Should You Water Lithops After Repotting?

Lithops do not like to be overwatered so you should never repot Lithops unless it is absolutely necessary. You should only repot a Lithops if you are changing the location of your plant, or your pot has cracked or it is broken. You must always be careful when repotting Lithops as they are very fragile. If they get stressed, they will take in much more water than usual, and this can cause them to die.

If they are full when repotted, plants should not require water for several weeks. They need to replenish lost roots, but unless there is sufficient moisture, they will only mend the remaining roots. You should not worry about whether you repot your Lithops too soon. 

Even though Lithops are a succulent, they grow slowly. They will only grow up to six inches a year in the first few years after you purchase them and each year, the growth rate will be less.

When the plant is fully grown and has finished flowering, it will continue growing at a slower rate. It can take several years before your Lithops reaches its mature size, but once it does, it will continue to grow for many more years. You should not repot your Lithops when it is fully grown.

If you are not sure if you should repot your Lithops, you should wait at least six weeks and make sure the roots have completely healed before repotting. You should repot your growing Lithops in the spring or late summer, but try to avoid repotting them during the winter. Never leave a Lithops in a pot that is too small as it can stunt its growth.

What Soil Do You Plant Lithops In?

Lithops require well-drained soil, similar to cacti. Add sharp sand, perlite, decomposed granite, or other gritty material to ordinary houseplant potting mix to promote drainage, or use cactus-specific potting mix. You will have better success with Lithops if you use a coarse, well-draining sandy soil that contains very little organic matter.

When you are unable to find the correct kind of soil, coarser soils that drain quickly may be used instead. Avoid fine-textured soils as they tend to remain damp for longer periods of time and can cause the plant’s leaves to rot. You should avoid planting your Lithops in soil that is high in peat, manure or compost as these substances can cause the leaves to rot.

When repotting your Lithops, you should transplant it into a one size larger pot. You should place the plant in only a slight amount of potting mix as they do not like to be over watered.

The part of the plant that emerges from the soil should be slightly above the soil line. You should also remove the small piece of soil that has formed where the roots exit the pot and replace it with a small amount of new mix. The plant should not go into shock when you repot it.

How Do You Tell If Your Lithops Are Dying?

Lithops that are yellow and shriveled suggest an issue typically caused by overwatering the plant. To rescue a Lithops that has been overwatered, you must first determine the cause of the issue. When lithops is overwatered, it develops yellowing leaves, soft stems, and rotten roots.

The soil should be dry, but it should not be hard and should still be slightly damp. The following are some of the sign to observe if Lithops is dying;

Yellow leaves:

The best way tell if Lithops is dying is yellow leaves that cause by over watering. When Lithops are under watered they will lose their dark coloring and turn pale or yellow. If the leaves become dark green, this usually indicates that your Lithops has been over watered. Too much or little sunlight also can cause yellowing of the leaves.

Soft or Rotten Roots

Soft or rotten roots are another sign that your Lithops is dying. If a Lithops is too wet it will begin to rot and this can result in soft feeling roots. You should also check the roots for signs of rot.

Curling leaves:

Another way to tell that Lithops is dying, is if the leaves are curling. This is an indication that the plant needs water. If a Lithops starts curling its leaves, this usually means that it has been over watered. You should not water Lithops in the morning, because if you do this it will cause the soil surrounding your Lithops to dry out and you will then be forced to re-water it. This is because moisture evaporates more quickly in the morning than it does at night.

Wilted leaves:

Wilting of leaves is also a sign that your Lithops is dying. You should not allow your Lithops to go too long without water as this will cause the plant’s leaves to wilt and can result in death of your plant. You should check your Lithops often and water it when the top of the soil is dry, but before the plants leaves start to wilt.

Mushy leaves:

Another way to tell that your Lithops is dying is if its leaves have become soft and mushy. This usually indicates that your Lithops has died because if a Lithops becomes too wet, it will rot and this will result in rotting of its leaves. You should always check the water level of your Lithops as they can easily drown in a bowl of water.

Drooping leaves:

Drooping leaves is another sign that your Lithops is dying. If you have accidentally over watered your Lithops, this will result in the plant’s leaves becoming limp and sagging. You should only water your Lithops after the soil has completely dried out, but do not allow the soil to dry out between watering.

You should use a plant sprayer to water your Lithops. This will allow you to carefully direct the water toward the base of the plant and helps reduce risk of over watering.

Brown leaves:

Brown leaves is another sign that your Lithops is dying. Browning of leaves indicates an over watering problem and can kill your Lithops if it continues for too long. You should immediately change the soil if it is too wet and not allow the air to reach the roots of your plant.

Crispy leaves:

Another sign that your Lithops is dying is crispy leaves. If your Lithops is too hot, it will cause the leaves to become dry and crispy. You should check the temperature of the area that you have placed your Lithops. You should also avoid placing your Lithops in direct sunlight or near a source of heat.

Can You Grow Lithops Indoors?

Lithops are attractive novelty indoor plants because they thrive in low humidity, need little watering and maintenance, and are easy to cultivate. Due to their modest size and gradual, compact development, these plants require little space. They also lack the intricate features of other succulents, which may be seen as an advantage to some people.

Other than room temperature, these plants require little attention making them a low-maintenance option. It is easy to grow Lithops indoors as long as you are able to monitor your water levels and give them enough indirect sunlight for their needs.

These plants prefer a lower humidity environment and can live in areas with a high rate of temperature fluctuations and lower humidity than ideal.

The soil should be porous and moist, but not wet. These plants can survive in low light, as long as this does not exceed 6 hours per day. This is enough for them to grow, but does not overheat their leaves. Twice a week, it is recommended that you mist your Lithops with water to keep the leaves moist and prevent browning or curling of their leaves.

Due to the sensitive nature of Lithops and the need for proper care and conditions, they are best kept indoors. Lithops specifically do not handle heat well and can easily be damaged by heat or cold. Lithops are also susceptible to over-watering, which can easily kill them.

Due of its environmental sensitivity, cultivating succulents can be challenging for novice gardeners. Plant Lithops in a bright interior location, such as a window sill, but do not anticipate rapid growth. In late summer and fall, look for yellow or white blossoms.

Is A Cactus A Lithops?

Lithops are succulent desert plants that can withstand temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the optimal temperature range for their growth is between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The most common cultivars are grown outdoors in the summer and are placed on a south-facing windowsill to grow indoors in the winter.

Lithops would be killed by frost, so they should never be placed outside during freezing weather. The leaves of Lithops plants may curl or turn brown during times of drought. This is because their leaves only contain moisture stored from the previous rains, so if it does not rain for an extended period of time, their leaves will begin to dry out.

It also helps to mist the leaves of your Lithops with water to keep them moist. Overwatering can cause root rot in your Lithops and can be easily prevented by checking the moisture level of your soil daily and allowing it to dry out between watering.

Lithops are usually located near a south or south-facing window to get sunlight, but they do best when there is direct sunlight coming through the window. You should keep an eye on the temperature of your Lithops, because overheating will cause their leaves to curl and brown.