i’ve met a lot of people during my time online and many of us have grown apart but i still think of them frequently and wonder what they’re up to and hope they’re no longer facing the same demons they once did
Would you use a Plant App for your phone? If yes, what would you expect from it? How would you want it to help you improve your plant caring “skills”? :)
I know that a lot of you plant experts already know this stuff, but I thought I would share for my newbies!
Butt plants, aka, lithops, are a type of mesemb or mimicry plant. Mimicry plants are native to Africa, where they have evolved to survive the harsh climate and natural predators. An understanding of this evolution is crucial to keeping your very own butt plants alive. So lets learn a little bit more, shall we?
Evolution and it’s importance in caring for your lithops:
Lithops’ unique look is due to evolution. They evolved over the years to look like rocks as a defense against hungry predators.
Also due to evolution, butt plants have a very strange watering schedule, which we will go over later. All you need to know right now is that in the wilds of Africa, lithops would only get rain certain times of the year. This means that they are very picky when it comes to water. If you water them at the wrong time they will not be happy campers.
Another important point to bring into consideration when caring for your butt plants is how much light they need. In Africa, they will get a lot of sun all year round. They have evolved to take in as much light as possible. If you don’t get a lot of sun all year round, there is a pretty simple solution that will make your butts happier! Just don’t bury them as deep in the soil. Let the top of that booty stick out girl! This will expose it to more sun and will also let you admire even more of your butt!
Now that you understand why lithops are the way they are, lets move on to what they need to survive.
Necessities in lithops’ care:
Fast draining soil. This is a must for keeping butt plants alive. Like all succulents, they are not fond of sitting in damp dirt. I mean, who is? Fast draining soil will prevent root rot on your lithops. One trick I learned from succy place (https://www.succyplace.com/single-post/LithopsCareTips) is to squeeze a handful of soil. If it sticks together and forms a clump, add more perlite/pumice (or another porous medium that will help with drainage).
A tall but cozy pot with a drainage hole. Lithops grow very long roots, so it is important that your pot is tall. Lithops also like being a bit cozy on the sides, so you won’t need too wide a pot (unless you are putting multiple butts in it). A drainage hole, of course, will help with drainage.
Last but not least, is
Lithops’ watering and growth schedule:
Please be aware that this is a very general guide specific to the Northern Hemisphere. Also, your plants’ growth schedule may differ slightly depending on temp, light, etc. where you live.
Early through mid Summer: Do not water your lithops. They go dormant during this time of year.
August (Late Summer): Resume watering! Your butts should be out of dormancy. If your lithops are 3 years or older, they might flower! If you have never seen lithops in bloom, you should def google it!
Early Fall: Stop watering once the flower is gone. If your lithops are too young to have flowers, stop watering right when fall starts. It is always better to underwater your lithops than overwater. During Fall, your lithops are growing new baby leaves inside of the old ones. These baby leaves are getting nutrients from the old ones, so no watering is required.
Late Fall through early Winter: Do not water. Your lithops should look very wrinkly and sad. Don’t worry, this is just the old leaves being shed.
Later Winter: Resume watering once the new leaves have emerged, and the old leaves have been fully absorbed and/or look like paper.
Spring: Continue watering. Your lithops’ new leaves are growing bigger and stronger. Keep watering until the cycle starts over and Summer is here again. Congrats! You kept your lithops alive for a full year!
Thanks for reading! I hope you are inspired to go get your very own butt plants bc they really are quite a joy 😊
Okay, I have been thinking. I love writing, I love sending postcards and letters, so in case anyone of my followers wants to receive a postcard or a letter some time, please leave me a message with your address. (This is also counting for the Christmas cards I will be sending again this year. And I want to prepare them early!!)
Reminder. Especially since I saw numerous windows already decorated with lights or trees…. the North is weird. So I start making a list for my annual Christmas cards. If you want to receive a card, please contact me here. Anons are also welcome. Submission of the address can be either on tumblr messages, ask or via mail which I am going to give you then.
