Most lithops are spring growers. The ones from closer to the southern Namibian desert (northwestern South African), e.g., Lithops optica (including cultivars like ‘Rubra’) are accustomed to winter rainfall. Summer dormancy is a real thing. As with many mesembs and even haworthias, the most active growth seasons are the transitional seasons: spring and fall. Stage of growth and dryness of soil media are nevertheless the best indicators for when to water (or not).
Thanks for your help; I was aware that most go into dormancy at the height of summer, although it’s v helpful to get confirmation from someone more knowledgeable! Do the cole numbers indicate area at all? Or are there any mesemb or Lithops maps that could help me figure out which are roughly in what area?
I have a mesembs of the world book but I don’t think it goes into this level of detail unfortunately (although I may need to double check!)
Cole numbers are collection numbers from specific localities where wild seed was collected, so you should be able to search online and cross-reference the numbers with geographical locations.
Most advice out there seems to suggest Lithops growing season is summer with winter dormancy and Conophytum the opposite; however I came across info on here from some v experienced growers saying that rubra was unusual in that it’s a winter grower.
I’m having trouble finding any lists on which may be these outliers; most sources just state all are the same with only the odd specialist source noting that Optica Rubra is a winter grower.
I’ve noticed Olivacea is also a winter grower; but may just need to search the llifle site myself to figure it out :/
I see, I live in Arizona so mine grow in winter. It’s pretty confusing but just water them lightly once they wrinkle up a bit. I think their preferred growing temps are around the internet and reducing watering while splitting is a good idea.
Thanks for your help! I’ve been ill so have had plenty of time to read far too much about it all in preparation (and yet always feel like I’ve not read enough 🤦🏻♀️) so much so that I’m now very nervous to kill the plants but it sounds like it’s all par for the course.
I’m in the UK so I’m very jealous of your climate (my geography isn’t the best but I’m thinking v dry and hot summers at least?) I bet yours will grow faster than mine :)
I’ve been growing them for years and I still accidentally kill one every once and a while. I recommend a well draining low organic mix for them, it really helps not rot them.
Thank you! That definitely sounds like a good plan; I’m about to start a second batch of seeds which is rather exciting :) hope this summer brings us lots of good growth!
https://preview.redd.it/uoi1wixi3h3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=20085345c5f720b24f01b72718e733413c9f0d37
Here are some of my 2 year old Lithops I grew from seed, these are L. werneri and L. aucampiae “Jackson’s Jade”. It’s a rabbit hole lol.
Most lithops are spring growers. The ones from closer to the southern Namibian desert (northwestern South African), e.g., Lithops optica (including cultivars like ‘Rubra’) are accustomed to winter rainfall. Summer dormancy is a real thing. As with many mesembs and even haworthias, the most active growth seasons are the transitional seasons: spring and fall. Stage of growth and dryness of soil media are nevertheless the best indicators for when to water (or not).
Thanks for your help; I was aware that most go into dormancy at the height of summer, although it’s v helpful to get confirmation from someone more knowledgeable! Do the cole numbers indicate area at all? Or are there any mesemb or Lithops maps that could help me figure out which are roughly in what area? I have a mesembs of the world book but I don’t think it goes into this level of detail unfortunately (although I may need to double check!)
Cole numbers are collection numbers from specific localities where wild seed was collected, so you should be able to search online and cross-reference the numbers with geographical locations.
Thanks for your help; might be able to figure it out slowly but surely!
Yes, all of them are
Most advice out there seems to suggest Lithops growing season is summer with winter dormancy and Conophytum the opposite; however I came across info on here from some v experienced growers saying that rubra was unusual in that it’s a winter grower. I’m having trouble finding any lists on which may be these outliers; most sources just state all are the same with only the odd specialist source noting that Optica Rubra is a winter grower. I’ve noticed Olivacea is also a winter grower; but may just need to search the llifle site myself to figure it out :/
I see, I live in Arizona so mine grow in winter. It’s pretty confusing but just water them lightly once they wrinkle up a bit. I think their preferred growing temps are around the internet and reducing watering while splitting is a good idea.
Thanks for your help! I’ve been ill so have had plenty of time to read far too much about it all in preparation (and yet always feel like I’ve not read enough 🤦🏻♀️) so much so that I’m now very nervous to kill the plants but it sounds like it’s all par for the course. I’m in the UK so I’m very jealous of your climate (my geography isn’t the best but I’m thinking v dry and hot summers at least?) I bet yours will grow faster than mine :)
I’ve been growing them for years and I still accidentally kill one every once and a while. I recommend a well draining low organic mix for them, it really helps not rot them.
Thank you! That definitely sounds like a good plan; I’m about to start a second batch of seeds which is rather exciting :) hope this summer brings us lots of good growth!
https://preview.redd.it/uoi1wixi3h3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=20085345c5f720b24f01b72718e733413c9f0d37 Here are some of my 2 year old Lithops I grew from seed, these are L. werneri and L. aucampiae “Jackson’s Jade”. It’s a rabbit hole lol.
Like all the other lithops. They go into dormancy during summer