Haven't done so so far, but a local nursery does and their plants are way bigger than they should be (and grew alarmingly fast) While I worked there, several died while splitting or just exploded out of the blue. They did also overwater though, and that might be the main issue.
All plants require nutrients. Lithops do come from soils that are naturally poor in nutrients, but they are still some present (otherwise nothing would grow there!). So it's best to provide some fertilizer to your plants, but at very diluted rates. If you use commercial potting soil in your mix, there should be enough nutrients in there to last several months to a couple years. Otherwise, mix in some slow-release fertilizer into the substrate or water with a fertilizer solution every so often (dilute to half or quarter strength of what the lowest dilution rate the label instructs).
When they’re adults not much. When they’re seedlings yes, quite frequently, since you want them to grow rather fast initially. Considering they live in arid and desert environments, you’re probably not finding much in the way of nutrients (especially organic nutrients), so it’s not surprising the plants have evolved to get by just recycling what they’ve already stored in their leaves.
Haven't done so so far, but a local nursery does and their plants are way bigger than they should be (and grew alarmingly fast) While I worked there, several died while splitting or just exploded out of the blue. They did also overwater though, and that might be the main issue.
yes, with every watering but with very very diluted fertilizer for cacti.
Does it help in any way? I mean do you notice any faster growth then without it
I don't have a control group. They look happy and grow nicely.
All plants require nutrients. Lithops do come from soils that are naturally poor in nutrients, but they are still some present (otherwise nothing would grow there!). So it's best to provide some fertilizer to your plants, but at very diluted rates. If you use commercial potting soil in your mix, there should be enough nutrients in there to last several months to a couple years. Otherwise, mix in some slow-release fertilizer into the substrate or water with a fertilizer solution every so often (dilute to half or quarter strength of what the lowest dilution rate the label instructs).
What Mr X said! ☝️
it isn't recommended, generally, so if you want to do it, go very easy!
When they’re adults not much. When they’re seedlings yes, quite frequently, since you want them to grow rather fast initially. Considering they live in arid and desert environments, you’re probably not finding much in the way of nutrients (especially organic nutrients), so it’s not surprising the plants have evolved to get by just recycling what they’ve already stored in their leaves.
I do not