Houseplants: Lithops Seedlings....guide me through this :)

Replies: 61 Views: 612

Author	Comment
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) June 08, 2009 01:34 PM	Hi, i have recently planted some Lithops seeds, and now the seedlings are about a month old now. I am wondering how old they should be before i start to hold back a little bit on the water, also any other tips would be appreciated! By the way this is a batch of mixed lithops View Larger
Skyla_Smith Exeter United Kingdom June 08, 2009 05:15 PM	Well these plants originate from southern Africa so they dont need alot of water at all. These plants go through stages and from what ive been told/have learnt - in the summer months they become dormant so they need very little watering, and if they are watered too much in the summer then the rots will rot and turn to mush. In the fall about August time the seeds will start growing so they will need watering a little more. Let the soil completely dry out around september/october time and dont water in winter. Then springs comes and this is when your plants need watering the most but this is a gradual thing. Start watering with a little water then add a little more then a little more etc working up to a gradual drenching, always let the soil dry up before the next watering. Reduce watering when the longer hotter days arrive. I would also just mention SPIDER MITES your plants are suseptable to these horrible pests and as they are so small they can go un-noticed but if you see your leaves going whitish then you know you have them and that will need to be sorted out asap Hope i helped :)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) June 08, 2009 06:39 PM	thanks, that helped a bunch! I'll post more pictures of these guys as they get bigger and change....then it will be I.D. time, LOL that will be tough since lithops arent very clear about which species they are when they just get that very first pair of true leaves.
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom June 09, 2009 03:31 AM	Oh I love lithops. How did you manage from seed? Were they easy? I don't have any but I'd quite like to grow some from seed (if our garden centres have them). I kow your plants are way too young but I found this link http://www.interq.or.jp/earth/plants/lithops-001.html which seemed to show different varieties.
Cerahipp Hobart Australia June 09, 2009 08:18 AM	Gooday dalmatian_fan87. I grew Lithops from my own collected seed - You get about 200 seed from a mature seedpod from one good Lithops flower. They came up like grass BUT died off one by one slowly. Can you get some small plastic pots (2" square ?) to pot them up separately and stop cross infection between them. Sterilize (at c. 200 degrees F for half an hour) some very gritty soil, transplant the seedlings and just wait for 6 or so months. Keep them in a well-lit place but not in full sun. I got abouit 10% up to a reasonable size in 12 months but I hope you will be more successful. Identifying the specied when they come up is totally another story since bought seed probably is hybrid. What does it matter! they are still really COOL plants. Cheers and good luck Cerahipp (Col.)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) June 09, 2009 12:26 PM	yes i agree with you there Cerahipp, they are one of the most interesting plants ive ever seen. So far i have not lost a single seedling the whole month that they have started growing. They get sun but they are also shaded a little by the window blinds....and on cloudy days i have a desk lamp with a flourescent bulb turned on over top of them. So far they seem to be loving it! :)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) June 21, 2009 06:44 PM	Ok, now these guys are TWO months old, so here is another picture of them... View Larger
Skyla_Smith Exeter United Kingdom June 22, 2009 04:12 AM	Wow, looks like they are doing really well, they look mega healthy, you have obviously got green thumbs :) Look forward to seeing them as they grow up, if you post more photos :)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) June 22, 2009 03:17 PM	oh i will definately keep this thread updated with a new pic of these guys every month, so you can comare pictures and see how they are changing
Cerahipp Hobart Australia June 26, 2009 08:45 AM	Dalmatian_fan87. I'm real envious of your lovely pot of Lithops seedlings. Hope you get them to flowering (3 years or so!) and collect your own seed. I have no chance here at present - temp. has been below 2 degrees outside at night for just over 2 weeks and we have had buckets of rain for nearly a month. Even bad for Tasmania and no good for Lithops growing!!
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) June 26, 2009 10:34 AM	Hi Cerahipp. Well i have read where these guys can be grown as house plants too, as long as they get the light requirements they need. Thats my plan for this batch is to grow them as house plants, so they have been inside the whole time :)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) July 14, 2009 11:36 PM	ok guys, here is month THREE of the lithops adventure! They are really getting plump and happy if you ask me! View Larger
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom July 21, 2009 03:45 AM	Aw they are still so tiny. I do like the fact you keep posting pictures so we can see their progress, they've fattened up since your first photo of them.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) July 21, 2009 10:43 AM	thanks! Id say that the biggest one is about like this ---> O
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) July 21, 2009 06:35 PM	ive noticed that a FEW of those things are changing shape....they went from being shaped like an upside down cone, to being kind of chunky at the bottom, changing them to a cylinder shape instead of the cone shape.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) August 13, 2009 08:04 PM	Ok, heres month 4. They have apparently stopped getting any bigger. Does this mean they are working on their TRUE leaves now, and does that also mean i should slow down on water? View Larger
Cerahipp Hobart Australia August 14, 2009 10:08 AM	You still have a healthy lot of lovely Lithops. I just have a couple of comments (from experience many years ago). They will survive drying so you could decrease the water slightly. The other comment, I would be concerned that they were crowned together so that IF a little damping off infection got in, it could spread. I think that, even at this tender age transplanting could be tried with a few, Use a small tool like an old butter knife (sterilised of course) and try moving the most crowded into small pots of identical soil mixture. This is my best considered advice AND I have got my fingers crossed.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) August 14, 2009 12:16 PM	I have a pair of tweezers that i could grab onto the larger ones to take them out and repot That way the smaller ones have some more room. Ill take care of that later tonight then post more pics of them
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) August 15, 2009 03:44 PM	i found out that i had enough room in the original pot that i could just spread the seedlings out a little bit instead of having to put them in new pots. View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) August 15, 2009 06:48 PM	I have my eyes on that biggest one (center left), that one looks most promising, well...they ALL do, but im really watching that large one :)
Cerahipp Hobart Australia August 16, 2009 09:55 AM	That looks a really good distribution of plants now dalmation_fan87. That way you might lose one ot two that's life (or natural selection!) But you are much less likely to get damping-off. Just keep a natural warm, dryish air-flow over them. I will join you growing Lithops with some seeds (from my own plants) in a couple of months hopefully. Very busy at present shrinking my garden to one third its past size so I can afford the land since the suburbs have swamped us and hiked up the land prices!
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom August 18, 2009 06:01 AM	They are still sooooo cute :)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) September 08, 2009 01:08 PM	Ok, here is Lithops Seedlings Month 5....not much apparently going on from the outside, but some are getting a bit chunky at the base View Larger
Skyla_Smith Exeter United Kingdom September 08, 2009 01:30 PM	aww, they are still soooo cute :)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) September 10, 2009 06:06 PM	I went to check on my seedlings today...i noticed something about one of them. Its split that divides the two leaves has opened! Is there anything special i need to do with this one, or should i just leave it be?
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom September 14, 2009 08:16 AM	I love seeing the updated photos. I can't help with what to do unfortunately; don't they flower from the middle? I know it's way too early for a flower, but I was just wondering...
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) September 14, 2009 09:41 AM	I think there are lots of us following this. I had some a couple of times and killed them all.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) September 14, 2009 12:36 PM	oh they surely do flower dipsey, but i got something like a 3 year wait before i would see that. But both the flower, AND the new leaves will come up through the fissure. I look down in the open ones and so far they all just look green. Could be for two reasons....i either have some green cultivars in the seed mix, or the new leaves havent been exposed to the sun long enough to build their color
mamawsharon Poole, KY September 16, 2009 04:10 PM	Thanks for sharing your experience with the lithops. I love them and purchased a few to try. They aren't seeds but if you continue your luck with them I may try raising them from seeds. I am raising a few unknown varieties of cactus from seed and so far so good. Please continue to keep us posted.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) September 17, 2009 12:24 AM	oh i most certainly will! :)
barhea7 (Bre) Sellersville, PA (Zone 7a) September 17, 2009 08:53 AM	Hello. I've been following your thread b/c I have some Lithop seeds that I have been wanting to start. Can you tell me how you started them? What kind of soil mix did you use? Sand & soil? Did you use grow lights or a heat mat? Do you remember how long they took to come up? Thanks so much for your help! bre
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) September 17, 2009 03:00 PM	Hi barhea! I planted my lithops in a mix of course sand and potting soil....then i put a thin layer of fine sand on top so that the seeds wouldnt get lost down in the cracks of the soil. When i first sewed them, i put a piece of syran wrap over the pot to keep the humidity up just until they have all sprouted, then i took it off, and i water them with a misting bottle while they are small so i wont scatter them all over the place. I let the sun shine on them through open blinds during the day, then i turn on a florecent grow light over top of them during the night until im ready for bed. It takes about 7 days for all of them to come up...maybe 14 days for the slow stragglers.
barhea7 (Bre) Sellersville, PA (Zone 7a) September 17, 2009 04:43 PM	Great! Thanks so much for all of your help ~ I look forward to reading/seeing yours
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) September 24, 2009 04:15 PM	I know it hasnt been a full month since my last picture of these guys but i HAVE to show you them again, LOL! They are now starting their trip to adulthood, ive circled the ones that are working on their true leaves now. View Larger
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom September 25, 2009 05:11 AM	Are those the ones that looked like they had a split in them?
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) September 25, 2009 10:15 AM	the ones i circled, were the ones i said the fissure that is on the top of the plants opened up.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) October 04, 2009 08:53 PM	I was wondering if it was safe to transplant those lithops who are making true leaves into another pot, or would moving them mess them up? There are still plenty of other lithops that have not begun the change yet, so i still want to water them some.....but i worry if i will ever rot the ones that ARE changing. Any ideas?
jmp24 Medford, NJ October 07, 2009 08:44 AM	how cute. I am fascinated by these plants, but have killed every one I have ever bought.... =(
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) October 07, 2009 12:43 PM	month 6..... View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) October 07, 2009 12:45 PM	im also experimenting a bit....with those first lithops that are forming true leaves....i have isolated them into another pot so i wont rot them while im watering the ones that are still not yet changing. View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) October 07, 2009 12:48 PM	im now going to attempt getting close ups of the ones that are forming true leaves.....it was kind of tricky....my camera NORMALLY wouldnt get shots this clear, this close up......but i put a magnifying glass in front of the camera lens......still not PERFECT clarity, but clear enough you can see some details. View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) October 07, 2009 12:50 PM	close up #2 View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) October 07, 2009 12:51 PM	close up #3 View Larger
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom October 09, 2009 06:21 AM	Ha brilliant idea with the magnifying glass - I did that once with binoculars to get a good photo of a ship haha. Just a tip - if you have a digital camera it should have a macro setting which is good for magnifying in on small things and picking up the detail (if you didn't know already). Otherwise, they are sooooooo cute.
femluc Elizabethton, TN (Zone 6b) October 29, 2009 04:22 PM	I purchased seeds for these and have them growing quite well. They are still in their infancy, well, maybe toddlers now, but they seem healthy. I also potted them in fine sand and potting soil with a bit of sand sprinkled on the top. They are still quite small, but at about 4 months old, they are have certainly surprised me. The pictures you have posted look quite similar to what I have. I, however, still have them covered in clear plastic wrap where they are still getting their own natural moisture. I know that they will eventually need to be transplanted, but I dread moving them. I found a great website to purchase them that you might like to check out. It is http://www.seedrack.com. They are great to deal with and I have had great success with my orders there. Thought I would share my thoughts on these highly unusual, wonderful creatures called Lithops. Have growing!
femluc Elizabethton, TN (Zone 6b) October 29, 2009 04:24 PM	That was Happy Growing! but my fingers got in the way. (smile).
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) October 29, 2009 08:14 PM	oh i LOVE that site fem! Its where i got some of my heirloom tomato seed from! i have bought and TRIED to grow lithops seed from them before but the first time it didnt work out because i had the wrong soil.....the grains were too big and the seeds got lost in the soil....i never did see anything come up from that bunch......but this other method im using seems to be working great......a few more days and it will be time to get more monthly pics of them. :)
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 01, 2009 01:57 PM	Ok, heres month 7 for these little guys... View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 01, 2009 01:58 PM	the changing plants... View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 01, 2009 01:59 PM	i managed some better clarity close ups this time.... close up #1 View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 01, 2009 02:02 PM	close up #2.....im wondering if this one is Otzeniana "Aquamarine" View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 01, 2009 02:03 PM	close up #3 View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 01, 2009 02:04 PM	close up #4 View Larger
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 01, 2009 02:05 PM	and close up #5 View Larger
amalie63 Duncan, OK (Zone 7a) November 02, 2009 01:16 AM	Dalmatian, they are sooo cute and tiny. they sure are slow to grow arent they?
femluc Elizabethton, TN (Zone 6b) November 02, 2009 12:11 PM	This is very exciting to see their progress with mine only months behind. They do look great! I am quite anxious to see them mature into full grown plants, but I will enjoy them every step of the way.
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) November 02, 2009 12:22 PM	I have been following these from the beginning. I never thought I would be so fascinated by these little guys as I am. Thank you so much for sharing this!
pirl Southold, NY (Zone 7a) November 02, 2009 12:43 PM	I agree!
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 02, 2009 01:45 PM	Im glad to show them off! ;) I just wonder when i should treat the changed plants like adults---and not give them water until they ABSOULUTELY need it, perhaps when the seed leaves are COMPLETELY dry and gone?
femluc Elizabethton, TN (Zone 6b) November 02, 2009 05:13 PM	I am sure there is a logical answer to that thought dalmation, and one which I certainly will research for my own. I have mine in small 3x3 pots tucked securely in a zippered sandwich bag and have yet to give them any water. I have not seen any moisture or condensation in the bag in a few weeks and have wondered if I need to mist them. They are still so tiny, it really is hard to tell what they are doing or needing at this point. I hoped they would let me know when they needed it, but maybe not? Did you mist yours at the beginning? They are quite an interesting group of little guys for sure.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 02, 2009 08:46 PM	when i sowed the seeds, they got a good misting every single day...slowly reducing how frequently they get water as they got older, and ever since they started growing their true leaves, ive been giving them a good misting every 3 or so days instead of every day.
dalmatian_fan87 Cascade, VA (Zone 7a) November 08, 2009 06:19 PM	you know, the more i look at the NOW adult plant in post #7230402, the more i am leaning towards thinking i have Olivacea V. Olivacea...see the picture of the adult plant, then look at my plant http://www.lithops.info/en/gallery/lithops_c55.html im also thinking that the plant in Post #7230409 is some kind of species of Lesliei http://www.lithops.info/en/gallery/lithops_lesliei.htmld of lithops les