LIGHT

• Requires maximum direct sunlight (at least 6-8 hours of direct sun) to maintain compact growth and prevent stretching.
• Place in a South-facing window—the brightest spot in the house.
• Insufficient light causes the plant to stretch vertically, searching for light (etiolation), which ruins their characteristic pebble shape and can lead to collapse.

WATER

• Extremely drought-tolerant and the most common plant to be killed by overwatering.
• Lithops have a strict, seasonal watering schedule that MUST be followed.NO WATER from late Fall through Winter (Nov-Feb), while the old leaves are being consumed by the new pair.NO WATER in mid-Summer (July-Aug), during the plant's natural dormant period.WATER SPARLINGLY only when the old leaves have completely withered and the new leaves appear soft or slightly sunken, usually in Spring and early Fall.
• Always err on the side of underwatering.

SOIL

• Needs an absolutely lean, mineral-based, non-organic, and extremely fast-draining mix.
• Use a mix of 10% organic matter (succulent soil) and 90% inorganic matter (pumice, crushed granite, coarse sand, or scoria).
• The soil must dry out almost instantly to mimic its rocky, desert environment.

GROWTH HABIT

• Ideal conditions: Full sun, warm days (70-85F), cool nights (50-60F), and zero humidity/moisture.
• Growth rate & size: Growth rate is extremely slow. Plants are typically 0.5 to 1.5 inches wide, with new leaves replacing old ones, and may produce offsets very slowly.

PROPAGATING

• Propagated exclusively by seed (a long and slow process) or by division of naturally clumping specimens when repotting.
• Do not propagate by leaf cuttings, as this will not work.

PRUNING

• No pruning is required or recommended. The plant is designed to conserve energy and replace its leaves naturally.
• Do not pull off the old, shriveled leaves during winter; allow the new leaves to fully consume the moisture and nutrients from the old ones.

REPOTTING

• Repot infrequently, typically every 3-5 years, or when the soil has degraded, or offsets need separating.
• Repot in late Spring when the old leaves are fully consumed.
• Use a deep pot (4-6 inches) to accommodate the long taproot, and plant in a very gritty mix.

FERTILIZING

• Do not fertilize. These plants thrive in lean, nutrient-poor soil.
• Fertilizer can easily burn the delicate roots or cause unnatural, soft growth, which makes them susceptible to rot.

FLOWERING

• Produces a single, daisy-like flower (white or yellow) that emerges from the fissure, usually in the early Fall.
• The flower opens in the afternoon sun and closes at night.
• Flowering is a sign of a very healthy plant.

TOXICITY

• Lithops are generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets.

PRO TIPS

• Watch the fissure: If new leaves are emerging and the old leaves are still plump, DO NOT WATER. This means the plant is "double-heading" and will rot.
• Etiolation (stretching) is the result of insufficient light and is irreversible.
• The entire life cycle, including watering, revolves around the seasonal growth patterns of the leaves.