How to propagate living stones? Introduction to common propagation methods

Living stones, also known as stone plants, stone grass, butt plants, etc., are small perennial succulents of the genus Lithops in the family Aizoaceae. They usually reproduce by seed or cuttings, but cuttings can only be used when a single plant naturally forms multiple heads and then produces new plants, so most propagation relies on seeds. Let's take a look below at how to propagate living stones!

Division propagation of living stones

Every spring, living stones grow new fleshy leaves from the gap in the middle, which splits the old leaves open; the old leaves then shrivel and die. The new leaves grow rapidly, and by summer they shrivel and split open again, and 2 to 3 small new plants grow out from the gap. Simply plant the young plants separately.

Seed propagation of living stones

1. Seed collection: Living stones can easily be hand-pollinated. If two separate plants bloom at the same time, the seeds mature after about 9 months. The seeds germinate easily, but the seedlings are small and fragile in the first year or two, and will not flower until at least two to three years.

2. Sowing method: Living stones are usually sown in spring from April to May. Because the seeds are tiny, indoor pot sowing is generally used. After sowing, do not cover with soil, otherwise they will not germinate. When the potting soil is dry, water by the immersion method; never water directly, so as not to wash away the seeds. The sowing temperature is 15 to 25 degrees C.

3. Post-sowing management: Living stone seeds germinate about half a month after sowing. After emergence, let the seedlings gradually receive light. The seedlings are only the size of a soybean and grow slowly, so management must be careful. Generally, water once every 3 to 5 days after they emerge. Seedlings grown from seed need 2 to 3 years to flower.

How to grow living stones?

1. Soil management: Living stones are not very demanding about environmental conditions, and cultivation and management are relatively easy. The potting soil can be made by mixing 4 parts leaf mold, 3 parts calcareous material (shell powder, eggshell powder, old lime wall scraps, etc.), and 3 parts river sand.

2. Watering control: Living stones need more water during the growing period, but the soil must not be too wet, as moss grows easily and affects the normal growth of the spherical leaves.

3. Light control: In summer, keep living stones in a semi-shaded spot, or shade them by 50%, and the leaf color will be more beautiful. In spring and autumn, since the temperature is not very high, give them direct sunlight to help photosynthesis and nutrient accumulation. In winter, keep them indoors in a place with bright light.

4. Temperature management: The optimum growing temperature for living stones is 15 to 25 degrees C. They fear high temperature and stuffiness, and enter dormancy when the summer heat exceeds 33 degrees C. They also avoid cold and frost; the overwintering temperature must be kept above 10 degrees C. When the winter temperature drops below 7 degrees C, they also enter dormancy, and if the ambient temperature approaches 4 degrees C, they will die from frost damage.

5. Rational fertilization: Living stones need fertilizing once every half month, but the fertilizer solution must never stain the spherical leaves. Pause fertilizing after flowering in autumn.

6. Pest and disease control: Living stones are mainly harmed by leaf spot and leaf rot, which can be sprayed with a 600-fold dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. Pests include ants and root-knot nematodes; use soil replacement to reduce nematode damage. To prevent ants, use the double-pot water-barrier method so the ants cannot climb onto the tender, juicy spherical leaves.