Lithops, often called "living stones," are fascinating succulent plants native to the arid deserts of southern Africa. Their entire evolutionary history has been a masterclass in water conservation, and understanding this is the key to watering them correctly. From our perspective, our needs are not dictated by a calendar but by the harsh, seasonal rhythms of our native habitat. Our watering schedule is intrinsically linked to our growth cycle, which is divided into distinct phases.
Our life cycle is our internal calendar. We do not grow continuously. We have a period of active growth and a period of summer dormancy where we require complete dryness. The most critical thing to understand is that we absorb water through a few, very deep roots, and we store all the moisture we need for months within our leaf pair. Our main body is essentially a water storage organ. Watering us when we are not actively growing or when our leaves are already full is the fastest way to cause fatal rot.
Our primary periods for needing water are in the spring, as we are finishing flowering and beginning new growth, and in the autumn, as we are actively growing. The key signal is the appearance of a new leaf pair from the fissure between the old leaves. During this time, you may notice our older, outer leaves begin to shrivel and dry out. This is a normal process; we are transferring moisture and nutrients to the new growth. A thorough watering during this phase is beneficial, but only after the soil is completely and utterly dry. A good soak, followed by perfect drainage and then a long period of dryness, mimics the rare desert downpours we are adapted to.
During the high heat of summer, we enter a dormant state to protect ourselves. Our metabolism slows dramatically. Any water offered at this time will sit around our roots, which are not drinking, and will inevitably lead to rot. Similarly, in the deep winter, when light levels are low and temperatures are cool, we are again mostly inactive. We are relying on the water stored within our leaves. Watering is almost always unnecessary and dangerous during these seasons. The old leaves will appear wrinkled and dry—this is not a cry for water but a natural part of our renewal process.
You must learn to read our bodies. The need for water is not indicated by a slightly wrinkled texture. All Lithops will have some minor wrinkles and puckers on their top surface; this is normal. The sign that we might be ready for a drink is when the sides of our leaves (the lateral walls) become visibly concave and sunken in, like a pizza crust that has collapsed. Even then, you must first confirm that we are in our active growth phase. If our sides are concave during our summer dormancy, you must still withhold water. It is a test of patience, but we are built to survive this temporary drought.
