I got these little guys back in late April from Amazon of all places. I ordered some seeds (which sprouted but I under watered them so lost them already sadly) and lithops soil mix and received a total of 14 baby lithops as well. They all looked super healthy. I followed the instructions and watered them when I potted them (they came bare root). I placed them on a southeast facing window sill in the kitchen where they could get at least six hours of full sun a day.
I then had to repot them again in July when I accidentally knocked the pot over. I did not notice any damage and all 14 still looked great. They even had nice long established roots. I watered once again about a week after the second repot.
I am not new to plants and succulents but this is only my second attempt at lithops. My first batch was at the beginning of COVID and I know I over watered them and my living situation at the time did not allow me to give them ample light. I recently bought a house and thought with a better set up and more experience maybe I would be more successful. But since July I have lost three plants and I have a fourth that is melting into the soil. A few others are splitting with no sign of new leaves or a bloom… I don't think I've over watered them… They seem to be getting plenty of light. I do live in Southern NH and we have had some cool night recently but they are inside. I also started losing them before the cooler nights started.
What am I doing wrong?
by ii_worship
4 Comments
First it looks like you haven’t buried them deep enough in the soil, or they are etiolating and stretching for more light given that you are in NH. I’d probably first repot them and fill the soil line up to the brim of the pot so the light doesn’t get blocked by the rim. Then I’d bury them with maybe a little bit of the top out of the soil. Your soil mixture also looks pretty heavy on organic material. I’d switch to like a 10% soil, 40% sand, 50% vermiculite mix.
Looking at the pot, I’d say the soil looks too organic (which means it dries too slowly after watering), as they prefer 90-100% inorganic grit. Also the plants are potted too far down — all succulents should be planted level with the rim of the pot to maximize light and air flow.
Beyond that, I’m not sure as I can’t see what you’re calling “melting.” All of these look plenty full of water, with a few showing edema spots, and they are stretching trying to get more light. I’d guess soil and light for now.
Hello friend..
You can bury them all so that only the top part is exposed. The substrate must be on top and you must have it with a lot of inorganic materials, such as pumice stones, volcanic stone, perlite and 10% organic material.
Light. They need artificial light. They’re light hogs.