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Genus · Lithops

Lithops

body plants on a four-stage annual cycle. One file in the collection so far — Lithops pseudotruncatella. Dormancy for the whole genus falls in January, February, July, August.

Top-down rosette geometry for Lithops pseudotruncatella

Living stones

Working light range: 25,000–45,000 lux
Form
stacked
Water
35 d
Zone
10–11 (protect below 3 °C)
Mix
4 pumice : 1 akadama : 1 loam, 2–4 mm, with a top dressing of 5 mm grit
Rest
Two rest periods: the summer heat rest and the winter leaf-change rest, which is when most are lost

Species file

Lithops month by month
MonthStateWhat the plant wants
January Rest Out of action for this genus — no water unless the plant visibly shrinks, and no repotting.
February Rest Out of action for this genus — no water unless the plant visibly shrinks, and no repotting.
March Growth Repotting window opens for summer growers. Trim roots, refresh the mineral fraction, dry for a week.
April Growth Growth restarts. First full watering at the rim, then resume the published interval.
May Growth Peak growth and the offset season. Feed at quarter strength every third watering.
June Growth Lengthening days, rising heat. Watch the leaf turgor test rather than the calendar.
July Rest Out of action for this genus — no water unless the plant visibly shrinks, and no repotting.
August Rest Out of action for this genus — no water unless the plant visibly shrinks, and no repotting.
September Growth Autumn window for winter growers. Root-prune and repot while the soil is still warm.
October Growth Peak autumn growth. This is the season when most colour work should be done.
November Growth Daylight falls fast. Taper watering by a quarter and stop feeding entirely.
December Growth Slow, dry and bright. This is the colour peak for most genera in the collection.

Tinted rows are the months this genus is genuinely out of action: no repotting, no feeding, and water only if the plant visibly shrinks.

Other genera

Echeveria Echeveria
Sedum Sedum
Haworthia Haworthia
Crassula Crassula
Graptopetalum Graptopetalum
Sempervivum Sempervivum
Aeonium Aeonium
Kalanchoe Kalanchoe
Pachyphytum Pachyphytum
Adromischus Adromischus
Senecio Senecio