Hi everyone!
I recently got my first batch of Lithops from a shop in Phoenix (I'm in DC). They came loose so I quickly potted them in a succulent soil with 80% perlite. I bunches them together and let them sit. Now it's a week later and some are starting to split. One wrinkled up so hard and looks completely dried out that I separated it and watered it to see what will happen.
Now I'm just not sure what to do and what to change so here are my questions. I did go through the seasons guide, but I need something more visual so will keep looking.
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Should I separate all of them into their own pots? I know they need deep pots, but I'm worried about getting a pot that's too wide for it and having it stay too wet for too long.
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Should I water any of them? Some of them are starting to really shrivel up, but I'm not sure if it's still too soon. Like 8 and 4
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What do I do with the ones that are already splitting open? I'm worried about disturbing their process.
Thanks for any and all help. This is my first time raising Lithops and I'm really excited, but nervous about them.
by Rexuss
2 Comments
#2 and #5 may be splitting, butthe others are just dry — they usually get their roots trimmed for shipping, so they all need some water to wake them up. and as you can see, not all species are on the same clock.
my usual approach with new lithops is to water them all lightly, like with a squirt bottle, a week after potting. then some 3-5 days later, I give them a deep water. the first sort of wakes them up, so that they have new root growth with which to take up water from the second. you could pass up the splitting ones with the second watering, unless the inner leaves look wrinkly.
good luck!
I’d pot them up separately if I were you. I’ve got some lithops seedlings that I’ve potted together due to sheer numbers and watering them correctly is a total pain. You’ve got different varieties here so you’ll have the same problem.
My experience with potting lithops is they don’t care that much, so it shouldn’t bother the ones that are splitting. Like your other commenter though, don’t water immediately after repotting. Any transplant shock or root damage can lead to rot if its not healed so I also wait about a week.
I’d water the shriveled ones in your place. It’s not technically the time of year for it (assuming you’re in the northern hemisphere), but they look like they need it. I’m guessing you know already not to water the splitting ones and again, thats why I recommend potting lithops separately.