The plants within this genus generally consist of a pair of thick leaves with little (if any) stem above the soil. Beneath the soil is the stem and fairly long roots. A new set of leaves appears in the spring, and the old leaves dry up and fall off. All species within this genus have daisy-like flowers, which typically emerge from the fissure between the leaves in the fall or winter. These plants need as much light as possible. If you’re growing living stones indoors and don’t have a bright window, you might need to invest in an artificial grow light for them. Moreover, proper watering is usually the most crucial part of caring for this species. Living stones are highly tolerant of drought, and too much water can easily kill them—especially if it promotes root rot or fungal growth. Fortunately, living stones aren’t prone to many diseases, so they should thrive if you take a largely hands-off approach to their care. In fact, for about half of the year, you likely won’t have to do anything aside from monitoring them to ensure they’re healthy.
Light
Living stones prefer full sun year-round, meaning at least six hours of sunlight on most days. When growing these succulents indoors, place them by your brightest window (south-facing exposure is best). Insufficient light can cause elongated leaves and poor leaf coloring.
Soil
These plants like sandy soil with plenty of drainage. A potting mix formulated for cacti is ideal for living stones, and the container should have several holes on the bottom for drainage.
Water
Living stones must be watered on a seasonal schedule that mimics the rainfall they would get in their natural habitat. Don’t water in summer or over the winter when the plant is dormant. Then drench the soil, allowing it to dry our completely before watering again–about 1-2 weeks. Once the new leaves begin forming in the spring, water whenever the soil dries out—just enough to make it slightly moist. Pause watering again in the summer during the plant’s second dormant period. Resume watering in early fall, just before the plant is ready to flower. If the leaves start to completely shrivel up while the plant is dormant, you can give it a very small amount of water to plump them up again.
Temperature and Humidity
Living stones tolerate heat well, and they can survive temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They do fine in typical room temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees. Humidity usually isn’t an issue, as long as the soil doesn’t remain moist for long periods and there is good airflow around the plants.
Fertilizer
These plants live naturally in poor soil and aren’t heavy feeders, but a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer helps encourage flowering.
Types of Living Stones
There are more three dozen species of living stones and more than 140 varieties, including:
Lithops julii: This species has pinkish-gray leaves with brown markings. Lithops gracilidelineata: Pale, gray-white leaves with brown markings look like cracks in the leaves’ surface of this variety.Lithops lesliei: This succulent has barely any stem above ground, and it features markings of green, pink, orange, gray, and brown.Lithops marmorata: This plant features smooth, gray-green leaves with a marbled pattern.
Pruning
While it’s not necessary to prune the leaves of your living stones, it is helpful to remove dead leaves as needed. The few plump, succulent leaves above the surface of the soil will begin to shrivel when new leaves start growing after the plant’s flowering season.
Propagating Living Stones
Living stones naturally multiply by growing new plants on their own in the same container. Once several plants are growing together, it’s possible to propagate this species manually by division to prevent them from overtaking the pot. This process should be completed in the spring when the plants are actively growing. Here’s how:
How to Grow Living Stones From Seed
Your living stones will produce flowers in fall, which fade into seed pods that can be harvested to grow new plants after the flower dies back. Here’s how:
Potting and Repotting Living Stones
Even though these plants only rise about an inch above the soil, provide them with a pot that’s about 6 inches deep. This is because they have long taproots that stretch far down into the soil. The pot should also have ample drainage holes. An unglazed clay pot is ideal, as it allows excess water to evaporate through its walls. You likely won’t have to repot your living stones for many years since they grow so slowly. If you have several plants in a pot that are becoming cramped, carefully dig up each plant you want to repot, keeping its roots intact. Place it in a new pot that’s slightly deeper than the length of its roots, filling around it with fresh cactus potting mix.
Overwintering
Living stones can survive somewhat cold temperatures, so in warmer climates (USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11), these plants can grow outside year-round and even be planted directly in the ground. In colder regions of the country, it’s best to bring your plants indoors for the winter, so they should be grown in portable containers. Once temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees in the spring, your living stones can be taken back outside.
Common Pests
Living stones are susceptible to a few different types of pests. Spider mites are most common, but mealybugs, scale, thrips, and aphids can all present problems as well. Living stones planted in the ground outdoors or living in pots on your patio may also become targets for small mammals and pests like snails or slugs. To treat spider mite infestations, mix rubbing alcohol and water in equal parts and mist it on your plants. Other pests on living stones can be treated with insecticidal soap.
How to Get Living Stones to Bloom
Most living stones bloom in the fall with flowers that resemble daisies, but some varieties can bloom in late summer or even spring. The flowers may be white, yellow, or orange, and they emerge between the leaves of the plant. While fertilizer is not typically recommended for these plants, some gardeners choose to use a potassium-based fertilizer diluted in water to encourage blooming. These flowers eventually die off and leave seed pods behind if the flower was pollinated, so if you plan to harvest your plant’s seeds, don’t deadhead its flowers. Living stones are self-sterile, so they need pollination to produce seeds. After flowering, living stones go dormant—meaning it’s time to stop watering the plant until spring.
Common Problems With Living Stones
Living stones are typically easy plants to tend, but they can also develop a few growing problems. This is most commonly related to improper light or water, which can be adjusted to keep your plants healthy.
Discolored Leaves
Your living stones may begin to lose their color when they’re not receiving enough sunlight. Too little light can also cause the leaves to grow in an elongated shape as the plant reaches for the sun. In either of these cases, move your living stones to a spot with full sun to help resolve the issue.
Shriveled or Wrinkled Leaves
Living stones don’t commonly have problems with too little water, although it’s possible for them to develop shriveled or wrinkled leaves during the spring and fall when they’re too dry while actively growing. Add just enough water to make your plant’s soil slightly moist. Misting the soil—not the leaves—can also help ensure the plant isn’t soaked.
Mushy Leaves
If your plant’s leaves feel overly soft or mushy to the touch, it’s likely receiving too much water. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which also makes living stones more appealing to pests. Always avoid watering during your plant’s dormant seasons, and ensure the soil is moist (but never soggy) to the touch during spring and fall.
