Lithops seed germination
 

They're coming up everywhere! I got some Lithops seed off of ebay a week or so ago, and planted it right away, and now I've got seedlings all over.

I'll probably end up killing most of them. But I hope at least a few make it.

http://www.sparkcostumes.com/gallery...s/P1030192.jpg

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

They have seeds?

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Of course. Every plants with flowers have seeds. Only mosses(like sphagnum), ferns(like staghorn fern), conifers(christmas trees) don't have flowers so they don't have seeds. But conifers produces cones and those other plants have spores

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Hey spark! Can you tell us how you sow the seeds and what must be done to germinate them? We virtually have no information here with regards to Lithops, let alone germinating info. Can't find them in Malaysia as well.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

I actually followed the instructions from this site: http://users.skynet.be/fhoes/rsasucculents/sowing.htm

Lithops are not hard to sow and germinate at all. They basically just need to be kept damp and given some light in order to germinate. It's keeping them alive afterwards that's the challenge. :)

This site has excellent care information, although it's not aimed specifically at tropical climates http://www.lithops.info/

Another good site is http://www.lithops.co.za/cultivation/cultivation.html

I would assume you'd want to water them less, since they'd be getting some water just from the humidity in the air, and I'm not sure what you'd do to give them seasons, I suspect they wouldn't thrive (and certainly wouldn't flower) without seasons.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Thanks spark. :)

So this means that even if we try our best it will eventually die as we are unable to give them seasons here in the tropics. :(

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Possibly not. :( Although I know some people in the tropics grow venus fly traps and sarracenia, both of which are also supposed to get seasons... how do they manage that?

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

I put my VFt in the fridge during dormancy though most people say they would die in there mine did not.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

We people in the tropics give dry dormancy to these plants. Check some articles on the forum for that.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Problem is for lithops, their natural habitat is the oposite of how sarra and vfts grow. So we can't follow what we do for sarra and vft. But I believe there is a way. Just that nobody has tried it and found the right cultivation tips yet.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Like cactus,right?Or not?I don't actually care for my cactus.They just grow and grow and grow and grow.I think one of the cone shaped ones produced a gammae like some pings.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Lithops are grown similarly to cactus, but not identically, there are some differences. Cactus come from a variety of climates, from tropical to temperate, but nearly all very dry and nearly all in the Americas. Lithops come from one fairly small part of southern Africa. I'm not at ALL an expert on cactus, I don't own any, just succulents, and cactus care requirements vary a lot across species, some are amazingly tolerant of water, or of cold, or even both, where Lithops are not tolerant of water at all, and are only tolerant of cold when kept absolutely bone dry.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Oh......So they need to be watered.Like every week?

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

It depends on if they're growing, dormant, trying to flower, or trying to absorb old leaves.

Right now I am not watering mine at all, and I won't be for probably another month or so because they're absorbing old leaves, and water would mess with that. When they're done and the old leaves are gone I'll water them a little, but I'll have to stop fairly soon because then it will be summer and they'll go dormant again, so I'll leave them alone during the hottest months, other than maybe a little misting if they start looking very dry and wrinkled. Then I start watering again in the fall so that they can flower, and stop again during winter so they can start a new pair of leaves, it it starts over again.

It's kind of complicated. :unsure:

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

The life cycle of lithops---water,flower,grow new leaf,water a little,dormant,water,flower,grow new leaf,water a little and so on.Haha!I want to get some.David:Where do you got them?Spark:They need bright light or not?

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

They like bright light, but they prefer just a little screening, direct light can burn them and they can also overheat if they're in small pots. Mine are on my windowsill, which so far seems to be perfect for them.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Hi marvin,

At the moment I can't remember where I bought it. It was from an online nursery.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

If you want to try from seed (at least germination is easy!) ebay always has lots. The ones I just sprouted came from somebody in Taiwan, so they're nearer to you than to me, I think!

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Ok. Got it. I bought my lithops from www.conos-paradise.com. Good service and great plants. This nursery also do not collect money upfront. You only pay when you receive your plants and invoice. The nursery is from Germany.

The owner is Uwe Beyer and he has written a short article on the cultivation of Lithops in tropical conditions for us. I thought I uploaded it some time back. Can't seem to find that thread. Will post again.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

It's in the succulents section. (Well, lithops are succulents!)

https://forum.petpitcher.net/showthread.php?t=1104

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Hi Everyone,

How's your lithops doing? Are they dong great? Just ordered some seeds and hope to learn from all sifus here when mine arrived :)

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Now, my turn to ask,

rhealk, how is yours? That is interesting plant!!! will get some from seeds from you soon...

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Sowed on a tray and I think I saw some germinated and the next day my cat use the tray at its toilet. Now have to start all over again!

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Have your parcel arrived?

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

opppssss... sad to hear that.

Yea, I collected the parcel this morning. Yesterday PosMen try deliver it, nobody at home (as expected). Again, thanks...

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Ehe I got lithops also but very hard to grow... Now still some 0.5 cm.. Like never will grow up. =P

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

Haha, they're complicated plant.

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

picture picture picture*biggrin2*

Re: Lithops seed germination
 

lithops??

does it flower?
growing conditions?

im kinda suprise theres a stone like plant available in this world.