Hi everyone,
I’d like some advice about this Lithops schwantesii.
I bought it in March last year. During late summer/autumn, I watered it about once a month by bottom watering, then I stopped watering completely in October. It’s now May, so it has been almost 7 months without water.
I keep it on a south-east facing windowsill, where it gets morning/early-day light.
The issue is that the plant has never really changed much:
it has never flowered, it still hasn’t produced a new pair of leaves, and it has basically stayed the same, except that over time it has become quite stretched/etiolated. Now it also feels a bit soft/dehydrated.
In this condition, do you think I should water it, or should I keep waiting until I clearly see a new pair of leaves forming?
I’m worried about making it rot, but at the same time I don’t want to let it dry out too much.
I’m adding a few photos so you can see its current condition.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
by JonaPatt
5 Comments
I know and empathise with you OP, having previously had Lithops. They really fox us mortals….kind of like being un-communicative, when compared to other regular plants. One doesn’t know if one ought to water or not to water them and over watering is definitely detrimental to them.
Wishing you the best. With holding any advise because, all of mine went to heaven.
I’ve seen advice to water only when the top is sort of concave. Yours isn’t yet. In fact, it still looks chubby (and etiolated).
That said, I haven’t a clue even after owning (and killing many) lithops for 3 years. I watered my last 2 remaining lithops once in the past 12 months. They don’t look happy, but at least they haven’t died… yet. 😒
Only water when the top sinks in and looks flat, and it’s wrinkly.yours looks plump. They kinda start sinking into the soil when they are thirsty.
The reason you haven’t needed to water it is that its struggling with the lack of light badly, that’s why its pretty etiolated.
First step is introduce it to considerably more light slowly, water it very little to promote root growth since the roots are probably dead by now.
I’ve had these and they were so very difficult. I got nothing, OP.