Living stones (Lithops) also known as pebble plants, are unusual little succulents that have evolved to look like the pebbles and rocks of their native habitats in Africa. These plants hug the ground and grow extremely slowly. Living stones grow best in conditions that mimic their natural habitat, especially when it comes to providing light and water. The plants require about six hours of direct sunlight a day, extremely well-draining sandy soil, and average indoor room temperatures and humidity levels.

• Plant living stones in the spring or fall, before they enter a dormant state during the hot summer months or cold winter months.
• Place the plant in direct, bright sunlight. A living stone plant needs a lot of light so it can reach down into its subterranean leaves but make sure top leaves do not burn.
• Invest in a grow light if necessary.
• Lightly water soil during spring and fall when it dries out but avoid watering these plants in summer and winter.

Living stones must be watered on a seasonal schedule that mimics the rainfall they would get in their natural habitat. Don’t water in summer or over the winter when the plant is dormant. Then drench the soil, allowing it to dry out completely before watering again—about 1-2 weeks. Once the new leaves begin forming in the spring, water whenever the soil dries out—just enough to make it slightly moist. Pause watering again in the summer during the plant's second dormant period. Resume watering in early fall, just before the plant is ready to flower. If the leaves start to completely shrivel up while the plant is dormant, you can give it a very small amount of water to plump them up again.

Overwintering

Living stones can survive somewhat cold temperatures, so in warmer climates these plants can grow outside year-round and even be planted directly in the ground. In colder regions of the country, it's best to bring your plants indoors for the winter, so they should be grown in portable containers. Once temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring, your living stones can be taken back outside.

How to Get Living Stones to Bloom

Bloom Months

Living stones will flower when they reach around three years old and continue to rebloom yearly. Once they are ready to bloom, the plants will do so at some point when it is not too hot or cold, whether it's in the late spring, late summer, early fall, or early winter.

How Long Does a Living Stone Bloom?

A living stone flower will only last a few days, not weeks.

What Do Living Stone's Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Depending on what living stone plant you have, the flowers will look daisy-like with many petals that are yellow, pale orange, or white. You'll see them peek through the fissure between the leaves. Some living stone blooms have a subtle sweet fragrance, while others do not. The flowers tend to open on sunny days and close up when the sun goes down.