Lithops |
| The common name for Lithops is "Living Stones" or "Flowering Stones". Lithops were discovered in 1811 by John Burchell when by accident he bent down to pick up a curiously shaped pebble which actually turned out to be a small plant. Their subtle colors of grey, brown, rust, green and pink, combined with their fantastically intricate markings create a resemblance to the pebbles and stones amongst which they grow in southern Africa. Lithops usually produce a yellow or white flower during their growing season during the early winter or fall. They are self-sterile therefore they must be pollinated by bumble bees or similar insects. After flowering they go dormant again until spring when there is another push of new growth. Lithops are composed mostly of water and it has been said that the leaves can be eaten in an emergency to quench your thirst so, of course, they are non-toxic.  Lithops can be grown indoors - they need at least 4-5 hours of bright light a day along with good air flow - and can be kept in the same pot for years. Lithops should be kept on the dry side during the summer which is when they again go dormant - this time to conserve energy during the hot summer months. However if your Lithops start to shrivel during that time - especially if they are growing in a small container - an occasional light watering will keep them healthy. Growth resumes again around September/October It's difficult to say exactly how much water your plants will need based on the different variables of drainage, sunlight, heat and container size but as a rule of thumb it's better to keep them on the dry side. If you have any questions please contact Emma or come by our shop at 495 Leucadia Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024 |
Comments