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San Pedro Depot

Lithops

$5.00
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Lithops, famously dubbed "Living Stones," are the ultimate masters of disguise. Native to the harsh deserts of South Africa and Namibia, these succulents have evolved to look exactly like the pebbles surrounding them to avoid being a snack for thirsty animals. [1, 3]

Physical Anatomy
  • The Body: A Lithops consists of two extremely thick, fused leaves that form a conical shape. They have almost no stem; the "body" is mostly a water-storage tank connected to a long taproot. [2, 5]
  • The Windows: The patterned tops of the leaves are actually translucent windows. These allow sunlight to reach the photosynthetic cells deep inside the plant while keeping the rest of the body buried safely (and coolly) underground. [2, 10]
  • The Fissure: The slit between the leaves is where the magic happens—new leaves and flowers emerge from this gap. [6, 10]


The "Golden Rule" Cycle
Watering a Lithops at the wrong time is the fastest way to turn it into mush. Their cycle is counter-intuitive:

Season Plant Status Watering Action
Late Summer/Fall Flowering Water lightly. A daisy-like flower (yellow or white) will pop out. [6, 9]
Winter Splitting NO WATER. The plant is "cannibalizing" its old leaves to grow new ones. [4, 7]
Spring Renewal Resume watering only once the old leaves are paper-dry husks. [7, 8]
Summer Dormancy Keep mostly dry. They "sleep" during the hottest months to conserve water. [6, 7]


Care Essentials
  • Light: They need 4-5 hours of direct morning sun. If they don't get enough, they "stretch" (etiolate), which ruins their stone-like shape and can be fatal. [5, 9]
  • Soil: Standard potting soil is a death sentence. Use a mix that is 80-90% grit (pumice, perlite, or coarse sand) and only 10% organic soil. [5, 8]
  • Potting: Use a pot with a drainage hole that is at least 3-5 inches deep to accommodate that long taproot.

Disclaimer: Information about specific cactus cultivars can sometimes be found within online cactus communities and from specialized vendors. All clones and hybrids intended for ornamental use only.

San Pedro Depot is not responsible for use of our products for purposes other than landscaping, ornamental or collecting.

Image Information: Picture is representative of one of the actual batch grown.

Specifications
  • Species
    Lithops
  • Pot Size
    N/A