Living Rock

[baileysup]

I picked up this bad boy a few weeks ago, and thought I'd share. It's my first Lithops, and after reading about it, discovered it has some unique qualities. I was amazed that this succulent actually goes dormant for the spring/summer, and grows in the fall/winter. It's also probably one of the easiest succulents to over water. In their natural habitat, these succulents can survive on just fog, and/or humidity. I've never seen a plant that grows in the winter and goes dormant in the summer until now. Hopefully I don't kill it

I present to you my first Lithops (living stone):

[baileysup]

Update on Lithops. Is that a flower or a seed pod? I'd love to see it flower!

[baileysup]

It's a flower. A pink one. Granted, it was already happening when I bought it, but I'll take it. It's blooming VERY fast and should be done in a couple days. I'll take pics every day. Here it is. The blooming Lithops!:

[baileysup]

[baileysup]

Missed yesterday, but it's seemed to have slowed down now. Plus It is rainy and overcast today.






It's weird how two days ago, the petals were opening, and now they are closed. I think because the sun is not out today.

[baileysup]

She bloomed today:

[baileysup]

Wow, I just noticed that the flower opens when the sun is out, and then closes when the sun goes down. Check it out:

[baileysup]

I don't know how much longer this flower will last, so I'm trying to get plenty of pics. I took these today, because the center of the flower has opened up (where the pollen is). It looks slightly different now.

[baileysup]

Thanks lvpc. It's exciting when one of your succulents or cacti get flowers.

[cynthia_h]

It's beautiful. Thank you for the series of photos showing the flower-to-be and then the open flower.

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[baileysup]

No problem. Glad you like the pics

[baileysup]

Bye bye flower. It was nice to know ya:

[RyanG]

This is anamazing rock plant! were can I get one of these? I love it!

[baileysup]

You just have to be at the right store/nursery at the right time. Believe it or not, I found this one at Walmart. Every once and awhile they get something different in, yet not very often. I check almost every time I'm there just in case they've gotten something cool in. Most of the time it's the same plants, but every once and awhile, I'm pleasantly surprised. I even found my Christmas Carol Aloe hybrid at Walmart. The thing is that when they get these "different" plants in, They don't get many (only a few). When I bought this Lithops, there were only 2 to choose from. That's it......2 in the whole store. This is why I try to check every time I'm there. It only takes a minute to see what they have. Yet you can find them in other stores as well. You just have to be at the right store/nursery at the right time. Another idea is to ask your local nursery if they know where to find any. Good luck

[RyanG]

You just have to be at the right store/nursery at the right time. Believe it or not, I found this one at Walmart.

I believe it! I found a Pony tail palm at walmart (If you by chance know how to take care of it please help me on my post) I will keep an eye out for this plant! It'd be an awesome part of my dorm at school!

[Gary350]

I bought one of those in April it was a tiny thing $1 at Lowe's in a 2" pot.

I repotted it in a 10" pot and put it in full shade in the yard and watered it every day. Last week I noticed it was larger than a cantaloupe.

I moved it to full sun and the next day it was dead. It swiveled up to nothing and looked like a small dry dog poop.

[applestar]

I somehow completely missed this thread. I'm sorry I didn't comment when it was happening, but I enjoyed the photo progression of the bud to bloom. Thanks!

Gary350 -- what a shame! Did you take any pictures while it was growing? Do you think it needed to be acclimated? When I put my aloe outside for the summer, it s very sensitive and gets sunburned easily.

[baileysup]

This is one of the easiest plants to overwater (from reading documentation). It will look best till right before it dies. I water mine with a spray bottle. Still learning. It's summer, and I BARELY water it. Just keep the soil moist..............barely and sometimes. From what I've read, it's dormant in summer, and grows in winter ???????????????WTF? If it's still here next spring, I'll post pics

[Gary350]

This is the first time I have grown these succulent plants. I mixed 50% horse manure with 50% sand. This is also a great soil mix for cactus. Water runs right through the pot and out the bottom but the organic material holds enough water to keep the roots wet. Lots of fertilizer value to the soil so cactus grows great so I assumed this rock plant would grow good too. I watered the plant every day with plenty of water. I think too much sun killed my plant. Full sun in AZ is a lot different that full sun some where else plus the 107 degree temperature was probably too much for the plant.

[baileysup]

I agree. Full sun in AZ is WAYYYY more potent than full sun PA. I realize this.

[rainbowgardener]

Sorry, but moving any plant from full shade to full AZ sun in one step without any gradual hardening off/ acclimatizing seems like pretty guaranteed to kill it; the 107 degrees just added to that.

[KittieKAT]

Isn't this a Pleiospilos? In the mesemb family of lithops but not a lithop.

[rainbowgardener]

right you are! pleiospilos. I just learned that early this year and hadn't figured it out last year, when I made the post here. See:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... 38&t=55750

[baileysup]

Isn't this a Pleiospilos? In the mesemb family of lithops but not a lithop.

Yes, you are correct. At the time of my post, I was unaware of this difference, and I do appologize for the misinformation.

[valley]

Greetings bailey, When I was a boy, I was amazed buy these, moma added more of them to her cactus garden because of my liking them. They're not exactly a cactus but they lived well with them. Your's clearly enjoy your company.

Richard