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| Here are my lithops, and a couple other weird succulents, on a hot august day |
Lithops are bizarre little succulents that hail from the deserts of Africa. They have evolved to mimic rocks, which prevents them from being eaten by animals.
In cultivation, Lithops need lots of direct sunlight and warmth. There is a period during their growth cycle where a new set of leaves slowly emerge from the middle of the plant and "digest" the set of old leaves by drawing their water and nutrients. They shouldn't be watered during this period. When the old leaves are completely shriveled and gone the plants can be given water sparingly. Care must be taken not to overwater these plants. Its safer to let the plant shrivel a little bit from dryness, then give a few drops of water-- you'll see the fleshy leaves plump in a few hours.
My collection, pictured above, is on my windowsill on a tray by Ecoforms, in their beautiful new turquoise. Ecoforms is a California based company that offers biodegradable pots and trays made from rice hulls.
Tray purchased from Sprout Home, Brooklyn, NY. Plants purchased in my many travels to different plant shops.
Thanks for reading!
www.ecoforms.com
www.lithops.info
www.sprouthome.com
