Lithops localis
| Light | Very bright light; several hours of direct sun, brightest available on a sunny windowsill |
|---|---|
| Water | Very sparingly; water in autumn and spring, keep bone-dry through summer dormancy and mid-winter |
| Soil | Extremely free-draining, mostly mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11, protect from frost |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); division of established clumps |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Lithops localis is a small, clumping living stone from South Africa whose greenish to reddish-brown windowed tops are peppered with darker sunken dots, and which bears bright yellow daisy-like flowers in autumn. Unlike many of its solitary relatives, it readily branches to form generous clusters of paired leaves in cultivation, making it one of the more forgiving and rewarding members of the genus for beginners.
Description
Lithops localis consists of pairs of thick, fused leaves that form a soft, inverted-cone body about a centimetre across, with a slightly domed to flattened top. The upper surface — the "window" through which light reaches the buried photosynthetic tissue — ranges from grey-green through olive to a warm brownish or reddish tone, and is marked by scattered, sunken dark dots rather than the intricate branched patterning of some other species. A shallow fissure runs across the top, from which new growth and flowers emerge.
The plant is notably eager to divide: single heads split and multiply over the years into clusters of many bodies, a habit that gives older plants a pleasingly cushioned, mounded appearance. Golden-yellow flowers open in the afternoon during autumn, closing again by evening.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Great Karoo region of South Africa, where it grows in quartz-gravel flats and stony ground among low, sparse vegetation. Like all Lithops, it is a master of camouflage, sitting nearly flush with the surrounding stones so that only the flat leaf tops are exposed. During the driest months the plants retract into the soil, surviving on moisture stored in their swollen leaves and blending almost invisibly into the gravel.
Cultivation
Lithops localis is grown much like the rest of the genus, and its clumping vigour makes it a good choice for a first living stone. Give it the brightest position you can — several hours of direct sun — in a deep, narrow pot filled with a gritty, almost entirely mineral mix to accommodate the long taproot. Insufficient light causes the bodies to stretch, pale and lose their tight, stone-like form.
Watering is the crux with all Lithops, and getting the annual rhythm right matters more than any single watering. Water in autumn (around flowering) and again in spring, always letting the mix dry out completely between waterings. Keep the plant bone-dry through its summer dormancy and again in the depths of winter. The plant produces a fresh pair of leaves each year that draws its moisture from the old pair, which shrivels to a papery sheath — never water while this renewal is underway, as it invites rot. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the primary method: sow the fine seed on the surface of a mineral mix, keep it lightly humid and warm, and expect slow but steady germination. Seedlings are tiny and must not be overwatered. Because L. localis clumps so freely, established clusters can also be lifted and divided, teasing apart rooted heads — a quicker route to more plants than with strictly solitary species. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for details.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from watering during dormancy or the annual leaf renewal, or from a mix that holds too much moisture.
- Etiolation — too little light makes bodies elongate, soften in colour and lose their compact shape.
- Excess leaf pairs — overwatering can cause a plant to push out more than one new pair of leaves, producing a stacked, unnatural look and weakening the plant.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the fissure and around the roots) and root mealybugs are the usual culprits; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Lithops — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Repotting