General description of an exotic plant, recommendations for growing lithops, steps for breeding succulents, diseases and pests, facts to note, species. Lithops (Lithops) refers to the genus of succulent plants that have the ability in their parts to accumulate moisture in order to survive dry periods. Botanists have assigned such flora representatives to the Aizoaceae family, that is, evergreens. To date, there are up to 37 varieties of this genus. The native habitat falls on the territory of rocky or sandy deserts in Namibia, South Africa and Botswana - all the lands of South Africa. Growing in natural conditions, this succulent is able to withstand temperatures of more than 50 degrees.
Such an unusual representative of the green world of the planet bears its name due to the fusion of two Greek words "lithos", which means "stone" and "opsis" translated as "appearance", which is associated with the outlines of the plant. Therefore, you can often hear how lithops are called "living stone". The plant so mimics (imitates) pebbles, on which it often grows, that an ignorant person cannot see the differences between a plant and a stone. Due to this property, the succulent is saved from being eaten by a few representatives of the animal world of those desert places.
In lithops, the part that is located above the soil surface is two thick leaf plates that have grown together in the lower section. They are separated by a shallow gap, which is an outlet for the flowering stem and new leaves. The depth of this slit-like formation directly depends on the type of succulent - it can be very small or reaching the soil surface. Usually, the parameters in the width and height of the plant rarely exceed 5 cm. The stem is not available. Due to its ability to imitate the surrounding rocky landscape, the color of the lithops leaves is as varied as the play of rocky ground - there are greenish, light gray and beige tones, turning into pinkish and red-brown. Moreover, the surface of the leaves is decorated with multiple spots and stripes. The shape of the leaf plates can be conical, flat or convex, which also depends on the type of plant.
The root system of this heat-resistant succulent goes deep into the soil, which allows the plant to find moisture even in the driest regions of the planet. If the drought period lasts too long, then the lithops are completely covered by roots under the surface of the soil and so wait out an unfavorable time.
During flowering, buds are formed, originating from a gap, with white or yellow petals. But some varieties have orange-colored flowers. The number of colors varies from one to three. In diameter, the flower can reach 2, 5–3 cm. Sometimes there is a fragrant and sweetish aroma. If the plant is grown in culture, then you can observe the flowering in late summer (August) - late autumn (November). But the total flowering time does not exceed 10 days. The buds usually open in the middle of the day, but close immediately with dusk. If pollination occurs, then the fruit is ripening.
Recommendations for the care of lithops, indoor maintenance
- Location selection and lighting. This succulent is a light-loving plant, therefore, for its maintenance, a place is selected on the windowsill of the southern window. But at the same time, it should be remembered that lithops reacts very negatively to a change in location, even if the owner slightly turned the pot along the axis. Having chosen a place for their spotted succulent, they adhere to it constantly.
- Content temperature. The plant copes well with high temperatures in the summer - they can vary in the range of 22-25 degrees, and during the dormant period it is recommended to provide heat indicators of 12-15 degrees, but they should not fall below 5-7 units. But if the plant is on the south window, then it may suffer from overheating, since there is no natural ventilation. This is due to the fact that in nature, even in strong sunshine and heat, the roots go deep into the soil and can draw lithops into the substrate, and they also nourish the casting with moisture. Being in a small pot on a hot windowsill, the plant cannot provide such protection for itself, and it suffers from overheating.
- Air humidity during cultivation Lithops is not a fundamental factor, since under natural conditions of growth, succulents are able to tolerate long dry periods. But if there is no ventilation, then rot will quickly appear on the leaves.
- Watering "living stones". If lithops is in the period of vegetative activity, then the soil is moistened every 14 days. In the period from January to March, the succulent has a dormant time, and it is not recommended to water the plant. But if the room where the lithops is located is too dry and warm, then humidification can be carried out once a month. When the plant has buds, watering stops altogether. The Living Rocks suffer from the gulf rather than the drought. If the substrate is wet, then the succulent begins to be affected by rot and will soon die. Moreover, for a certain period, it seems that everything is in order with the plant, but then it very quickly becomes wrinkled and dries up. Watering also needs to be carefully checked - they should be rare, but abundant, so that all the soil under the roots is moistened with moisture. Fluid should immediately drain from the drain holes. The moisture that has been absorbed into the stones and sand is quite enough to make the lithops feel comfortable. It is believed that these succulents do not tolerate at all when drops of liquid fall on the surface of the leaf plates. Also, do not spray at noon or when the leaves are illuminated by the sun, otherwise it could cause sunburn. It is clear that in the natural environment, lithops growing on coastal sea rocks are saved by frequent night fogs.
- Fertilizers. The introduction of fertilizing for the succulent depends on the life period. In the first year, when the plant is transplanted, it is not necessary to introduce fertilizers, since there are enough nutrients in the new substrate. Already in subsequent years, it is necessary from June to the beginning of autumn days (if there was no transplant) to feed Lithops once a month, using preparations for cacti. The dose is halved.
- Rest period. These succulents have a rest period twice. The first is accompanied by a change of leaf plates, the second - when the plant has dropped its discolored flowers (from late autumn to spring). During wintering, it is not recommended to water and fertilize. The lithops pot is transferred to a bright and dry place with good ventilation. The signal that the succulent has woken up is that it has started to grow - the replacement of leaf plates begins. Old leaves acquire a yellow color and lose their turgor, they seem to "slide" downward, giving way to young leaves of a "living stone". After that, they begin to moisturize the lithops gradually. Even if the old thai leaves look like a thin film, they should not be removed.
- Transplantation and selection of a substrate. It is recommended to transplant this succulent as needed, when the root system has completely mastered all the soil offered to it and fills the entire volume of the pot. When removing a plant from an old container, part of the root system can be safely removed, but if the roots are salted, it is recommended to immerse them in acidified water for several hours. In the case when the root system is very dry in appearance, then you need a "bath procedure" in ordinary warm water. It is recommended to put a good layer of drainage material in a new container - small pebbles, gravel chips or expanded clay. The same layer must be laid on top of the substrate. Since in natural conditions lithops grows on stony soil, which is characterized by increased air and water aeration, but in the conditions of rooms, a substrate with similar properties should be selected. However, light peat soil will not work for cultivation. The composition of the soil mixture should include clay and fine brick chips (old red is used), as well as coarse river sand and leafy earth. As leaf humus, you can take the top layer of rotted foliage from under the birches and a little soil in the same place. This leafy humus is suitable not only for "living stone", but also for other indoor plants.
- Choosing a pot for planting leafs. Since this plant has a rather large and elongated root system, it is recommended to select a medium-sized pot with wide sides. The depth of the container should not exceed 10 cm. Another property of the lithops is interesting - its "sociability" with similar representatives of the flora. If the plant is on the windowsill all alone, then it begins to grow poorly, there is practically no flowering, that is, the "living stone" begins to "mope" like a person. Therefore, in order for this unusual succulent to please with its appearance and flowering, it is recommended to place several specimens of this genus in one container.
Steps for self-breeding lithops
When propagating, sowing of seed is used.
The collected seeds must be soaked in warm water for six hours and removed, immediately placed on the surface of the soil laid in a flat bowl. You do not need to bury the seeds. The substrate can be peat-sandy or suitable for mature plants. The container with crops is covered with a piece of glass or wrapped in a plastic bag. It is necessary not to forget about daily airing and spraying from a finely dispersed spray bottle with warm soft water. Shelter is removed only for 3-5 minutes. It is recommended to maintain the temperature during germination within 28-30 degrees during the daytime and about 15-18 units at night.
When the seedlings hatch (somewhere after a 10-day period), then airing is performed more often, but it is recommended to reduce watering so that the soil has time to dry out between humidifications. It is recommended to rearrange the seedling dish to a well-lit place with a little shading. In the first year of life, young lithops should not be touched; diving is carried out only after their wintering.
You can try to separate young shoots from older specimens and root in wet sand. Such "cuttings" are wrapped in foil and looked after as if they were seedlings.
Pests and diseases in the care of lithops and methods of dealing with them
During the winter rest period, lithops leaves become a victim of mealybugs, since the heat indices decrease, but the humidity remains the same. You can use folk remedies for a start: wipe the leaves with a tincture of garlic gruel or onion peel, also use an oil solution (dilute a couple of camellas of rosemary essential oil in a liter of water) or dissolve grated laundry soap in water, then strain it and apply the product. If gentle measures do not work, it is recommended to carry out an insecticide treatment.
Lithops facts to note
The very process of changing leaves in lithops is curious, since it happens quite rarely, and the action itself is of interest. During the so-called "leaf drop", the old leaf plate shrinks and wrinkles very much, while its size decreases several times and a new succulent leaf grows to replace it, which already carries a large supply of moisture inside.
It is interesting that such plants are called "mesembreanthemum", as translated from Greek it means - blooming at noon. And it is no coincidence, since lithops flowers expect the strongest insolation and only then open up.
Lithops species
- Lithops aucampiae bears its name in honor of Juanita Aucamp, a researcher and collector of various plants growing in southern Africa. The area of natural growth falls on the lands of the middle part of the Cape Province (south of the African continent) slightly north of the Orange River. The plant reaches a height of 3-4 cm. Its leaves are covered with a grayish-green skin. There is a dark brown stain on its surface. When flowering, buds of a yellow hue are formed, which, opening up, reach 4 cm.
- Lithops pseudotruncated (Lithops pseudotruncatella) It can also be called Lithops pseudo-cut and it looks very much like Mesembrianthemum truncatellum in outline. It is a plant with leaves that resemble two lips. A marble pattern adorns their surface. Depending on the landscape surrounding this lithops variety, its foliage color changes and can take on both gray and pink tones, with patterns of dark color on the surface. When blooming, a yellow flower is formed, devoid of aroma.
- Lithops brownish (Lithops Fulviceps) it can reach a height of 2, 5–3 cm. Its shape resembles a cylinder, with a cut into equal parts. Its top is flattened. The color of these leaves is light brown, brownish brown or rusty brown. There are green, orange and brown round small specks on the surface. When blooming, flowers with yellow petals are formed, which, when fully expanded, reach a diameter of 3 cm.
- Lithops Volkii Schw.ex. Jacobsen has 1–2 stems in its bushes, with a height of 4 cm. Their color is grayish-green, sometimes there is a reddish tint. The leaves are close to 3 cm in diameter, they are with a gray-blue tone and there is a whitish bloom on the surface. A shallow gap separates two parts of the sheet plates of unequal size. The surface is covered with red specks, which can turn into dashes. The leaf tips are slightly curved. There are specimens in which the pattern is absent, but it is replaced by many light specks, almost transparent. The color of the flowers is bright yellow, the diameter at the opening reaches 2.5 cm.
- Pigtail lithops (Lithops turbiniformis) in height reaches 2.5 cm with the same diameter. The leaves have a flat surface, the color is red-brown, they are covered with papillae and a large number of branched grooves. The flowers are yellow in color, reaching 3-4 cm in diameter.
- Lithops beautiful (Lithops bella). The species has a large bulge in the outline of the trunk. The surface is painted in a yellowish-brown color scheme, the pattern is dark in the form of a mesh, brownish-yellowish. The slit cut between the leaves is shallow. The color of the flowers is snow-white, in diameter they can reach 25 mm. The flowering process is all autumn. The native habitat is Southeast Africa.
- Lithops marble (Lithops marmarata) reaches a height of 3 cm with a width of 2 cm. The leaves have a truncated surface, its color is grayish-green with a pattern of gray branched lines. In diameter, the flowers can reach 5 cm, the petals are white, the smell is pleasant.
- Lithops olive green (Lithops olivaceae). The stem grows up to 2 cm in height. The surface is matte, rounded, the color is from dark olive to brownish tone, there are rare white spots. The gap between the leaves is 5 mm deep. The color of the flowers is yellow, they appear from the gap between the leaves. Blooms in early autumn. The native range falls on the territory of the Cape Province.
The secrets of the care and cultivation of lithops at home, as well as a proven transplant method, can be found in the video below:
