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Transplanting Lithops seedlings

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:27 am
by peter831shaw
Hello all,

I am wondering how log to wait to transplant Lithops and what time of year is best?

I am located in sunny California and have a new greenhouse.

there is a mix of seed, I was just practicing techniques.

Cheers!

Re: Transplanting Lithops seedlings

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:30 am
by Astro
These seedlings still seem to have some room to grow. I transplant mine when conditions are such that I can water them a few days after potting them up (I've found newly repotted plants more sensitive to overheating if left dry). That means I usually repot a bit before I would have otherwise watered them, which has the advantage of avoiding root damage (fine roots are usually gone by then). In general I end up transplanting most in Spring and Fall, say March-October.

Are they potted up in pure Turface or is it just top dressing?

Re: Transplanting Lithops seedlings

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:24 am
by rodsmith
I would wait until next April. They will be happy where they are during the winter months and repotting them when in the dormant season isn't a good idea. They look to be in fine condition.

Re: Transplanting Lithops seedlings

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:32 am
by Aiko
They don't need repotting, at the looks of it.
And be aware that repotting Lithops is a risk. I have lost many of them after repotting. The roots get damaged, and if you water early or even many months later, they suddenly might rot after their first watering.

Re: Transplanting Lithops seedlings

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:26 pm
by peter831shaw
thanks for the tips, always appreciated

I will leave them in the pot until they get much larger (saves space as well)

They are topped with turface, though there is some in the mix as well.

I have read that they need more water as seedlings, but these don't seem to be seedlings any longer. Watering is a real challenge with so many in the pot at different stages.

Since they should be going into dormancy I guess I should just let them dry out until spring?

Peter

Re: Transplanting Lithops seedlings

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:20 pm
by Astro
I'm in Northern Cal myself (but no greenhouse). I keep the seedlings going until it starts raining and gets colder, maybe end of the month. I may spray the smallest ones (similar to the smallest in your picture) occasionally over the winter to make sure they don't dry out entirely (i.e. very shriveled but no sign of new leaves). Since they're seedlings (i.e. the leaf pairs will grow considerably over the next year or two) they'll deal with any incompletely absorbed leaves pretty easily.