Get To Know Lithops Ornamental Plants, A Type Of Succulent That Looks Like Beautiful Rocks

Illustration of lithops ornamental plant (Unsplash/Summertrain)

JAKARTA – Exotic ornamental plants belonging to one of the succulent species are called lithops. The shape is beautiful like rocks and corals in the ocean.

Lithops, with the scientific name Aizoaceae, native to South Africa. This plant grows naturally in Namibia. Uniquely, it can grow anywhere from the coast to mountainous areas.

Based on the origin of the word, lithops comes from the Greek lithos which means 'stone' and ops means 'like' or 'face'. Well, that's why this plant is shaped like its name, 'like a stone' or 'faced like a rock'.

Even more amazing than this 'calm' looking plant, the leaves are facing each other. When it starts to divide, a white or yellow flower will appear from the center. The aroma of flowers is fragrant and there is a slight sweet impression.

Like succulents, lithops are often placed in glass pots and small stone decorations so that they become terrariums. Usually used as an indoor ornamental plant.

Lithops plants grow in clumps. The fruit is often open and wet from rain. When forming a clump, from the planting medium it will appear like a fruit that opens and forms new leaves. Quite unique isn't it?

How to grow lithops can be from seeds or fruit. Pollination needs to be done from separate plants. The trick, the fruit is shaped like a Bering capsule will open. Open due to water drops. When open can be distributed intact or destroyed.

Well, whole fruit can be treated and planted with certain growing media that are suitable for lithops. A suitable growing medium for lithops is sandy soil. It imitates its natural habitat growing in the desert. You can complement the surface with decorative stones.

It is recommended to mix sandy soil with gravel and charcoal husk to keep the humidity balanced.

Lithops can be propagated by moving the clump in a full pot to several pots. The trick, prepare pots and planting media and then move one to two lithops. The best time to move it is at the beginning of the dry season.

Lithops plants including plants that grow very slowly. Even for the propagation of 2-3 pairs of leaves takes years.

Illustration of flowering lithops ornamental plant (Instagram/@re.emb)

Because lithops are native to dry soil, excess water is not very favored by this plant. How to care for it is relatively easy, you don't need to water it every day. Enough once every 2 days or pay attention to the planting media and pots.

If the planting medium is too dry, then it's time to water. Good pot drainage is also important for this plant to grow. As for the level of lighting, it requires sun exposure for 3-4 hours a day.

It should be noted, even though it looks 'calm' the lithops plant is a little spoiled. Exposure to light must be just right, if the excess it can be scorched. Air circulation where the plant is placed also needs to be measured. If the air does not move or in an air-conditioned and humid room, it needs to be dried in the sun.

In the market, lithops have indeed become one of the idols of the succulent type. You can buy it with a price range of IDR 75,000 to IDR 150,000. Interested in collecting them for home decoration?