Young Lithops questions

[Cactus Kid]

Can this mixed half tray of seedlings be left dry all winter as I would the adults or should I keep them a bit warmer indoors and water them occasionally?

Second pic is my L.karasmonatum `Purper' from MSG seed with a possible interloper!
Any idea why they are stretching? They are on a sunny window sill with the others that seem OK

[iann]

They could stay dry all winter. Or you can keep them growing, up to you. They'll need more room pretty soon!

Red Lithops tend to etiolate even in quite good light, also to grow fairly slowly. The excess red colouration appears to provide more protection from the sun than is healthy in our climate. The interloper doesn't look like L. karasmontana at all.

[Aiko]

Can this mixed half tray of seedlings be left dry all winter as I would the adults or should I keep them a bit warmer indoors and water them occasionally?

I would lightly spray them a few times, say once every month, during the winter. Don't keep them warm, as that might encourage them to grow. If you lack light intensity, you don't want this. Cool, just a bit of water to prevent the most of dehydration while they have a that little mass, and they will be fine.

If I were you I would transplant them to give them a bit more room. Better to do this now than in spring, as watering them shortly after transplanting is quite a risk for some mesembs. Now at least they will be much dryer than in spring onwards.

[iann]

... and separate them out by species

[mary44]

I have a similar problem with a couple of trays of seedlings. My answer was to prick out some and leave the rest so I am covered what ever happens. It is quite easy to remove a lump of seedlings and prick them out whilst leaving the rest for the winter. I have no idea if that is the correct way but it works for me .

[rodsmith]

... I have no idea if that is the correct way but it works for me ...

With cacti & succulents the correct way is whatever works for you .

[Cactus Kid]

Thanks for the replies

Looks like my wife has a huge job on potting the mixed tray up. Serves her right for chucking them all in like that!

As for the red ones, is it worth putting them under lights for a few months and then returning them to the greenhouse in the summer?

[iann]

If you have good lights then they could be helpful. Unless they're pretty strong though they might make things worse, with the extra warmth just producing more etiolation. Lithops need much more light than a cactus seedling