Baby Lithops

[AllanA]

I am pleased with the germination of these Lithop cultivars:-

L.Torra Red

L."Fireworks ZW"

L.Red Brownie

L.Maydo Schugengyoku

[el48tel]

[brugge]

Have you just recently sowed the seeds, did you use any form of heat, l have some seeds l want to sow but was wondering if it is now to cold.

[iann]

They look strong! Is that last one L. karasmontana 'Mado-Shugengyoku'?

[AllanA]

Have you just recently sowed the seeds, did you use any form of heat, l have some seeds l want to sow but was wondering if it is now to cold.

sown 5/9/2023 indoors under LED lights. No bottom heat but warm daytime and not too cold at night.

[AllanA]

They look strong! Is that last one L. karasmontana 'Mado-Shugengyoku'?

I assume so Ian, lable did not give the Karasmontana but there can't be many names like that.
My other, L.mado yogetsugyoku only germinated 3 seedlings and having knocked the pot off of the table, I now have only 2 seedlings.

[brugge]

Thank you for your reply, last time l tried to grow lithops from seed l had no success, yours look good and healthy,
l dont know whether l kept them to wet or if l hadn't used the right compost, am l right in thinking it should be more perlite/course sand than cactus compost itself.

[AmyJay]

Thanks for posting these pics Allan; there’s something seriously cute about baby Lithops! What kind of soil mix did you go with? Did you keep them covered for humidity at all, or just in open air from the start?

I’ve grown some from seed, doing just about all the wrong things, but trying a second time I failed gloriously by getting distracted and letting things dry out I believe.

Definitely will have to try again soon though; these photos have reminded me how fun it is!

[AllanA]

The compost mix I use is approximately:-
50% peat, 30% fired clay cat litter and 20% vermiculite.
I do not use sand as I have found in the past my compost went like concrete with sand in.
When I sow them they go into pots that have soaked up boiling water right to the soil surface. I let these pots cool down and then sow the seeds on top. I sow the seeds near each other, as I think this helps germination.
I then put the pots in plastic bags and add a very small amount of water. The bags are then sealed, placed under my LED lights and are not opened until most have germinated. I then leave the bags open for a couple of days before taking the pots out.
I do not let them dry out but only water a little at a time, usually 2-3 days after the surface dries. After about 4 weeks I lift them up nearer the lights as they should look a little bronzed and i don't want them elongating. Moving them too soon can fry them and they would go white and die.
As they get bigger, I increase the wter a little at a time and after abut 6-7 weeks add a small amount of Chempac no 8 to my water.

This may not work for everyone as no ones house will be like mine, or kept at the same temperature. I am also retired and my plant table is right behind me, so I can monitor any changes very quickly.
Hope this helps.

[brugge]

Many thanks for your detailed answer. do you keep the light on 24 hours a day or do you turn it off at night also how high do you have the light above the pots.