Growing Lithops outside

13 years ago

I just ordered some lithops from eBay and am excited to grow them here in San Francisco (Noe Valley to be exact). However, I didn't realize they're a little tricky to grow. I was planning to grown them outside like I do with my sempervivums, even combing them among my semps but I've read that they only like hot arid dry conditions, opposite of the SF climate now (if you don't know San Francisco is cool most of the time, we get lots of fog and summers are usually around 50 at night and average 65-70 in the day). My sempervivums love the weather here and thrive really well and I want my lithops to do the same but it seems like I would need to bring them inside on a sunny window. I really want to have them outside however. Has anyone ever tried to grow them outdoors in a climate similar to mine?

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Comments (9)

norma_2006
13 years ago
Yep and they rotted. The first batch burned up from the sun, the second batch, I grew in my little green house and they didn't make it. I tried another batch, but the squirells, or birds thought they were put out for them to get water from, then the snails attacked them. I gave up, I am not going to fight nature. I have other genus of plants that grow well here and that is what I'm going to do and stay away from those that don't like my growing conditions it's a waste of money and time. Norma
User
13 years ago
Hi SF,

Perhaps you might do some reading up BEFORE ordering next time, so as not to have this problem again.

I don't grow Lithops at all, but here in NYC, I've had friends who grew them but they had a greenhouse.

I'm guessing it's unlikely from what you've described.
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land3499
13 years ago
sf,
I don't think this will work, because Lithops can't take temperatures below 40 degrees, and because of their growth cycle. In summer they're dormant, and require almost no water. Fall/early winter is their main growing & flowering season, so that's when they need water. But they have to be kept completely dry over winter and into early spring, while the new leaves absorb the moisture from the old leaves. Then they can get a bit of water in the spring.

So yes, they're a bit tricky......and I doubt that the rains in SanFran would cooperate :)

-R
xerophyte NYC
13 years ago
land3499

Lithops can't take temps below 40F? You are misinformed. Except for maybe L. optica or another coastal variety, they can all tolerate a freeze without a problem if grown properly.

SF: maybe, just maybe, you can try one of the species that grow along the Namibian coast and experience a climate similar to the Bay Area. Lithops optica comes to mind. They experience regular, almost nightly, dense fogs all winter long.

x
sf4023st
Original Author
13 years ago
Hey Everyone! Thanks so much for all the comments and advice. I honestly figured since they were succulents I can just treat them like I do with my sempervivums, aeoniums, and echeverias which all do really well here in San Francisco. But I guess these aren't your average succulents. I purchased a huge lot of 110+ plants from eBay for $35 (they're selling one little stone in a 2" pot for $6 at a store here!). I'm going to be ultra careful with these guys. I think I;ll put most indoors on the southern window and try a few outdoors and see how they go. I;ll just be careful with the water and if it rains bring them indoor. Who knew these were so tricky!!! I saw them at my local Target store and thought they couldn't be so hard if they're at Target...
land3499
13 years ago
xerophyte, you're right. But I doubt you'll find any growers, specialty or otherwise, who deliberately subject Lithops to freezing temperatures. 40 is the minimum "safe" temperature, and has no effect on growth or flowering.

sf, I hope your plants aren't too big! Sometimes they are grown very "soft" and get really large, and then it's hard to get them back to their normal state.

-R
debaustin53
5 years ago
Could you cover with a clear shower cap to protect against rain
juliewog
5 years ago
Sf, are you sure you didn't buy 100 lithop seeds and not plants for $35?? That's a great deal for plants . I wanted to buy seeds but they can take months to grow. It might be fun to try.
SpanishFly - (Mediterranean)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Well, I have been treating my Lithops exactly wrong then, according to all the ´expert´ advice here - growing outside all year round, I slosh water on it in the summer and keep it totally dry in a cold frame for 3 months in the winter, when it goes down to 2 or 3 C. No idea how it has got to be a monster like this.