Why people love it
Lithops are pure camouflage: two fused leaves, flat-topped and patterned like the stones around them. In autumn, a daisy-like yellow or white flower pushes out of the gap between the leaves. Then, through winter, a whole new pair of leaves grows inside the old pair. The old leaves slowly shrivel away like a papery shell.
Care in a nutshell
- Don’t water during the leaf change. The new leaves feed on the water stored in the old ones. Extra water now can make them split or rot. Wait until the old leaves are dry and papery.
- Thirsty lithops look wrinkled and soft. In their growing season (autumn), water deeply when they shrink a little — then let them dry out completely.
- Sun, sun, sun. In low light they stretch tall and lose their pebble shape.
Watch out for
- Splitting or cracking skin: too much water, especially during the leaf change.
- Tall, pale bodies: not enough light.
Fun fact: Lithops comes from Greek for “stone-like”. Some species were only discovered because a botanist picked up what he thought was an odd-looking pebble.
