Lithops Flowering and Splitting: What Is Normal in Autumn

After a quiet summer, lithops wake up as temperatures cool. Late summer and autumn is when these living stones put on their best show: plumping up, growing and producing surprisingly large flowers. Here is what to expect and how to care for them during this season.

The autumn growing season

As nights cool in late August and September, lithops begin active growth. This is the main time of year to water. When the plants look slightly soft or wrinkled and the soil is completely dry, give them a thorough soak and let the pot drain. Repeat when the soil has dried out again, typically every one to two weeks depending on light, temperature and pot size.

Flowering

A healthy, mature lithops (usually three years or older) produces a bud from the central slit between its leaves in autumn. Flowers are white or yellow and daisy-like, often larger than the plant itself. They typically open in the afternoon and close at night, lasting about one to two weeks.

• Bright light is the key to flowering. Plants grown in low light rarely bloom.
• Remove the dried flower carefully once it has faded to prevent rot.
• If you have two plants of the same species flowering at the same time, you can transfer pollen with a small brush and harvest seed later.

Late autumn: stop watering

As days shorten and growth slows in late autumn, reduce watering and stop completely by early winter.

Winter and spring: the split

Through winter, a new pair of leaves develops inside the old pair. You will see the old leaves begin to split apart and shrivel as the new ones push through. The new leaves feed on the water and nutrients stored in the old pair. Do not water during this process, even if the plant looks wrinkled — that is normal. Watering too early can cause the old leaves to keep growing and lead to stacking or rot.

Resume light watering only once the old leaves have dried into papery skins, usually in late spring.

Normal vs. not normal

• Normal: wrinkling during splitting, old leaves turning papery, slight color changes.
• Not normal: mushy or translucent leaves (overwatering), very tall and pale growth (too little light), sudden collapse (rot).

Understanding the yearly cycle is the secret to years of healthy living stones. Discover more easy plants in our succulent collection.