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If someone could show me how to post pictures or thumbnails directly into a post, I'd be ever so grateful!

I'm not familiar with Lithops, but I can help with the minor question: you use HTML to post pictures & thumbnails, not BB Code:

is the most basic way (just remove the spaces after the 'You can also do to resize the image and possibly toss a link in there to go to the full sized picture when clicked:

For your thumbnail...

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Here is what it looks like... again there's some spaces after the '

If your using photobucket, just copy and paste the html code right into this text box of your post. It will show as a long code, but when you hit preview it should show your picture.

JoJo

thanks for the info! now if someone could help me with my lithops seeds ^^

With seeds you need to be sure that the mix stays damp all the way to the top since the seeds don't have any deep roots yet. That can be a little more difficult with the gritty mix because it doesn't wick water upwards very well, so the surface tends to dry out pretty quickly. The point of using a top layer of Turface fines is to prevent the surface from drying out, since Turface fines hold more water than any other ingredient. If you don't have any more Turface fines left, I'd just use a layer of straight Turface. It will still hold a lot of water. When I germinated some Boswellia sacra seeds in the gritty mix, I just sprinkled the seeds over the gritty mix and then sprinkled a thin layer of 1/8" Turface over the seeds. I also used a plastic dome over the seed tray to reduce evaporation. Then I just watered whenever the surface of the mix was starting to dry. When I transplanted them into their own pots the roots were very long and healthy.

phongdor,
It's great that you're doing so much research about how to best care for your plants and how to start seedlings, but I think you're making it more complicated than necessary...

The so-called "Al's Gritty Mix" is just one alternative of many. I use washed Napa #8822 and Scotts Topsoil in various proportions for all of my plants (cacti and succulents) and they seem to like it.

As far as starting seeds goes, almost any mix will do. The easiest way is to use the baggy method. It seems counter-intuitive, but succulent and (especially) cactus seedlings do better in 100% humidity, with their roots constantly wet. If you use the baggy method, you can use any mix, even Al's, and won't have to worry about fines or other nonsense.

-R

Forgot to mention....with small seeds the easiest thing to do is just to give them a spray after potting them up. That washes them down into the substrate.

-R

@penfold - thank you for explaining the theory behind using turface fines, I will be sure to keep the surface moistened. Currently I have five 4" pots in a sterilite plastic shoebox-sized container, covered with plastic wrap, under 2 t5ho lights. Before sowing the seeds I prepped Al's gritty mix and soaked it with a fungicide just in case.

@Robert - thanks for your input, I do not favor the baggy method as it quickly gets tedious with one pot for one bag.

I sowed mine by accident on the top of a flat of fresh soil, is was in bright light, the seeds got sprinkled on top of the soil, I accidently watered this flat because I had other things growing there, the Lithop seeds came up so thick that it looked like moss. I had rocks the size of about 2" in the flat, and the Lithops came up on the north side of those rocks. I had never sowed any kind of succulents seed before, it was dumb luck. It was outside so there was not reason to worry about mold, I didn't take any cautions as to sterilize anything. In Africa they grow in quartzite rocks, the rocks protect them from the animals, no one watered them or kept them moist, they got morning sun only. no one put a light sand or other cover on top, the water just washed them into the soil. This is just input for you. Seeds from my other plants just come up in pots where ever they fall. What ever method you choose they will grow for you, as long as they get the air, light, soil mix that they need to grow. Norma

thanks norma, thats very reassuring :) I know these plants have been doing their thing in harsh environments for thousands of years with no handholding or TLC, but being that it's my first time sowing these Lithops, I wanna do it right the first time :D

I think I should actually be wary of giving them too much love as I've read of many cases of loving succulents to death.

The most important factor for getting good germination with Lithops, in my experience, is making sure it is done the right time of year and that the mix stays moist while maintaining good air circulation.

The best time of year by far is late summer/ early fall. Sowing in the spring or early summer results in quick germination but poor growth and easy casualties during heat waves. I would encourage you to wait until September to avoid disappointment.

Sowing in the winter or early spring results in seedlings often not being large enough to withstand the summer dormant period (depending on species).

The moisture/ air issue is a simple one to address. I keep my pots standing in a small amount of water so the mix stays constantly moist, while at the same time I make sure the top of the pot is not covered and I place a small fan nearby to keep the air moving.

Most any soil mix will do, but something like "Al's Mix" has the advantage of keeping the seedlings in it longer if need be, and also a gritty mix makes it easier to pull out seedlings for transplanting.

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x

This thread is great. I've got some seeds on order and I'll be doing it right this time, hopefully.

@xero - Hmm, well it would seem I got a little ahead of myself in sowing them at this time of year, then. Good thing I didn't use up all of the seeds. I will see what I can do with this batch, keeping your advice in mind. While I wait for September to roll around I can always do more research :) Thanks xero!

@hanzrobo - me and you, buddy!