Ryan it will depend then they flower for you and when that flower dries up, I watered after the flower dried up, I also waited until the leaves where completly dry on the outside, and I saw a new leaf coming up from the inside of the center. They were in clay pots that were very small and kept in them until they filled the pot, then taken out and replanted in fresh quartzite gravel and put back in. When in Africa I saw them in white quartz between the rocks, hunkered down, with only windows showing they were protected from the sun and grazing animals. I have Ed Storms books, but there are two pages of watering instuctions, I can't possibly type out here. Ed Stom didn't water his from March to November and they all lived even though it was one of the hottest summers that they experienced, this was an experiment. This is not recommened for your collection but it gives you a clue how little water they need. At the Huntington we gave them an occasional splash of water, a quick once over, if the tops are turgid and firm with no wrinkling and the surface is smooth they don't need water Ed Strom says in his book. This is the best I can do here. Others with more experience will expalin this more simply. Norma

I wrote another article for you. Ed Strome says it is impossible to tell you what to do, but latter in his small booklet he describes what to do. I made some suggestions, try to get his book. The new GROWING the MESEMBS by ed storms. 1986 check with Rainbow Gardens and see if it is available.

The only problem with Ed Storms' advice is that he grew his plants in a greenhouse in Texas where temperatures were blazing hot and most of his plants went dormant for an extended period which necessitated a reduction in watering. Most of us don't have to deal with prolonged periods of 100F+.

Most Lithops species will conform to the local conditions which basically is active expansion of existing bodies and flowering from around Aug/ Sept into Nov/ Dec depending on the species and the amount of sun and warmth available. After flowering, new bodies develop within the old ones. The old bodies slowly shrivel until early spring at which time the new bodies need to be watered again somewhat regularly until they reach full size. By late spring/ early summer the newly formed bodies can handle a drought and are best kept on the dry side, and shaded a little if it is very hot, until flowering time.

But yes, there are many variables and one MUST learn to take cues from the plants themselves.

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