Lithops cultivation

[MatDz]

Roger that!

[Stuart]

I'd stop watering Lithops at the same time as I stop watering cacti, some time this month. Everything had a hose pipe watering a couple of days ago and maybe one more in another week or so, possibly avoiding larger pots. It's just a case of holding back with watering when cacti have their first watering in the spring even though the greenhouse is getting sunny and warm, just wait for the previous year's leaves to dry up, or almost dry up.

Stuart

[Ross M]

Many thanks for the information Terry, Ian and Stuart I'm hoping for better things next year

[Terry S.]

I agree with most that has been said, but there are a couple of exceptions in the form of Lithops from the extreme west of their distribution in the Western and Northern Cape and SW Namibia. In the wild these would get some winter rain and in cultivation, if you stop watering in October, they will soon start to show wrinkling. The best-known example is L. optica and of course that often does not flower until Christmas. When it comes to the next spring and summer, this is one of the species that is slowest to regenerate and consequently one rarely starts to water it again before June.

[AndrewB]

Hi,

So, once spring watering and feeding starts, it does not matter if the replacement leaves have not grown to the same size as the shrivelling pair? They can still reach full size?

[rodsmith]

Hi,

So, once spring watering and feeding starts, it does not matter if the replacement leaves have not grown to the same size as the shrivelling pair? They can still reach full size?

In two words, "No" and "Yes". The most important thing is that the dying leaves should be almost dead, certainly very shrivelled. If you water too soon, the old leaves may rejuvenate, in which case you would have to wait another month or more for them to shrivel again. In most years, some of my lithops don't get their first watering until July (e.g. karasmontana and optica).

[el48tel]

Rod
Thanks for that information. I didn't know that could happen. I knew not to water, but not what the consequences could be.

[NickHitchcock]

el48tel, I joined the BCSS just before you, I had 4 pots of lithops with 2 in each in the first summer, I was sure the old leaves were shrivelled enough when I gave the first water, I was very wrong, those shrivelled leaves plumped up at an amazing rate and stayed like it for over a month. This year I will make sure old leaves are totally dessicated.

[el48tel]

el48tel, I joined the BCSS just before you, I had 4 pots of lithops with 2 in each in the first summer, I was sure the old leaves were shrivelled enough when I gave the first water, I was very wrong, those shrivelled leaves plumped up at an amazing rate and stayed like it for over a month. This year I will make sure old leaves are totally dessicated.

Copy that!

[Terry S.]

If you get fed-up waiting, old leaves can be carefully removed before they completely dry up. It doesn't harm the plants.