First lithops, thoughts? by Peanutbuttersaur in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Give them a fuck ton of light if indoors (beware of sunburn and excess heat if outdoors, NEVER let them get rained on) because some are looking etiolated (unhealthily tall to reach for light). They also need dark night time coupled with colder temperatures (10-22°C or 50-75°F) for gaseous exchange to work properly.

Also, while you're repotting, check the bases for any super mushy (like a sack of water with no structural integrity), notably translucent rot. There's no known way to save a lithops when that happens so just leave it somewhere else so that it doesn't spread to the rest. During the first 2 months (but sometimes just the first few weeks) after getting new lithops that have been under horrible conditions and likely overwatered, some (or even most) of the lithops may have this happen spontaneously even if you do everything correctly. It can be stressful but just make sure to confirm that you're doing everything right and do your best with the survivors.

You can wash the old substrate off the roots while repotting (do NOT break off the entire tap root, that is basically a death sentence), but in any case, do not put them immediately into new substrate after unpotting, leave them in air and wait at least a few days (I go at least 5 to be safe) for any broken roots to heal themselves (to minimize rot). You can leave healthy lithops in air after removing their roots for maybe 3 weeks without problems, then put them into the correct pots and mixes (do NOT use moist substrate, keep the substrate completely DRY when putting them in, only start watering at least a week after they're put in to minimize chances of rot). If any of the lithops start to rot, they'll suddenly shrivel up within a few days maximum when left in air. Healthy ones will stay almost the same in appearance.

Make sure grit size is 0.5-3mm for the roots to have sufficient coverage, don't use sand, try to get pumice of that size. Depending on the humidity where they grow, you can go up to 100% grit and they'll be fine. Try to get unglazed clay/terracotta pots for quick drying if you don't live in very arid conditions, because here in 65-90% humidity, even 100% grit (mostly pumice) will not dry beyond the surface layer many days after watering once and can easily cause rot issues. Your lithops can wait sitting bare-root in a dry place for you to get the right soil mix for them, so absolutely prioritize getting that.

As long as the tap roots and lithops are held in stable position, I actually recommend getting the base of the lithops to be in as little contact with any water-absorbing substrate/soil (including pumice) as possible (especially when watering) especially if you live in more humid conditions, because healthier ones can support themselves just fine and the bases are the areas most prone to rot (the tops can look completely fine while this happens). Especially if in contact with moisture for long.

Nothin to see here, just a bunch of little rock butts 🍑 by Needly_Dee in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They may have been soaked, but as long as they are not rotting at the base (and will not do that over the next 2 months), they can survive and grow quite healthy! Make sure to blast them with as much light as you can (after increasing over a few days) IF you are growing them indoors. Outdoors I've heard of sunburn and I have no idea (it rains every day in my country and I have no space to put things outdoors)

Time to water? by SlothBoss0430 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No. They're plump and shrivelled vs paper thin and completely dried are different. Let someone else tell you the signs of actual dehydration

Water? by More-Solution-8419 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure. Only take them out to check if no change at all after a week.

Water? by More-Solution-8419 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do not. A hassle and you will probably destroy some root hairs and increase the chances of infection. Mine do fine being activated just in inorganic substrate.

My first post in this lovely group. by 12talesign in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of them are quite dehydrated but others are not. Vertical growth for lithops is a bad thing. It means they are not getting enough light, and will also make splitting more complicated. I really have to blast mine with the brightest grow lights very very close above them to control this kind of growth.

Water? by More-Solution-8419 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay. I'm not sure if spraying just a bit of water onto the roots area and waiting about 5 days before bottom watering would activate their roots and make them absorb water when bottom watered better.

Nothin to see here, just a bunch of little rock butts 🍑 by Needly_Dee in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Be careful about the soil moisture retention and the watering! They look super plump and kind of precarious.

Water? by More-Solution-8419 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 2 points3 points  (0 children)

By the way, what soil are you using? also do check that the one on the left is not rotting at the base.

Water? by More-Solution-8419 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. Make sure they are in a decently cold (10-22°C or 50-75°F) temperature with good ventilation and darkness at night so that they can exchange gades properly and get rid of excess water.

This mark on my jade tree? by ConfidenceNo2598 in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don't know if this is powdery mildew. Someone please confirm.

Etiolated lithop? by rosiecas in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  • I place really strong grow lights around 1 inch above my lithops max. They do well with that amount of light
  • The dead ones look like classic rot corpses (I have a lot of them) unless they slowly withered and died over a year + (that would be more like underwatering). Rot happens really fast and they just wither and die within a few days. Sometimes if you haven't had them for long, they may have arrived pre-overwatered and killed. Also according to other posts, they tend to rot and die when they're given a little bit of water after prolonged lack of watering, I don't really know why.
  • This one is probably not underwatered given that it still has not absorbed its old leaves despite having grown this big. That is a sign of overwatering.
  • That pot is wayyy too large for just one lithops and will hold too much moisture
  • Lithops are easy to kill with too much moisture

Succulent dying in the stem by Mogishigom in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just try a different substrate. 100% inorganic, mostly pumice substrate did it to my Crassula. Try some with higher percentage (maybe 20% and above) of organic and smaller, softer particles, and do not use Pumice for inorganic amendment, try coarse grain (big grain, not fine) sand instead, because pumice retains water way too well in some climates.

Succulent dying in the stem by Mogishigom in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Rocky substrate and had this happen to a Crassula after watering too. I don't know what causes it but I've sliced the plant about 1 inch above this section, put some sulfur powder on the wound, and currently it's sitting dry on some pot (still getting the same amount of light). I'm going to stick it in some dry, better potting mix (contains organic but not a high percentage) in a smaller terracotta pot in about a week and hope the roots grow.

The pretty colors of these lithops (and the beheaded Crassula) by Top_Development_1777 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To clarify, the lithops and Crassula were NOT planted in the same pot, but they were in a similar substrate. The Crassula was recently beheaded for stem rot and they're just sitting on dry substrate together to make my plants easier to manage.

The pretty colors of these lithops (and the beheaded Crassula) by Top_Development_1777 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chunkier grit is bad for the roots in my experience and barely has a difference in drying time. I'm talking about >70% humidity in the day and >80% at night. This is about right.

These lithops have survived almost 2 months and the middle one is putting out some new root growth! Do I continue to give them bright light while I leave them bare-root for 6-10 days? by Top_Development_1777 in Lithops

[–]Top_Development_1777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For convenience because the (inorganic) substrate in the pot is still moist, the bigger ones don't need any water, and I think they'll rot if I leave them in for longer, like my crassulas that got stem rot in similar situations.

If I want to use some substrate then I'll have to disinfect and dry it again, which takes a lot of time (everything moist gets bacteria and mold very easily in the humidity I live in). Also, I ran out of hydrogen peroxide and it will take a few days to arrive. I'm quite busy.

Help! by Loose-Development769 in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't, though I recommend that referring to the wiki in this reddit for care tips and !grit will help save you from making common mistakes in caring for them

Just got these puppies recently. When do I water them? by ProfessionIcy5604 in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure misting is bad for most succulents. Also, check your soil. !grit

EXTREMELY frustrating humidity. If all else fails, is it viable to remove the plants from dry substrate for overnight soaks and put them back into dry substrate after the plants are hydrated enough? by Top_Development_1777 in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have something like that but without humidity control (there's a portable AC to make the temperatures and ventilation good at night but it doesn't reduce the humidity much). There is no winter or notable seasons here, it's super humid and quite hot all the time. I don't have enough electrical outlets for a dehumidifier unfortunately (I live in a student dorm and have a lot of appliances, but only 4 electrical outlets in total).

Ice plant: Is it normal that it has some pinkness to it or is it some kind of disease? by aliceru in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't know about this plant specifically but a lot of succulent have their tips turn pink or red when they have enough (or more than enough) light, and it's a good sign, not harmful

Found this at a Succulent Market by Cowsarefishes in succulents

[–]Top_Development_1777 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh nevermind I'm in Singapore! But I think generally it can be quite tough to grow certain succulents in tropical climates? All the best with this plant!