Turo Posted July 26, 2023 Report Share Posted July 26, 2023 Lucky me! Today I found an unexpected, as always not tagged but unmistaken, Lithops verruculosa. Two pots with two bodies each, already in their new, bigger pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirks Posted July 26, 2023 Report Share Posted July 26, 2023 Can i ask How do you stop them becoming too elongated as in leggy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropfrog Posted July 27, 2023 Report Share Posted July 27, 2023 I have never experienced elongation in lithops. But I asume it is the same cause as when any plant grow elongated, lack of light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turo Posted July 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2023 (edited) They get strong light and six hours of afternoon sun. Take this one, a noid. When I bought it for its colour, it was about 2cm above ground. I buried it. And it stays that way. Edited July 27, 2023 by Turo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirks Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) Apparently the watering or time of watering affects how a lithop grows, water at the wrong time and you get elongated growth (they never get any water from October until the new leaves have emerged and the old ones have nearly all dried up.) Mine are grown in full sun on a south facing window for the past 6 years and instead of getting wider they just get taller. I’ve watched a few videos on YouTube of them and the watering side of it can affect their leggy growth apparently. Have you any tips you could pass on please? oh and they’ve never flowered for me in all the time I’ve had them if that helps. Edited July 28, 2023 by pirks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropfrog Posted July 29, 2023 Report Share Posted July 29, 2023 Watering at the wrong time of the year will make lithops expand in all directions, that is not elongation. They don't get leggy, they get fat. It can be so severe that it blows up. Flowering is triggered by temperature fluctuations. Location and climate is the key here. Where I am in Western sweden nobody I know have problems getting them to flower. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turo Posted July 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2023 Pirks, as tropfrog has hinted, tº fluctuations (cool to cold nights) and growing them on the dry side could do the flower-trick. Always keep in mind that 'sun' ≠ 'sun'. We are all posting from quite distant and different places. The UV indices at my place are now up to 12; summer in, lets say Shropshire, gets 4. Add to this different soils we all have. So, watching your Lithops closely will be the best advice for watering. If there are wrinkles on the side of the body in early morning, sprinkle next afternoon - evening. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirks Posted August 8, 2023 Report Share Posted August 8, 2023 Thank you Topfrog and Thank you Turo, mine don’t get fat so maybe it’s just more light needed. Greenhouse maybe needed so how can I persuade my wife 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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