Calling all succulent enthusiasts! This one-of-a-kind houseplant may be worth adding to your collection.
Living stones are rare little succulents that have evolved to resemble pebbles and rocks.
That’s why they are also called pebble plants and the botanical name is Lithops spp.
These thin, split succulents are native to South Africa’s deserts, but they’re widely available in garden centers and nurseries.
These plants cling to the ground and grow at a snail’s pace.
Since the plants go dormant and aren’t actively growing during the hot summer months and the winter months, they’re best planted in the spring or fall.
Taking care of living stones
Because of their unusual appearance, living stones are a fascinating plant to grow. They’re also very low maintenance.
However, they have certain unique environmental requirements that must be met for them to thrive.
Indeed, Lithops looks like little pebbles, but some say they resemble butts.
These plants need the most amount of light possible.
If you’re growing them indoors and don’t have access to a bright window, you might need to get a supplementary artificial grow light.
Besides that, proper watering is perhaps the most important aspect of caring for living stones.
Drought tolerance is high in these plants, but too much water can easily destroy them, particularly if it encourages rot or fungal growth. Luckily, there aren’t many diseases or pests that affect living stones.
As a result, if you take a mostly hands-off approach to their treatment, they can flourish.
In general, for about half of the year, you won’t have to do anything for your plants other than keeping an eye on them to make sure they’re safe.
Year-round, living stones prefer full sun, with at least six hours of sunshine on most days.
When growing them indoors, position them near the brightest window, preferably one with southern or eastern exposure. Elongated leaves and poor leaf coloring may result from a lack of light.
Sandy soil with good drainage is ideal for these plants.
Cacti want a potting mix that is specifically designed for them.
Living stones must be watered on a seasonal basis to simulate the rainfall they will receive in their natural environment.
When the plant is dormant in the winter, don’t water it.
And, until the new leaves appear in the spring, water once the soil dries out just enough to become slightly damp. During the other idle time in the summer, stop watering.
However, watering should be resumed in the fall, just before the plant is ready to bloom.
If the leaves begin to shrivel up fully when the plant is dormant, you may give it a small amount of water to revive it.
Living stones are heat resistant and can withstand temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
They thrive in temperatures ranging from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity is generally not a problem as long as the soil doesn’t stay wet for long periods of time and the plants have sufficient air circulation.
These plants thrive in poor soil and don’t need a lot of food.
As a result, fertilizer is rarely needed. Although these plants only rise about an inch above the soil, give them a 3 to a 5-inch deep container.
There should be plenty of drainage holes in the pot.
You likely won’t have to re-pot your living stones for many years as they grow so slowly.
If you have several in a pot that is becoming cramped, carefully dig up each plant you want to re-pot, keeping its roots intact. Then, place it in a new pot that’s slightly deeper than the length of its roots, filling around it with fresh cactus potting mix.
Living stones also have many different varieties, with different colors and patterns.
These succulents are truly beautiful and enjoyable to have in your house.
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