Thank you so much for this wonderful video and I love the part especially when you showed us (from 6:40 onwards) the cause of stretched lithops and how it looks after being stretched as that information is very enlightening for us, the beginners in growing these marvelous living stones 🌱 The other valued advice from you in controlled watering in “helping” the old leaves to shed away is genius👍👍👍 Learning so much about growing lithops from this video! Thank you and stay safe!
What an awesome educational video. I personally don't own any lithops not for any other reason other than I just don't know enough about them but maybe after this summer, we are going into summer here in Connecticut in the United States right now, I will think about getting one or two just to get my feet wet a little bit 😃
Excellent.....so clear and informative. So excited to have found your You Tube and all the wonderful info on Lithops....I'm newly in love with these little fellows and so wanting to learn all I can to grow and keep the ones I have happy, thriving and alive. I am in Florida where it is the beginning of our summer season and getting very hot, and humid. I have my little lithops inside with grow lights and still humid but our central air conditioning does help keep the humidity at about 50-60%....do you recommend that I put these outside or in my florida room where it is very hot over the days - like yesterday 35 and climbing in temperature. I do have a fan overhead and also another to move the air around. I have so many questions so I'll be listening, watching and reading all I can. thank you so much for bringing joy into my world with knowledge. I'm older now and just wish I'd known about Lithops when I was younger !! Dreams are wonderful indeed. Thanks again, Clara
Hello Clara, In general Lithops do like low humidity, so the fan is a great idea. The problem with the heat is actually often the very hot afternoon sun if direct onto the plants. This tends to burn the foliage. So in general, low humidity, good light, a little protection from very hot afternoon sun never over water and always good drainage. As for outside, most plants do enjoy some time in the fresh air, however this is also where very hot direct sun, rain and pests can get to them, so if you take care of them outside is OK.
A vitamin b type fertilizer was mentioned but here is a review by a scientist gardener - The history of this myth is quite interesting and told in detail here. In 1930 a scientist noticed that vitamin B1 stimulated root growth in a petri dish in the lab. A few more tests and people started becoming convinced that it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. In 1939 Better Homes and Gardens published a report that showed vitamin B1 resulted in huge rose flowers and giant daffodils among others. The myth was launched and fed on itself; after all if Better Homes and Gardens says it is true - by golly it is true! By 1942 even the original author of the study admitted that vitamin B1 had no positive effect on plant growth and said “It is now certain, however, that additions of vitamin B1 to intact growing plants have no significant or useful place in horticultural or agricultural practice” But it was too late. The public knew it worked, and manufacturers were selling it like hot cakes. Products still contain it today even though the science community has known it does not work for over 70 years.
This is a great guide, thank you! I've seen others recommending bottom watering by placing the pot in a bigger pot with water. Is this a technique specific to some situations? Can you alternate between top and bottom watering?
Hello Fernando, the thing is with Lithops is that they do not like to stay wet. Soaking can let any organic material in the growing medium absorb more water than overhead watering. Soaking can also get the root system very wet. So we do not recommend soaking unless both the time you soak for and the porosity of the growing medium is strictly controlled so it will ensure you do not overwater....
I have a pretty important question about dehydrated lithops. I repotted a few dehydrated lithops, late summer here in my location I know it's recommended to wait a period before watering after repotting. But these are pretty dehydrated. Can I give them a small dose of water, following repotting them? BTW, I recently bought these from a big box store. So, I'm sure they were badly neglected. I'd appreciate any information. Thank you very much!
It's difficult to know what the big box stores do with their plants, however you can get some bargains. If they are starting to shrink and shrivel, we would give then some water. As long as the potting soil is free draining and the drainage holes in the pots are good they should be fine. Also keep them good light but out of hot direct sun until they bounce back. Let us know how you go.
Let me understand… I live in New Hampshire zone 4 USA It’s winter here So I water my lithop? My lithop has been the same for along time it’s got a slight slit but noting has happened for months So should I water ? It’s plump
NO not now. In the notes below the video is a seasonal care list. For winter it reads Winter - This is when the Lithops begin to molt and divide. They are adsorbing the moisture and nutrients from the older leaves. Very little water is required during this period. Over watering can cause elongated growth And the rest of the seasons are also listed. Hope this helps. If not ask us for more advice, happy to help.
I'm giving my lithops a good watering every 2 weeks at the moment (summer in UK) and they are elongating, they are in a quite sunny position but I assumed they were stretching for even more light. However, according to these notes I shouldn't be watering during summer and the water is the reason for the elongation, not too much light. Do they ever stretch from lack of light as well? Thanks!
Yes they can stretch through lack of light, also from over fertilising. however it would be a good idea to cut back on the water a little. In the UK more light will most likely not hurt. Let us know how it goes.
Hi Johnny - I have a question regarding my lithops. I live in Cape Town South Africa, so my lithops have started splitting. But I noticed two of them are soft, squishy and wrinkled, but the have not split yet. Should I just leave it? Or water it? It also looks quite yellow... But I didn't water them at all during winter. What shall I do?
Hi what should we do if we grow these plants under indoor conditions year round? I keep all my plants under grow lights so they never really have seasons. Can I just simulate the seasons by withholding water?
Your can buy grow lights that turn on and off the same time every day. Those lights usually have 6, 8, 12 hour days. You can shorten the time on so they think it's seasonal change
Personally so long as you're in control of watering and drainage I don't suppose either would matter. I know a lot of people who grow to sell usually grow them in small groups and then put them in smaller pots individually to sell. Guess it depends on which aesthetic you prefer.
So if you water with abandoned lithops, what do you think about succulents? Or succulent propagation with leaves? So many people say don't water them but when they're sitting in the plant shops or nurseries or what have you, they are getting watered almost on a daily basis because a lot of places don't care about the leaf propagation so they leave them and there's always nice flowers and roots on them. From water. I kind of figured that if the leaves have Roots then they definitely need water. I'm not talking about soaking them but spraying that is a different story. What are your thoughts??
Learning directly from professional growers is the best way.
Man I could watch you water those all day with your perfect technique! Like you get the two rows all the way down without an issue! That's so awesome!
Thank you so much for this wonderful video and I love the part especially when you showed us (from 6:40 onwards) the cause of stretched lithops and how it looks after being stretched as that information is very enlightening for us, the beginners in growing these marvelous living stones 🌱 The other valued advice from you in controlled watering in “helping” the old leaves to shed away is genius👍👍👍 Learning so much about growing lithops from this video! Thank you and stay safe!
I find planting them in dry grit is easy if you use a chopstick or chopsticks to plant them
Cacti and succs are awesome.
What an awesome educational video. I personally don't own any lithops not for any other reason other than I just don't know enough about them but maybe after this summer, we are going into summer here in Connecticut in the United States right now, I will think about getting one or two just to get my feet wet a little bit 😃
Excellent.....so clear and informative. So excited to have found your You Tube and all the wonderful info on Lithops....I'm newly in love with these little fellows and so wanting to learn all I can to grow and keep the ones I have happy, thriving and alive. I am in Florida where it is the beginning of our summer season and getting very hot, and humid. I have my little lithops inside with grow lights and still humid but our central air conditioning does help keep the humidity at about 50-60%....do you recommend that I put these outside or in my florida room where it is very hot over the days - like yesterday 35 and climbing in temperature. I do have a fan overhead and also another to move the air around. I have so many questions so I'll be listening, watching and reading all I can. thank you so much for bringing joy into my world with knowledge. I'm older now and just wish I'd known about Lithops when I was younger !! Dreams are wonderful indeed. Thanks again, Clara
Hello Clara, In general Lithops do like low humidity, so the fan is a great idea.
The problem with the heat is actually often the very hot afternoon sun if direct onto the plants. This tends to burn the foliage.
So in general, low humidity, good light, a little protection from very hot afternoon sun never over water and always good drainage.
As for outside, most plants do enjoy some time in the fresh air, however this is also where very hot direct sun, rain and pests can get to them, so if you take care of them outside is OK.
@@johnnyAGardening thank you so much for the information....it helps alot and I'm so grateful for the videos and all the education. Blessings, Clara
Awesome video. Thank you
BEAUTIFUL ❤️
thank you for this great video. i have a question what is the ideal concentration for using vitamin B to help rooting
how do we water lithops , for those that live in country that doesnt have 4 season, its summer all year round here. Thank you
Thank you for this!
Hello Justin, we have one on potting mix coming very soon. So stay tuned.
A vitamin b type fertilizer was mentioned but here is a review by a scientist gardener - The history of this myth is quite interesting and told in detail here. In 1930 a scientist noticed that vitamin B1 stimulated root growth in a petri dish in the lab. A few more tests and people started becoming convinced that it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. In 1939 Better Homes and Gardens published a report that showed vitamin B1 resulted in huge rose flowers and giant daffodils among others. The myth was launched and fed on itself; after all if Better Homes and Gardens says it is true - by golly it is true!
By 1942 even the original author of the study admitted that vitamin B1 had no positive effect on plant growth and said “It is now certain, however, that additions of vitamin B1 to intact growing plants have no significant or useful place in horticultural or agricultural practice” But it was too late. The public knew it worked, and manufacturers were selling it like hot cakes.
Products still contain it today even though the science community has known it does not work for over 70 years.
Gro Max is a a rock and mineral type fertiliser, so look for those types in your area.
This is a great guide, thank you! I've seen others recommending bottom watering by placing the pot in a bigger pot with water. Is this a technique specific to some situations? Can you alternate between top and bottom watering?
Hello Fernando, the thing is with Lithops is that they do not like to stay wet. Soaking can let any organic material in the growing medium absorb more water than overhead watering. Soaking can also get the root system very wet.
So we do not recommend soaking unless both the time you soak for and the porosity of the growing medium is strictly controlled so it will ensure you do not overwater....
always interesting :)
thanks
I have a pretty important question about dehydrated lithops. I repotted a few dehydrated lithops, late summer here in my location I know it's recommended to wait a period before watering after repotting. But these are pretty dehydrated. Can I give them a small dose of water, following repotting them? BTW, I recently bought these from a big box store. So, I'm sure they were badly neglected. I'd appreciate any information. Thank you very much!
It's difficult to know what the big box stores do with their plants, however you can get some bargains.
If they are starting to shrink and shrivel, we would give then some water. As long as the potting soil is free draining and the drainage holes in the pots are good they should be fine. Also keep them good light but out of hot direct sun until they bounce back. Let us know how you go.
Let me understand…
I live in New Hampshire zone 4 USA
It’s winter here
So I water my lithop?
My lithop has been the same for along time it’s got a slight slit but noting has happened for months
So should I water ?
It’s plump
NO not now. In the notes below the video is a seasonal care list. For winter it reads
Winter - This is when the Lithops begin to molt and divide. They are adsorbing the moisture and nutrients from the older leaves. Very little water is required during this period. Over watering can cause elongated growth
And the rest of the seasons are also listed. Hope this helps. If not ask us for more advice, happy to help.
I got some that were stretched last year, it seems they stay stretched until the new leaves emerge
Yes, once stretched the old leaves do not recover, so patience is required.
I'm giving my lithops a good watering every 2 weeks at the moment (summer in UK) and they are elongating, they are in a quite sunny position but I assumed they were stretching for even more light. However, according to these notes I shouldn't be watering during summer and the water is the reason for the elongation, not too much light. Do they ever stretch from lack of light as well? Thanks!
Yes they can stretch through lack of light, also from over fertilising. however it would be a good idea to cut back on the water a little. In the UK more light will most likely not hurt. Let us know how it goes.
Hi Johnny - I have a question regarding my lithops. I live in Cape Town South Africa, so my lithops have started splitting. But I noticed two of them are soft, squishy and wrinkled, but the have not split yet. Should I just leave it? Or water it? It also looks quite yellow... But I didn't water them at all during winter. What shall I do?
Please update 😭
Hi what should we do if we grow these plants under indoor conditions year round? I keep all my plants under grow lights so they never really have seasons. Can I just simulate the seasons by withholding water?
Your can buy grow lights that turn on and off the same time every day. Those lights usually have 6, 8, 12 hour days. You can shorten the time on so they think it's seasonal change
Hi, is planting lithops individually or in groups in a pot better? What pot size do u suggest for both?
Personally so long as you're in control of watering and drainage I don't suppose either would matter. I know a lot of people who grow to sell usually grow them in small groups and then put them in smaller pots individually to sell. Guess it depends on which aesthetic you prefer.
@@lolocaust4967 okk thank youuu
So if you water with abandoned lithops, what do you think about succulents? Or succulent propagation with leaves? So many people say don't water them but when they're sitting in the plant shops or nurseries or what have you, they are getting watered almost on a daily basis because a lot of places don't care about the leaf propagation so they leave them and there's always nice flowers and roots on them. From water. I kind of figured that if the leaves have Roots then they definitely need water. I'm not talking about soaking them but spraying that is a different story. What are your thoughts??
Where is part 1 ??
Way back here ua-cam.com/video/1xy1TB5qIGw/v-deo.html
Tenküşüñ merhaba🙌