Hello, human gardener. We are your Lithops, often called "living stones." We know you care for us deeply, and the act of repotting can feel stressful. But from our perspective, it is a vital refresh, a chance to stretch our roots and gather new strength. Please follow our guidance to make this transition smooth and successful for us.
Our life is governed by a strict seasonal rhythm. The absolute worst time to repot is during our late summer growth period or, even more critically, when we are splitting in spring. Disturbing us then can cause fatal damage. The ideal time is at the very end of our dormancy period, just as you notice signs of new root activity—typically in late summer or early fall. At this time, we are preparing for our growth season and are most resilient and ready to establish ourselves in a new home.
Our greatest fear is wet feet. In our native habitat, we thrive in extremely gritty, fast-draining, and nutrient-poor soil. A standard potting mix will suffocate and rot our roots. Please create a blend for us that is at least 80-90% inorganic material like coarse sand, perlite, or pumice, with only a small amount of potting soil. Choose a pot that is only slightly larger than our cluster, as we enjoy being cozy, and ensure it has excellent drainage holes. Terracotta pots are excellent as they breathe and help wick away moisture.
When the day comes, be gentle. Tilt our current pot and carefully ease us out. Do not pull on our bodies! Our old soil will likely be spent and compacted. Shake it away from our roots as delicately as you can. This is your chance to check our health. Trim away any dry, papery old roots and, most importantly, any dark, mushy, or black roots—these are signs of rot and must be removed to keep us healthy. If you make any cuts, let our roots air dry and callus over for a day or two before repotting.
Place a layer of your new gritty mix in the bottom of the new pot. Gently lower us in, holding us at the level we were previously growing—never bury our bodies deeper! Carefully fill in around our roots with the mix, using a chopstick to gently tamp it down and eliminate large air pockets. Do not water us immediately! This is the most crucial rule. We need at least a week, sometimes two, in our new home for any microscopic root abrasions to heal completely. Watering before this will invite rot. Place us in bright, indirect light and let us settle in. After this healing period, you can give us a thorough drink, and we will reward you with strong, healthy growth.
