Lithops aucampiae
| Light | Bright light, including several hours of direct sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Very sparingly on a seasonal rhythm; keep dry in summer and winter (see Watering) |
| Soil | Extremely free-draining, mostly mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); division of clumps |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Lithops aucampiae is a hardy, small living stone from South Africa and one of the easiest members of the genus Lithops for a beginner to keep alive. Its paired, fleshy leaves have reddish-brown to warm coppery tops crossed by darker, branching (dendritic) windows, and in autumn the plant produces a bright yellow, daisy-like flower from the fissure between the leaves. Its tolerance of a little extra water and its forgiving nature make it one of the most widely recommended Lithops for newcomers.
Description
Lithops aucampiae consists of a single pair of thick, fused leaves that together form a small, rounded body — an inverted cone a few centimetres across, its flat or gently domed top sitting flush with the soil. The tops range from rusty reddish-brown to a warm copper or coffee colour, patterned with darker, translucent windows that branch across the face in an irregular, dendritic (tree-like) network. These windows admit light to the photosynthetic tissue buried inside the leaf, an adaptation to the plant's habit of growing partly submerged in the ground.
Like all living stones, the plant lives on a strict annual cycle. Each year a new leaf pair grows from between the old one, and the old leaves are absorbed and dry to a papery sheath. Golden-yellow flowers, sometimes lightly scented, open from the central fissure in autumn, usually in the afternoon. Older plants slowly form small clumps of several heads.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to South Africa, where it grows in the interior of the Northern Cape and neighbouring areas in dry, rocky grassland and scrub. It roots in gritty, well-drained ground among stones and quartz, often nestled so that only the flat leaf tops show at the surface — a natural camouflage that helps it escape grazing and the worst of the sun. Rainfall is low and highly seasonal, and the plants endure long dry spells by drawing on the water stored in their swollen leaves.
Cultivation
Lithops aucampiae is among the most forgiving living stones, but success still hinges on getting the watering rhythm right, because overwatering at the wrong time is the usual cause of loss. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot deep enough for its long taproot, and give it the brightest position you can — it colours up and stays compact in strong light. Too little light makes the body stretch and lose its markings.
Follow the seasonal watering cycle rather than a fixed schedule (see Watering). In broad terms: water lightly in autumn as the plant flowers, keep it dry through winter while the new leaf pair forms between the old, allow occasional water in spring only once the old leaves have fully shrivelled and been absorbed, and keep it dry through the heat of summer. Do not water while the old leaves are being reabsorbed, however wrinkled the plant looks. See Repotting for handling the deep root system.
Propagation
Seed is the standard and most rewarding method. Sown on a gritty, mineral surface kept lightly moist and warm, the tiny seedlings appear within days to weeks and are then grown on slowly over several years, gradually being weaned onto the adult dry regime. Established clumps can also be divided, though each division must keep some root to establish well. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for technique.
Common problems
- Rot — almost always from watering during summer dormancy or while the old leaves are being absorbed, or from a mix that holds too much moisture; the body goes soft and translucent.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body elongate, pale and lose its dendritic pattern.
- Stacking / multiple leaf pairs — watering during the reabsorption period can leave the plant with several leaf pairs at once, weakening it over time.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff, especially down in the fissure and at the roots) and the occasional sap-sucking mite; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Lithops — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Repotting · Pests and diseases