What kind of soil is best for growing and propagating Lithops

Flowers & Gardening Jan 1, 1970 0 views

I believe many Lithops growing masters basically mix soil "randomly," but "randomly" here is not really random - it contains rich cultivation experience. These people's soil mixes are all described with words like "basically" and "about," rather than being strict down to the gram, so flower enthusiasts who post asking for advice often don't get responses from these people.

When I mix soil at home, I basically use 1-3mm granular soil, which includes volcanic rock. Volcanic rock is used because it has holes that can drain water while increasing air permeability (very important). There's kanuma, which will gradually break down into powder and can basically replace the role of peat. For nutrition, I generally add a small amount of rice husk charcoal (don't add too much, it easily burns seedlings, and Lithops don't like too much fertilizer), plus some other granules, all basically the same size.

At the bottom of the pot I place about 1 cm of expanded clay pebbles, which on one hand can drain water, on the other hand can allow air through, and also serves as pest prevention.

In the greenhouse I basically use half peat mixed with half granules, because this way the soil retains water better and I don't need to water as frequently, but I have to repot every year because it easily breeds root mealybugs. Of course, pure granules also get them, but with more peat the probability is higher. Although this saves watering time, repotting every year is also a big project - each has its pros and cons! (Note: repotting mature plants still requires caution, because if mature plants are too large, their vitality is lower, and after repotting they are not easy to maintain and easily die.)

Surely some friends will say that many greenhouses use a lot of peat, and that I'm talking nonsense. What I want to say is: first, you haven't seen the annual sowing volume and death rate in greenhouses. We enthusiasts buy seeds one by one and sow them one by one, which can't compare to greenhouses scattering them by the handful. Of course, we feel upset when a few pots die, while greenhouses are numbed to a few baskets dying! Second, greenhouses are all about making money. Wouldn't using pure granules or half granules cost more? And changing soil once or several times a year - how would the greenhouse owner survive? Third, plants have a tolerance and adaptability issue. If from the beginning in that kind of growing environment the plants adapt and grow well, then pure peat cultivation is no problem either.

Key point: when mixing soil, you must consider the soil's air permeability, as this is what benefits root growth. Once the roots grow well, the plant will be healthy and less likely to die. If roots often fail to develop, aside from weather and seasonal factors, and aside from the plant's own vitality issues, consider whether the soil is not permeable enough.

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What kind of soil is best for growing and propagating Lithops

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