A perennial plant of lithops from the genus Succulents, the family of Aiza, often called a living stone. It grows in the deserts of Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Chile). Collectors love it for its variety of colors and unique patterns on the leaves.
The very word "Lithops" is of Greek origin and literally translates as "having the appearance of a stone." The plant was first introduced to Europe by botany researcher John William Burchel. He met lithops on the Cape of Good Hope and described in his catalog on geography, which was published in 1815.
Description of lithops
On the surface of the soil, the plant looks like two fused, false-cut fleshy leaves, separated by a narrow groove and similar to smooth small stones or sea pebbles. Lithops learned to mimic the color and topography of the soil, taking a color from light green to blue, from beige to brown.
- This tiny plant grows to 5 cm in height no more than 4 cm wide. There is no stem in lithops.
- The leaves are small in size, have a round shape on the sides, on top of a flat shape. Their height and width are approximately the same - up to 5 cm. New shoots and a flower-bearing arrow grow out of a crevice between a pair of old leaves.
- Flowers with a diameter of 2.5-3 cm are similar to white and yellow daisies, in some types of orange (red-headed lithops) color. Some have a pronounced smell. For the first time, buds open at noon. Flowering lasts a little more than a week.
- The root system of plants is highly developed, several times larger than its aerial part. With severe drought, the roots seem to draw leaf blades into the soil, thereby saving them and themselves from death.
Popular types of lithops
In total, 37 varieties of lithops were recorded and described. But these plants rarely appear on sale.
Most Popular:
| Title | Leaves | Flowers |
| Olive green | Malachite color with bright dots on the upper edge. Fused over almost the entire height, with a diameter of 2 cm. | Yellow |
| Optics | Separated almost from the base, slightly elongated upwards. The color is muffled green, gray. There are individuals of purple color. | White, with cream stamens. |
| Aucamp | Dark, gray-green, brown on the surface. 3-4 cm high. | Yellowish, relatively large, up to 4 cm in diameter. |
| Leslie | Small, not higher than 2 cm. Bright green, dark from above, mottled. | White, with a pronounced pleasant aroma. |
| Marble | Gray, with a color transition from bottom to top from light to dark. They expand upward, which makes the plant resemble a heart in shape. | In diameter, larger than leaves (5 cm). Sand color. |
| Brownish | Tselindrovidnye, flattened at the top. Brown shade with brown, almost chocolate and red specks and stripes. | Small lemon yellow. |
| Volka | They are chirp-like, have a whitish tint. Coloring from blue-gray to brown-lilac. The surface is dotted with spots. The cleft is shallow, divides the leaves into unequal lobes. | Golden |
| Pintle | Brown with a brick red tint. Together they have an elongated shape, resemble coffee beans. | Some of the most beautiful and largest. Their size is 4 cm in diameter. The color changes from white in the core to pink in the middle and coral red at the edges. |
| Beautiful | Matte green with smoky bloom. Rounded, deeply dissected, each individually resembles a drop, and, connected in pairs, they look like a broken heart. | White with a dark yellow middle, bloom in September, exuding a pleasant aroma. |
Until now, scientists have discovered and described new types of lithops. So, the last one, Lithops amicorum appeared in 2005.
Lithops in the wild
Under natural conditions, the life and development of these plants depends on the season, i.e. seasons of drought and rains:
- In summer, in the dry period with long daylight hours, the plant is at rest.
- During rains that fall in autumn, lithops grows actively, throws an arrow with a bud, fades, forming a fruit.
- In winter, when daylight is short, a new pair begins to develop under the cover of old leaves. It feeds and grows at the expense of those that are on the surface, gradually drying and thinning them.
- In spring, the rainy season sets in again, old leaves burst, giving way to new ones. Those, in turn, are saturated with moisture, increase in volume to the size of an adult leaf.
Lithops in their native habitat depend on the abundance of moisture, heat and photoperiodicity, that is, lighting. These factors should be considered when growing plants indoors.
Interestingly, the gap between each new pair of leaves is perpendicular to the previous one. Sometimes, instead of two, four sheets may appear in the light, fused in pairs. In this case, their root system will be common. So over the years, a colony of lithops grows. They look like independent plants, but have a common root system.
Lithops care at home
Lithops learned to survive where ordinary plants are doomed to death. They grow well and even bloom at home with careful care. To do this, you must follow a few rules.
Watering
Enough 3-4 teaspoons of water. They should be evenly distributed along the edge of the pot and used to moisten the pan. Water must not be allowed to fall on the leaves and, moreover, linger in the sinuses.
From one watering to another, the soil should dry completely. And the fact that the plant needs moisture, will tell a slightly wrinkled peel of the leaves.
Most lithops are afraid of overflow. The leaves are designed to accumulate moisture and can be rotted if irrigated excessively. To save such instances is almost impossible.
Pot, soil, drainage
For the full development of a powerful root system, you need a deep and wide pot, on the bottom of which a drainage layer is placed. To avoid drying out of the soil, pebbles or decorative pebbles can be placed in the container. The soil is the same as for cacti: light and breathable.
Location, lighting
Like all succulents, they love bright places. They develop well and grow on window sills facing south or east. Burning sunlight can cause a thermal burn.
It is important that the lithops are in the same place, they can not be moved, rotated, because this can make them sick. Do not tolerate drafts and overheating in winter.
Fertilizers, processing
Fertilizers do not need. But they prefer soil replacement and transplantation at least every 2 years. Every year, in late autumn, the leaves and the soil beneath them must be treated with insecticides (Actara, Spark, etc.). Caution must be exercised. The drugs are poisonous.
Seasonal Care Features
| Season | Conditions | Watering |
| Summer | Rest period. | Ceases. If absolutely necessary, only the topsoil is moistened. |
| Autumn | The plant is awakening. | Abundant but rare required. A flower arrow appears between the leaves. A flower blooms. |
| Winter | Growth is slowing. | Stop it. An adult pair of leaves begins to dry. The temperature in the room is reduced to + 10 ... 12 ° C. |
| Spring | Old leaves die off and are replaced by new ones. | Renew. |
Reproduction, transplantation
At home, it is easy to grow lithops from seeds. Sowing them is better in early spring.
Step-by-step instruction for growing from seeds:
- Prepare the ground. Mix peat, river sand, garden soil, crushed red brick in equal parts, calcine.
- In the landing box with low sides, put the soil, level, lightly tamp, thoroughly moisten it.
- Soak the seeds in a solution of manganese for 6 hours.
- Raw spread over the surface of the soil.
- To fill up with a small layer of soil. Cover the drawer with glass or tighten with cling film.
- Set the fluctuation of night and day temperatures from +10 ° C to +20 ° C.
- Every day arrange ventilation for several minutes, open the glass, wipe the condensate, moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
- With proper care, after 6-8 days, the seeds will germinate and shoots will appear.
- Begin with caution real watering, do the ventilation longer, but do not completely remove the shelter.
- After 1.5 months, when the plants are formed and strengthened, peek into pots of 2-3 pieces. When grouped, they are more actively developing.
Transplant lithops should be when they grow greatly. Do this with caution so as not to deepen the growth zone and not expose the roots. It is best in light pots so that the root system does not overheat.
Diseases and pests of lithops
| Disease | Signs | Remedial measures |
| Mealybug | The leaves are covered with white plaque, yellow spots appear. | Wash with soapy water, treat with insecticides (Actara, Spark, etc.) |
| Root worm | The edges of the pot are covered with white coating, the roots are gray. | Transfer. The roots are washed with hot water, treated with insecticides. The cache-pot is being replaced. |
| Aphid | Leaves, container are covered with a sticky transparent coating, similar to sugar syrup. Visible insects. | Wipe with a soap solution, sprayed with tobacco infusion or insecticides. |
Having bought once, it is impossible to remain indifferent to this amazing plant, resembling cold stones in appearance, but keeping a piece of sultry desert inside. Lithops is unpretentious and open to meet everyone, gratefully reacts to care and annually pleases with modest flowering and delicate aroma.
