Lithops, also called living stones or pebble plants, are unique succulent plants that you can find in southern Africa. These plants are small and look like rocks. They grow in dry conditions where they don’t get much rain and usually don’t get watered for many months in a row. Lithops survive in a desert by storing and consuming dew or mist water when there has been no rainfall for a long time.
Another thing that helps lithops to survive is the camouflage. These living stones have the appearance of two leaves, joined together, with one small ‘gap’ for future leaves and a flower (if it has one). On top of the leaves, there are a lot of small ‘holes’ or ‘gaps’, which are called epidermal windows. Different colors and patterns of these windows allow the lithops to consume more sunlight to produce energy through photosynthesis.
These patterns and colors also help create camouflage to blend in with other rocks, to hide from local animals that can eat lithops. Lithops, or living stones, are very small, with only two leaves. They also often stay low on the ground – sometimes below the soil to avoid getting sunburned. All of this is due to one reason – to survive, in harsh dry conditions without being eaten or without wasting too much water when it gets very hot.
First lithops were discovered in 1811, and then brought to Europe and later America almost hundred years later. People love these plants as they are little, cute and very unique – and not too hard to care for. So, let’s start learning about living stones or lithops, and how to plant them, care for them, water them and even propagate them! And then, we will discuss how you can use lithops for terrariums!
What is the ideal temperature for lithops (living stones)?
When buying the lithops, you should find the best spot for them, so they stay warm indoors. As we have already mentioned, lithops love hot temperatures. In their habitats, temperature can sometimes go up to 50 Celsius (122 Fahrenheit)!
The best temperature for them throughout the winter (January to March) is around 12-15 degrees Celsius (53-59 Fahrenheit). But if you can’t offer them this temperature, low of 8 Celsius (47 F) is the minimum optimal temperature. Make sure that the air is dry and don’t water them at all in winter. In summer, any high temperatures should do well, but try to give them at least 25 degrees Celsius (77 F). Everything will be different in tropical and hot climates (we will cover that in next questions).
Where should I keep my lithops?
Make sure that you keep your lithops in a very well-lit area. Direct sun rays should be reaching the plant for few hours a day, and the temperatures should be optimal. If you decide to leave it outdoors, make sure to shield it from the rain, as it might get overwatered or even watered when it should not be given any water at all. You can also keep lithops in a greenhouse, but not in one with high humidity levels or where it will not receive any direct sunlight. Southern side near the window of your house can be one of the most optimal places for direct sunlight for few hours a day. When there is no direct sunlight, indirect light is also optimal.
What is the size of the lithops?
Lithops are not big plants. Most of lithops’ width and height reach maximum 5-6 cm (around 2 inches).
Lithops leaves are dry. When should I remove lithops’ (living stone’s) leaves?
Don’t remove lithops’ leaves until the become fully dry and start coming off. When they start looking like dry crusts or shells, then it is the time to remove them. By that time, new pair of leaves should be formed already. New leaves often start growing during the winter (November or December) and finish the growth by spring. As lithops use the stored water from the old leaves to grow new ones, you should allow them to dry off completely. Remove them with tweezers approximately by the start of spring.
How much direct sun do lithops need?
Try providing your lithops with direct sun rays for 3 hours a day, if you can do so. After that, remove the plant and place in the shade so it doesn’t get burned. If throughout winter there has been little direct sun, increase sunlight exposure gradually in spring. Otherwise, your lithops will develop sunburns and scars. Sudden sunlight after little sunlight in winter will cause burns and even death of your plant. Take your time and increase sunlight times gradually. Add 10 minutes daily to reach that maximum.
What are life cycles of lithops? And what do they mean?
Your lithops have a growth cycle. There is a period of rest in winter (from January to March), when plant’s leaves 
grow, and they don’t need any water. The secret is, lithops use water that they have stored before winter, so don’t water them at all. The next period is growth period (from April to June), when plants grow and need water. After that comes blooming period (July to October), when flowers bloom at the end of autumn. The only thing to remember is that new lithops will start having their flowers only after three to four years of growth. November to December are times when old leaves start drying up and new ones start to grow.
Everything can be different if you grow you lithops in a tropical or hot climate. If the summer is very hot in your climate, with cool winter, then the cycle for lithops might be different. The difference here will be that lithops will be inactive during summer (as in their natural environment), where you don’t have to water them at all. Then, the growing cycle will be starting from Autumn and continuing up to spring time. This is the time when they need more water.
When and how often should I water lithops (living stones)?
Be careful when watering lithops. If you overwater your lithops, there is a big chance that its roots will rot, and the plant will die. Unfortunately, that is one the main mistakes that new keepers make. The main thing to remember is that you shouldn’t water your lithops in winter at all. The way lithops survive in winter and spring is by using all the water they have stored in previous months. You will see this in action when their leaves start drying out and becoming thin shells. Only when these leaves are fully dry, you should remove them and start watering your lithops around once in two weeks. This should be around April month – when they are growing new leaves. You can remove shells with tweezers.
The best practice is to spray the soil around the actual plant, without putting any water in the gap between two leaves or on top of leaves. This way you will block their epidermal windows and they won’t be able to get much sunlight.
One of the other ways to water your lithops is to use a spray mister pump, which effectively sprays water around the plant. It is especially useful when you have more than one plant which you keep in different parts or shelves in your house. Never water your lithops in winter, as they use previously stored water.
When the lithops are growing (mid spring or April to June), you should water your living stones by taking the pot and submerging it into the warm water (optional). If spraying, start with small spraying and increase the watering gradually. Also, make sure that the soil doesn’t hold any moisture and dries well and quickly. Before watering lithops again, soil should be completely dry. Otherwise, the plant will rot. You can judge if your lithops need water by touching the soil and watering them during right season.
Are there any diseases or pests that can hit lithops?
Yes. You should be careful as some pests, such as gnats, spider mites and some fungi can attack your living stones. If
you suspect anything (by seeing scars, spots or pests) use insecticide to remove them.
Which soil should I use for my lithops (living stones)?
The perfect soil for lithops should be an equal mix of clay soil, quartz sand and gardening pumice. You can cover the top of the soil with pebbles, too. Nitrogen levels should be very low in lithops fertilizers.
You can also buy a ready cacti soil mix (as they are also succulents) and add sand to it, in proportions of 2:1. Add pebbles or stones on top as well.
Where should I plant my lithops?
Plant your lithops in a small dish that is around 5-6 inches (12.5-15 cm) high. The dish should also have drainage holes. You should also add coarse sand on top of planted lithops, along with some rocks. By placing rocks near you lithops, you will get to see them camouflaging.
Are lithops toxic? Can you eat lithops?
While lithops are not toxic, you should avoid eating them. This is especially dangerous if you are using any insecticide that contains harmful substances.
How to propagate lithops?
To propagate lithops, use can use cuttings. You can decide to use cuttings only if your original lithops develops two heads, which form another pair of leaves. Then, this small bud that contains new pair of leaves will become a new 
lithops plant. If you don’t have this option, you can propagate lithops by using seeds. You will have to germinate the seeds. To get the seeds, you can either buy them or pollinate the flowers.
If you cross two plants (pollination) when they are both flowering, you will get the seeds which you will have to germinate later. You can also buy ready seeds and germinate them yourself. The process usually takes 15 days. Also, remember that if you germinate the seeds and plant new lithops, they will not flower for about 3 years.
So, how can you use lithops in terrariums?
If you would like to use your lithops in a terrarium, there are many ways to do so! You will only need to remember that you mustn’t plant them with other humidity loving plants (such as tropical rainforest plants), as they need only 
dry soil and sand. Another thing that you should remember is to only use open terrariums for lithops, as the moisture will build up inside a closed terrarium.
The best option with lithops is to plant them with other succulents, such as aloe, jade plant, cacti or others. Use any plant that you like and use succulent soil mix plus sand and rocks on top. This way you can recreate a desert landscape, where your lithops will camouflage among other rocks of similar color. Decorate your desert landscape with rocks, sand of different colors, and even figurines of desert animals!
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. Please comment with any questions that you have and share your ideas!