From our perspective as Lithops, our existence is a constant battle against excess moisture. Our native habitat is the arid, unforgiving deserts of Southern Africa, where water is a rare and precious event, not a constant. Our entire physiology is engineered to store water within our leaf pairs and survive on minuscule amounts. Therefore, a pot that traps water is a death sentence. Excellent drainage is not a mere suggestion; it is the single most critical factor for our survival. A pot must have one large or several small drainage holes at the bottom. This allows any excess water from a rare drink to escape immediately, preventing it from pooling around our sensitive, shallow root system. Sitting in wet soil leads to root rot, which rapidly spreads to our succulent body, turning us to mush. A pot that facilitates the quick exit of water mimics the sudden downpours and rapid drying of our natural home.
Our root system is surprisingly shallow and compact. We do not send a deep taproot searching for distant water tables. Instead, our roots spread horizontally just below the soil's surface to quickly absorb any fleeting surface moisture from a light rain or morning dew. A deep pot is problematic for two key reasons. First, it holds a larger volume of soil, which retains water for a much longer time. This deep soil stays damp long after the surface has dried, creating a perpetually wet environment around our roots that we are not equipped to handle. Second, the excessive depth encourages unused soil below our roots to become compacted and sour, potentially creating anaerobic conditions that are harmful. An ideal pot provides just enough depth to accommodate our root structure with a little room for growth, typically no deeper than 3 to 5 inches.
The material of the pot plays a significant role in regulating the moisture and air around our roots. We strongly prefer unglazed terracotta or clay pots. The porous nature of these materials is a tremendous benefit to us. The clay walls actively wick moisture away from the soil, promoting evaporation from the sides of the pot as well as the top. This "breathing" action helps the soil mix dry out more evenly and quickly after watering, significantly reducing the risk of rot. Furthermore, the sturdy, heavy nature of terracotta provides stability, preventing our small, top-heavy bodies from toppling over. While ceramic and plastic pots can be used if they have excellent drainage holes, they hold moisture for far longer. If you choose such a pot, you must be exceptionally cautious with your watering frequency to compensate for the lack of evaporative function.
