Hey all! Another question.
I took these pictures of my Lithops this morning. I haven't had them long, but they have been doing well up until now. They just shed outer leaves, and it looks like one of them is shedding another set of leaves. I watered them once, a week and a half ago after the old leaves had gone and they were looking wrinkled. But now they look wrinkled again, but in a different way. I've been under the impression that I shouldn't water more than twice a month. Did I mess up?
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/005zqmj.jpg/][img]https://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4042/005zqmj.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/003bdm.jpg/][img]https://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5794/003bdm.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Help!
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danielleon120
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They're dying. Have you perhaps overwatered them, or put them in direct sun without letting them get accustomed to it first? Usually the old parts die like that after the new sections emerge from between them. On yours, though, I don't see any evidence of new growth. Has there been new growth? did it collapse like the old parts are? 
Twice a month watering should be okay for them, I would think, although I don't water my cacti that often. Mine are lucky to get water every couple of months, if I think of it. Otherwise, they have to wait longer. They seem to do fine on that regimen, though, so I don't bother myself about it.
I would take the plants back where you bought them and ask that they be replaced. A couple of weeks, even with gross overwatering, wouldn't have caused them to die like that.
Twice a month watering should be okay for them, I would think, although I don't water my cacti that often. Mine are lucky to get water every couple of months, if I think of it. Otherwise, they have to wait longer. They seem to do fine on that regimen, though, so I don't bother myself about it.
I would take the plants back where you bought them and ask that they be replaced. A couple of weeks, even with gross overwatering, wouldn't have caused them to die like that.
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danielleon120
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The bottom one is the real worry. It lost two leaves around two weeks ago. Then It was looking wrinkled and dry, so I gave it a little water. Then the second set of leaves began drying out and eveything was fine, until last night.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/208/004mh.jpg/][img]https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1955/004mh.th.jpg[/img][/url]
April 2nd. a week before the oldest leaves fell off.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/009ew.jpg/][img]https://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1232/009ew.th.jpg[/img][/url]
2 days ago, everything looking good.
I don't think that the sun is causing problems. When I bought them in March they had been outside in the elements. In fact, the old leaves that are long gone now, were split from being left in the rain. They have both been doing so well with me , that it breaks my heart to see them suddenly so bad.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/208/004mh.jpg/][img]https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1955/004mh.th.jpg[/img][/url]
April 2nd. a week before the oldest leaves fell off.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/009ew.jpg/][img]https://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1232/009ew.th.jpg[/img][/url]
2 days ago, everything looking good.
I don't think that the sun is causing problems. When I bought them in March they had been outside in the elements. In fact, the old leaves that are long gone now, were split from being left in the rain. They have both been doing so well with me , that it breaks my heart to see them suddenly so bad.
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danielleon120
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Thanks so much for all of your help. I really appreciate it.
The new leaves are the ones sticking up. There are a total of 4 new leaves (which is weird, no?) When I first got it, there were 8 leaves total. 2 old leaves on the outside, 2 within them, and 4 in the middle.
I added some arrows, maybe that will help me clarify.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/004copyy.jpg/][img]https://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2425/004copyy.th.jpg[/img][/url]
April 2nd.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/836/003copyp.jpg/][img]https://img836.imageshack.us/img836/1346/003copyp.th.jpg[/img][/url]
2 days ago.
-#1: the newest leaves. two are partially hidden under #2 in the first picture.
-#2: the older leaves. The started withering just after the #3 leaves were gone.
-#3: the oldest leaves. They have since withered and are gone.
Could a heat increase do this? The temps have gone from a mild 70F the last couple of weeks ( with some rain, my plants come inside during the storm)to 90F in the last couple of days. Some of my other Cacti are feeling a little soft too.
Again, I really appreciate the help and advise.
The new leaves are the ones sticking up. There are a total of 4 new leaves (which is weird, no?) When I first got it, there were 8 leaves total. 2 old leaves on the outside, 2 within them, and 4 in the middle.
I added some arrows, maybe that will help me clarify.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/004copyy.jpg/][img]https://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2425/004copyy.th.jpg[/img][/url]
April 2nd.
[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/836/003copyp.jpg/][img]https://img836.imageshack.us/img836/1346/003copyp.th.jpg[/img][/url]
2 days ago.
-#1: the newest leaves. two are partially hidden under #2 in the first picture.
-#2: the older leaves. The started withering just after the #3 leaves were gone.
-#3: the oldest leaves. They have since withered and are gone.
Could a heat increase do this? The temps have gone from a mild 70F the last couple of weeks ( with some rain, my plants come inside during the storm)to 90F in the last couple of days. Some of my other Cacti are feeling a little soft too.
Again, I really appreciate the help and advise.
Every time new growth emerges from between the old leaves, the old leaves die away. It's how lithops work. If yours have new growth emerging as the old leaves shrink and die away, they're doing exactly what they're supposed to do. One more question I have is does the new growth fully develop before it begins to die away? 
I apologize for my limited vision. Not only do I have "old eyes", but I had some medical treatments last summer that partially damaged one of my optic nerves, so now my vision is even worse. I'm seeing a specialist on Monday who may be able to help me. I sure hope so!
Softness in any type of cactus generally indicates rot. It can be from overwatering, but it can also be from having the soil too high around the stem. I usually plant my cacti so the soil just covers the roots. Then I fill in over the soil with small rocks. The stuff I use is similar to aquarium gravel, except it's really for chickens. They eat it and it stays in their gizzards to grind up the food they eat. I buy it at the feed and seed stores. It's very cheap around my area.
The point of covering the soil with rock is that the rock won't hold moisture. Soil against the tissue of the plant keeps it too moist and allows rot to set in, even if you aren't overwatering. The rock helps support the cactus so it stays upright, and also keeps the tissue of the stem dry.
Rot wouldn't set in over just a short time, though. It would take over a month, IMO. If you haven't had the cacti for very long, don't hesitate to take them back to the store where you bought them and ask for replacements. The store needs to see the problem so they'll know what they're doing wrong. They might have a new person on staff who planted them too deeply, or something simple like that ... simple to explain to a new staff person, but unfortunately deadly for the cactus.
Heat shouldn't bother your lithops. In the desert, they typically grow on rocky ground in full sun.
I apologize for my limited vision. Not only do I have "old eyes", but I had some medical treatments last summer that partially damaged one of my optic nerves, so now my vision is even worse. I'm seeing a specialist on Monday who may be able to help me. I sure hope so!
Softness in any type of cactus generally indicates rot. It can be from overwatering, but it can also be from having the soil too high around the stem. I usually plant my cacti so the soil just covers the roots. Then I fill in over the soil with small rocks. The stuff I use is similar to aquarium gravel, except it's really for chickens. They eat it and it stays in their gizzards to grind up the food they eat. I buy it at the feed and seed stores. It's very cheap around my area.
The point of covering the soil with rock is that the rock won't hold moisture. Soil against the tissue of the plant keeps it too moist and allows rot to set in, even if you aren't overwatering. The rock helps support the cactus so it stays upright, and also keeps the tissue of the stem dry.
Rot wouldn't set in over just a short time, though. It would take over a month, IMO. If you haven't had the cacti for very long, don't hesitate to take them back to the store where you bought them and ask for replacements. The store needs to see the problem so they'll know what they're doing wrong. They might have a new person on staff who planted them too deeply, or something simple like that ... simple to explain to a new staff person, but unfortunately deadly for the cactus.
Heat shouldn't bother your lithops. In the desert, they typically grow on rocky ground in full sun.
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danielleon120
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- Location: Los Angeles, CA
Just wanted to give an update. I brought all of my succulents in for the remainder of the heat wave. I gave all of the effected plants a little water. I figured if they were already that rotten, they were going to die anyways.
Two days later, all of the effected plants are noticably perkier. They aren't yet to where they were before, but they are on their way.
The lithops are happy again. The new growth is plump and happy, the old growth is still wrinkled and dying, all is as it should be.
I think it was a good lesson, that although these plants survive extreme heat in their natural habitat, in my home they have become spoiled.
Two days later, all of the effected plants are noticably perkier. They aren't yet to where they were before, but they are on their way.
The lithops are happy again. The new growth is plump and happy, the old growth is still wrinkled and dying, all is as it should be.
I think it was a good lesson, that although these plants survive extreme heat in their natural habitat, in my home they have become spoiled.
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danielleon120
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:54 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
Just wanted to give an update. I brought all of my succulents in for the remainder of the heat wave. I gave all of the effected plants a little water. I figured if they were already that rotten, they were going to die anyways.
Two days later, all of the effected plants are noticably perkier. They aren't yet to where they were before, but they are on their way.
The lithops are happy again. The new growth is plump and happy, the old growth is still wrinkled and dying, all is as it should be.
I think it was a good lesson, that although these plants survive extreme heat in their natural habitat, in my home they have become spoiled.
Two days later, all of the effected plants are noticably perkier. They aren't yet to where they were before, but they are on their way.
The lithops are happy again. The new growth is plump and happy, the old growth is still wrinkled and dying, all is as it should be.
I think it was a good lesson, that although these plants survive extreme heat in their natural habitat, in my home they have become spoiled.
That's true of both plants and animals! 
I often find wild volunteer plants in my yard, because I welcome birds and other wild critters. But the volunteer tulips produce small and a pale mauve-ish color flowers, nothing like the ones that grow from the bulbs one buys. And the volunteer cyclamens produce very small pale pink flowers. All of these are very pretty, in their own way, but they clearly show that the pampered and commercialized plants we have become accustomed to just don't reproduce in the same way out in the "wild" on their own.
Animals are the same way. If you release a pet rat, say, that has the "hooded" coloration, in only a generation or two its offspring will have reverted to the "agouti" coloration common among wild rodents of all kinds.
I'm happy to hear that your little "living rocks" have perked up, and I hope they continue to do so, bringing you much pleasure. I really love cacti of all kinds.
I often find wild volunteer plants in my yard, because I welcome birds and other wild critters. But the volunteer tulips produce small and a pale mauve-ish color flowers, nothing like the ones that grow from the bulbs one buys. And the volunteer cyclamens produce very small pale pink flowers. All of these are very pretty, in their own way, but they clearly show that the pampered and commercialized plants we have become accustomed to just don't reproduce in the same way out in the "wild" on their own.
Animals are the same way. If you release a pet rat, say, that has the "hooded" coloration, in only a generation or two its offspring will have reverted to the "agouti" coloration common among wild rodents of all kinds.
I'm happy to hear that your little "living rocks" have perked up, and I hope they continue to do so, bringing you much pleasure. I really love cacti of all kinds.
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