Create your own unique garden🌾🌾Organic Lithops seeds

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These are small, stemless, leafy succulents from the family Echinacea. Most plants are buried in the soil. The above-ground part is two thick pieces fused into a column up to 20-50 mm high. Its top is covered with conical, convex or flat patterns, separated by a gap, from which flower stalks and new leaves grow.

March to May each year is the period of leaf replacement for Lithops, while last year's leaves wither. They bloom from July to November, the flowers are white or yellow (occasionally orange), 2.5-3 cm in diameter, sometimes fragrant, and open in the afternoon. From July to August, the plants are dormant.

From September to December, they begin to grow again. From November to December, reduce and stop watering, keeping them at a temperature of 12-15°C. In late spring, when a pair of new leaves appear, gradually resume watering.

Lithops are fed at half concentration or fertilized for cacti. Spraying on hot summer afternoons is good for them.

After a few years, when the plant has grown into a complete colony, transplant it into a well-drained container. The substrate consists of equal parts leaf soil and sand. It has high light requirements and should be shielded from strong sunlight in the spring.

1. In what soil to plant seedlings and seeds.

These plants can grow in any soil mixture. The most important thing is that the substrate is well-ventilated, water permeable and dries quickly. The most suitable soil substrate for lithops: - 1 part soil (litter soil + turf); - 2 parts perlite, 1-2mm coarse sand, 1-3mm small pebbles can be added. At the bottom of the pot, it is better to have small pebbles for drainage, dry peat moss can be used, fine foam pieces are also OK. They also grow well in commercial mixtures: Lechuza pon, ceramis, akadama - but when watering you need to use liquid cactus fertilizer (half the indicated dose), about once every four waterings.

2. Planting lithops seeds.

It is best to plant lithops seeds in spring or early autumn (under artificial lighting). You can plant in plastic transparent containers with transparent lids, steam the ground before planting, preferably soak it in a water bath for 1-1.5 hours. Just sprinkle the seeds on it, without digging deep into the ground, cover with a transparent lid and keep it closed for 2 weeks, then, when the seedlings grow a little stronger, you can lift the lid on one side a little for ventilation. Water after opening, and as the soil dries, the seedlings should be shiny and elastic.

3. What the lighting should be.

They grow well in any sunny place, ideally south, southeast, southwest, or you can place the seedlings under fluorescent or LED lighting. 10-15 cm from the lamp. In early spring, it is recommended to block direct sunlight until the plants adapt, and in extreme heat, it is better to use shading even for adult plants.

4. What the temperature of the content should be.

The ideal temperature is +23C - +27C. In summer they can withstand temperatures up to +45°C, but at the same time they must be placed in a well-ventilated place. Otherwise, they may get sunburn (heat stroke) and die. In winter, when the plants are not watered, they easily tolerate temperatures of +1°C, but the optimal temperature for overwintering is +10-16°C, and the humidity during overwintering is preferably not higher than 60%. 5

. How to water Lithops correctly.

The period for watering Lithops is from the second half of spring to mid-autumn, and in very hot summers, it is best not to water in late July-August. Usually water during this period, because the soil dries out, another good indicator is the body of the plant, if wrinkles appear on the sides and the plant squats and drips into the ground, then the Lithops must be watered. In winter, watering is reduced, and from mid-November to the end of March no watering is done at all. No spraying is needed, and I personally never do it, except to prevent pests. From about December to early April is the so-called "molting" time, when the plant grows a pair of new tender leaves from the old, dry leaves. At this time, do not water the plant, but place it in a place with the most light to ensure the correct formation of new leaves. 6

. Transplant. It is best to transplant adult Lithops during the winter dormancy period, but they can also be transplanted in spring and summer. The main rule when transplanting is to plant in completely dry ground and not to water for 10-15 days. It is not recommended to transplant seedlings before the first molting.