I bought a lithops six months ago, and it was firm and beautiful. Recently I noticed it's starting to shrivel up, like it's drying out, even though I water it about once a week. It sits on a windowsill in my apartment and gets plenty of light. What am I doing wrong?
What kind of soil is it in and what pot? Lithops are succulents, they don't like frequent watering and regular soil. You need special cactus soil mixed with sand, and you should water them no more than once every two weeks, or even less often than that.
If you're watering once a week, the roots are most likely rotting, which is exactly why the plant is shriveling up. Try repotting it in the right soil, let it dry out well, and water it much less frequently - only when the soil is completely dry.
Hey guys, the previous answer is right about the soil and watering - I used to struggle with my lithops too until I switched it to a sandy succulent substrate 😅 But there's another thing: lithops are really sensitive to overwatering and can shrivel not just from drought but also from root rot. If your soil is regular potting mix and holds moisture, the roots are probably already suffering. Try taking the plant out and checking the roots (healthy ones are whitish, soft tissue means rot), then repot it in proper soil in a pot with drainage holes and don't water it at all for a week or two - let it recover.
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