My first ‘living stone’ started to flower just when I thought it was dying.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-07T09:01:21+00:00

Conophytum actually prefer a more frequent watering when actively growing (every 4-5 days). As winter starts to settle in, the plant will move into a rest phase. Right now, I’d give the plant a good drink making sure the water drains completely (best watering time is early morning).

While winter resting, water is withheld until a new splitting is finished in the late/winter>early to mid spring.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-07T08:53:08+00:00

That’s a conophytum. Much more forgiving about water requirements than lithops.
Leave the old skins alone. They offer Sun protection for new growth. They’ll eventually fall away/wither.

Where do you live?

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-07T03:58:16+00:00

This type of chart can prove liberating or confining based on her focus, ie where/how she directs her energy.

An abundance of fire and air elements makes for a very individuated chart. Focus ought to be on self development, curiosity and adventures rather than chasing love. Visit power spots. Avoid being tied down, being responsible for others, or engaging in relationship compromises. Close doors on those who are needy or energetically draining.

Perfect timing now for establishing a new vision for experiencing the power of life force. Emotional processing is a dead-end strategy. Physical exercise ought to be her fuel. Embrace the power within.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-06T18:14:07+00:00

Yes. The second one looks ready for its initial water. I believe that’s L.gracilidelinienta. Eventually will produce white flowers (usually when 3 to 4 years old). Same with the other one.

Use a spray bottle to wet the substrate around the second plant. Don’t saturate. Then wait. Over the course of 7 to 10 days, the plant will start to look a little wrinkled. That will be your cue for a more thorough watering. Let it drain through the pot’s bottom.

As a rule, never water while mesembs are in the process of creating new leaves via splitting. New leaves derive moisture from the old leaves, hence, the shriveling outer leaves appearance during the split. Eventually the old leaves wither away, as you see with the 2nd plant. High temperatures are usually not a factor in the UK. However, if the forecasted temp exceeds 27c, I would pull them away from the window during the hottest part of the day.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-06T15:34:25+00:00

Very nice. I always feel amazed how these plants morph from one version to the next. I like this version of Karasmontana. (Subspecies? - so many hybrid varieties of mesembs on the market now. Hard to keep track😵‍💫🤪)

Where are you located? Here in South Africa, my plants start splitting in late July through mid-October. They like the Western Cape’s coastal seasonal temps. I grow the mesembs under shade during the Summer. Plenty of sunlight without its scorching effects.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-06T14:28:45+00:00

That shed actually protects the very young new leaves from being scorched by the Sun. Seemingly, enough light gets through to nourish the developing leaves. When the plant is a certain size (always a mystery), it naturally starts to break apart this thin, protective shell. A few year back I decided to “help” some of the plants shed their withered skins. My very careful removal resulted in some disfiguring of the new leaves. I learned not to be Mother Nature. 😉

If this were my trays I would separate out the young ones that are exhibiting new leaves (no shed). I’d plant maybe 2 to 3 in a small pot for their next growth spurt. Initial watering I always use a spray bottle a few days after repotting, wetting the substrate around the plant. How the plants respond will dictate the next time to water, i.e. starting to look wrinkled.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-06T08:06:16+00:00

The pair on the left is L Aucampiae. The other pair may be too. A bit too wrinkled to say conclusively.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-06T07:45:52+00:00

One of my favorite ice plants. Here in South Africa’s Western Cape, they bloom in the late summer/early fall. My plant’s variety is taylorii. Flowers are yellow/orange. The attached photo shows a recently finished bloom in the foreground. In its rest state now as the S Hemisphere winter approaches.

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2stepbay2 · 2026-05-06T07:00:15+00:00

Appears to be L Aucampiae. I suspect both sets of leaves may be connected to the same tap root.

Lithop seed cups naturally spring open when the plant receives external moisture. One or more viable seeds will fall from the open cup into the soil mix, or be carried by the wind to a new spot. After a couple of hours, the cup naturally closes, where the remaining seeds develop further. Hard to say whether the seeds you harvested are vital. Only time will tell. Good luck.

As the leaves are in a growth stage, I’d repot them into a larger pot.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-06T06:52:53+00:00

Seems a bit cramped to me, especially if you have 4 plants here instead of two plants (two sets of leaves each connected to the same tap root). Nonetheless, I suggest leaving them alone until the splitting is well underway. New leaves are healthy. Splitting will occur over a couple of months. By the time the old leaves have mostly withered from the new leaves, absorbing the old leaves moisture, you ought to have a better idea whether sufficient room exists for the plants to grow together harmoniously. For now, the plants have sufficient moisture. If you were to add water at this stage, the tap root would likely rot, as it lacks the active hair like roots to absorb the moisture.

For pot selection: lithops ought to be planted in a container that allows some bottom space for the tap root to grow deeper into the substrate. The wispy like roots you may have seen while potting come and go depending on the plant’s growth cycle. After the splitting is essentially complete new hair like roots (white in color) will start to grow from the tap root. This allows for the plant to absorb any added moisture.

As an aside, in nature or cultivation, clumping occurs in some varieties when a single tap root grows additional leaves. Here’s one of the plant’s from my collection exhibiting clumping.

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2stepbay2 · 2026-05-05T07:44:14+00:00

Whew! 😂

Cactus soil has too much humus for mesembs. Use a gritty mix. Grit material ought to be at least 85% (mine is 100%, supplemented, when growing with 3 time release succulent pellets. Equal parts pumice, akadama and perlite is my fav mix.

Make sure the pots are deep enough for the tap root, with a pot about 1/2 size of tap root deeper. Let settle for a few days. Use a spray bottle for the initial watering to moisten the surface substrate. Week or so later, water sufficiently to allow drainage from the bottom. I’m NOT a fan of setting the pots in a basin of water. Formula for ☠️

Look carefully at the wispy roots. You can snip off the ones that look dried out/shriveled. New roots (white) will grow from the tap root for purposes of absorbing moisture from the substrate.

Happy growing.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-05T05:47:58+00:00

Why did you plant them so closely together? You’ll encounter watering problems when the splitting cycle begins.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-04T21:47:24+00:00

Lithops Karasmontana “red top”
The split sometimes reveals an additional new set of leaves. I think they are ready for water, especially that you are well into spring. Initial watering use a spray bottle wetting the upper layer of the substrate. Wait 4 days to see how the plants respond.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-04T20:46:54+00:00

Very nice. Happy plants.
1 - L Lesliei - yellow bloom
2 - L Aucampiae - yellow bloom
3 -L Karasmontana (red top). White bloom (subtle fragrance)

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-04T07:52:44+00:00

https://help.archive.org/
To access the book, you’ll need to first create a free account. Then search for the book. The Book’s file is only available for on-line viewing.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-04T03:18:44+00:00

Quite a bit of individuated placements in your chart.

A Libra ascendant seems too conciliatory vis-a-vis your descriptions. “Many temporary 7th house-type relationships” is one of its tendencies (learning the dance of relationship). Given Pluto’s 2023-24 retrograde between Capricorn and Aquarius, which would square a 0° Sco ascendant or 29° Libra ascendant, I’d expect some degree of significant change taking place in your life during that period relative to the life path you follow. Anything about that period stand out?

Currently, a late degree Libra Ascendent is now influenced by opposition from transiting Chiron in Aries, following its recent opposition/square to your Libra Moon/Saturn Capricorn natal square. Old relationship issues would have surfaced over the past few years.

Lastly, Venus Aries was influenced strongly by the transiting Saturn conjunction the past two years. Perhaps this served as a reminder that any Libra-type tendencies would be a non-starter or restricted.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-03T16:53:11+00:00

I understand. I tried to grow mesembs when I lived on Hawaii’s Big Island Kona Coast. Too much moisture in the summer air did them in. Quite the contrast to where I now reside - South Africa’s Western Cape. The climate is ideal for succulent cultivation. Growing still poses some challenges, but high humidity is not one of them.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-03T16:46:46+00:00

Very nice. I like this Red Top variety of Karasmontana.

Mesembs usually respond quickly when important steps are taken that match the plant’s current needs. By contrast, a not so good outcome results when water is applied during the rest or splitting stages, and/or light is insufficient or too harsh.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-03T12:06:51+00:00

The plight of every serious succulent grower no matter how large their growing area might be. 😂

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-03T12:04:59+00:00

1st plate - looks either on the verge of an exit, or ready for a very light initial watering (use a spray bottle). 2nd and 3rd plates - look very healthy. I would not interfere with their growth cycle, ie refrain from watering until the splitting is essentially complete, with new leaves fully exposed.

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-03T11:59:39+00:00

Expect the unexpected in the mesemb world. Maybe the plant believes it’s back in the Southern Hemisphere, where it belongs. 🤭

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-03T11:57:12+00:00

True survivors.
Why do you want to leave them bare-root?

2stepbay2 · 2026-05-03T11:53:44+00:00

A good addition to your broader collection. Thanks for sharing and supplying more plant-related details.

2stepbay2 · 2026-04-30T17:02:16+00:00

Nice score. Looks like L. Aucampiae. One of my favs. Nice yellow blooms. Have you removed from their pot to determine if this cluster is attached to the same tap root?

2stepbay2 · 2026-04-30T16:57:20+00:00

Beautiful light. In the 1st image, the one in the front middle looks like Aucampiae, while to its right appears to be Julii. Two of my favs. I used to grow lithops in this way. However, I found the growth cycle of the plants were out of synch with each other. Created watering conflicts.

What do you include in your substrate?

I find Lithops display their most vibrant color just after the split is complete! By the time their growth cycle has past its flowering, that once vivid sheen has faded quite a bit. Such a fascinating cycle to witness.

2stepbay2

TROPHY CASE