I am going to have a go at growing these from seed has anyone else tried this. I have read that lithops need quite a deep pot because they have a long tap root? any suggestions on growing these would be brilliant!! Val
I've been growing them for years, all of mine originally came from seed. I usually grow them in half pots, not noticed a tap root. Just scatter the seed on the surface of very sandy compost, water from the base. Germination is quite rapid, but growth is slow. In the first year you will only have plants about 3mm across, it can take three to five years to flowering size. The seed capsules are interesting in the fact that they are tightly closed until they get wet, then they open and the seeds are scattered by water. You also must follow a strict watering regime, light watering from May to September, absolutely nothing for the rest of the year. There are other types, conophytums for example.
Thanks for that Pete, can I also ask what compost you use and what size pots you grow them in. Thank you Val
Val, bearing in mind the length of time from seed sowing to flowering, unless you're really keen on seed growing, it might be good to buy a few plants, they are quite cheap. As to compost, I find they will grow in anything as long as the drainage is complete. I've used JI with 50% grit added, pure sharp fine grit, multi purpose with sand and grit added, and Seramis clay granules. I've heard you can even use cat litter but not tried it. Small plants need small pots, but as the plants divide they form colonies so the pot Diameter needs to increase, but I've never used deep pots, only half pots. If the drainage is perfect, plastic ones are OK.
I've neglected mine the last couple of years, so some pics from a couple of years ago /July09278.jpg[/IMG]
Pete, these are amazing!!! if I can get mine to grow like this I shall be well pleased!! What are the plants in the last 2 pictures? are these conophytums? I went to 3 different garden centres yesterday to try and buy a few lithops and couldn't find even one!!!! so I have ordered a few off ebay . Do you keep yours indoors during the winter? Outdoors during summer? or in a greenhouse? thanks so much for your help I can't wait to get started now. Val
To be honest I'm not sure of the true ID of the last two, I think conophytums or opthalmophyllum, they all just grew from some mixed seed I grew years ago. I keep them in a frost free greenhouse all year. In full sun, never known them to scorch. In fact full sun is needed right now in order to shrivel the old leaves and show the new ones within.
