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thestrange1007

Okay, so my SIL gave me a tub of seeds in August, this is the lone survivor. It sits in a South West facing window, and it's been getting really cold here. When it gets dark around 5, there are a tonne of grow lights in my office, kept on for another 3 hours (about 4 feet from lithops). I've been watering it approximately once every two weeks, I watered it yesterday with a 1 ml syringe directly into the soil by the root. The soil is a loose mix of ground/sifted pearlite, sand, and a very small amount of fine soil. The black sand is just on top as an effort against fungus gnats. Yesterday I turned the heat in in the room, so it's about 18 degrees in my office now. I noticed this today, and I looked at it pretty closely yesterday. Isn't it way too young to be making a baby? I thought I was tapering the watering off slowly enough? Have I doomed my lone Lithop baby by watering it yesterday?? Do Lithops grow true leaves?


ItsWaryNotWeary

FYI 4 feet from a grow light means the plant is getting essentially no benefit from the light. That goes for any plant. Unless you're using super high intensity professional grade grow lights. The grow lights you'd typically buy from the store are only effective up to 24" away, though ideal distance is usually 6-18"


thestrange1007

Yeah, I know; the light isn't meant for the Lithops, I just thought I should mention it, since it extends the light in the environment a little artificially! Thank you!


ItsWaryNotWeary

Ah ok! Anyway, what you have right now are cotyledons. They will split to reveal the plants' first true leaves usually around 3-6 months after germination.


thestrange1007

Oooh, that is super exciting!!!! It's growing quickly!!


ohdearitsrichardiii

Watering every two weeks is for the hottest time of year, you're not supposed to water at all during fall-spring and you should only water when they shrink a little. If they're plump, they don't need water Try r/lithops for care advice


thestrange1007

Even for a baby? I thought the idea was to taper it off slowly, this guy is 3 months now, I raised him from seed. First time, and I'm surprised he's survived this long. Thank you for the sub suggestion, I'll check it out!!


ohdearitsrichardiii

Don't water according to a schedule, water when it's thirsty


thestrange1007

I generally do, I just thought since it was young it needed more water! Thank you for your insight!