing the succulent lithops, what methods can speed up its flowering process?

1. Choose container growing

Like other succulents, lithops is a flower suited to greenhouse cultivation and is not very suitable for open-ground planting, so it is best to choose a suitable pot for container growing.

Recommended pots for planting lithops:

(1) Ceramic pot types

Red clay pots, purple clay pots, handmade ceramic pots and the like have good breathability, so they require more watering, making them more suitable for use in summer.

(2) Porcelain pot types

White porcelain pots, glazed ceramic pots and the like have poor breathability but good water retention, so watering frequency is much lower, making them suitable for use in winter.

Note: when growing lithops, plastic pots and metal pots are not recommended, as they easily lead to leggy growth and turning to mush.

2. Temperature control

Lithops grows best between 15-30°C. Temperatures that are too low or too high will cause health problems in the plant, so controlling the ambient temperature while growing lithops is very important.

3. Water appropriately

Watering should be done according to the breathability of the pot and the dryness or moisture level of the soil. As with the watering principle for most succulents, do not water when not dry, and water thoroughly when you do. Also be careful not to pour water onto the fleshy body of the lithops.

4. Give plenty of sun

Lithops loves basking in the sun. Besides giving it plenty of sunlight every day, it should be placed in the sun as soon as possible after each watering to promote growth.

5. Fertilize appropriately

If you want lithops to bloom early, you can apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once a month. Be careful not to fertilize too much or at too high a concentration, as this can easily backfire.

2. What are the planting precautions for the succulent lithops?

1. Do not plant a small plant in a large pot

If the pot you bought is relatively large, it is recommended to plant several lithops in the pot. Otherwise, when sunlight is insufficient, lithops is very prone to turning to mush and root rot.

2. Do not water lithops in winter

Lithops is in a dormant state in winter and does not need watering. Watering at this time will instead cause the plant's root system and body to slowly rot, and it may not survive until next spring.

3. Repot lithops in autumn

Autumn is the best season for repotting lithops. When repotting, clean away old roots or molted skins that have rotted or dried out, then replace with fresh potting soil.

Also, to emphasize one point here: when lithops is in its molting period, do not intervene artificially to “help” them shed their skins. Instead, clean up only after they have shed naturally.