Lithops karasmontana red top plants usually grow in a clump form. These plants are regarded as trendy plants all over the world.
Many gardeners tend to grow the lithops karasmontana red top plants due to the attractiveness they have.
In addition to that their easy maintenance is one more interesting feature to add them to your garden collection.
These are cultivars of lithops karasmontana. So, if you wish to learn about this beauty further, keep reading this article as we are going to cover their growing requirements and on the propagation methods as well.
How do I identify lithops karasmontana red top?
As aforesaid you could identify the lithops karasmontana red top plants from its growth pattern. They usually grow in a clump forming manner.
They would not grow that tall and would be only 2 inches in height. Their spread would be indefinite. You could identify the lithops karasmontana red top plants from their leaves also as they would form in pairs.
Usually, they grow stemless. Lithops karasmontana red top plant leaves tend to look like two gray stones along with red mottling.
Moreover, their surface would be flat. Apart from the aforesaid factors you could identify them from flowering also.
In fact, they produce flowers in white and they will be narrow and rayed flowers. Those blooms would be 2 inches in diameter which you could spot in autumn.
One look care guide
| Botanical Name | lithops karasmontana red top plants |
| Common Name | Living stone |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Mature Size | 2 inches in height / indefinite spread |
| Sun Exposure | Full sunlight to partial sunlight |
| Soil Type | Well-draining |
| Soil pH | 5.0-6.0 |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Flower Color | White |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA hardiness zone 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C). |
| Toxicity | Nontoxic |
| Average price | $ 6 |
How do you take care of the red karasmontana red top?
As aforesaid, these plants require only an easy maintenance from you as they could thrive on their own.
Having said that, you need to adhere to some basic growing tips which will ensure a vigorous growth in the plants.
When they grow in the wild, they are used to growing with minimum moisture, abundance of sunlight and with poor quality soil.
Light Requirement
Lithops karasmontana red top plants perform well given that they get full sunlight to partial shade. When they grow in the wild, they are used to growing in intense harsh sunlight conditions.
Hence when you grow them indoors or in your garden, best is to expose them to full sunlight for several hours preferably in the morning hours.
Partial shade would be more appropriate for them during afternoon hours.
If you fail to provide sufficient sunlight, it will make your plants etiolated and result in a misshapen look of the plant.
Despite the fact that they are fond of sunlight, you need to refrain from exposing them to intense sunlight at once.
If you do so, it will cause sunburns in the plants. Hence why it is vital to not expose them to direct sunlight.
Temperature and humidity
Lithops karasmontana red top plants preferent of growing in warmer temperature levels. In fact, they can tolerate temperatures up to 90 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Having said that, the best temperature level which could suit them would be 65- 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
These are sensitive plants for colder temperatures. Hence, ensure that you protect the plants from freezing temperatures.
Is it cold hardy?
Lithops karasmontana red top plants are not cold hardy plants as they do not handle cold well.
Hence if you live in colder weather conditions you should either grow them as indoor plants or grow them in pots and bring them indoors when the temperature levels reduce.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Lithops karasmontana red top plants prefer to grow in USDA hardiness zone 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
Watering Requirement
Lithops karasmontana red top plants have water restored in their foliage for months. As such if you end up watering them in abundance, it could even kill your plants.
You could water them biweekly during summer which is their actively growing season. On the other hand, you need to suspend watering them in winter and fall.
During winter, their leaves will die and start to grow. Hence if you end up watering them during winter, it will badly impact on this.
Furthermore, you should water the lithops karasmontana red top plants if you feel like their soil is dry to the touch.
If you spot any shriveled or wrinkled leaves, those are indications of lack of water. Therefore, if you come across such a situation you should start watering them immediately.
Soil Requirement Type / pH
Lithops karasmontana red top plants would grow well in an acidic or in a neutral soil mix which has a pH range around 5.0-6.0.
Ideally you could grow them in a cactus soil mix or in a succulent soil mix which has an excellent drainage.
If you want to improve the draining further, you could consider adding substances such as sand, pebbles etc.
Pot size Potting and Repotting
It is crucial to select a pot which has sufficient draining holes to grow the lithops karasmontana red top plants simply because these plants are not tolerant of excess moisture levels as it could make the plants drown.
Lithops karasmontana red top plants are small in size. Therefore, you need to grow them in pots which are deep enough for the roots to expand and grow vigorously.
When it comes to repotting, you should repot them if it is essential only. If you bought them from the stores freshly or if the plants have outgrown from the pots, you need to consider repotting them.
When you report, ensure that you do it in their growing season. You may follow the general steps of succulent repotting when you repot these plants too.
Where to Plant
When selecting a place to plant, lithops karasmontana red top plants, you need to be mindful whether that spot receives adequate sunlight or not.
Further when you grow them in containers, ensure that you are growing them in porous materials. Moreover you need to grow them in a fast-draining soil mix too.
Fertilizer and time of year
Succulents in general are not dependent on fertilizers and lithops karasmontana red top plants are no different to them.
With that being said, you could consider feeding them before they start flowering so that it would be beneficial to stimulate the flower blossoming of the plants.
You may go ahead with a heavily diluted cactus fertilizer which has a low percentage of nitrogen and a high percentage of potassium when feeding them.
Spring season would be the most appropriate season to feed the lithops karasmontana red top plants.
Furthermore, make sure that you apply the fertilizers right into the soil without applying them to leaves as it could result in feed burns otherwise.
Dormancy
lithops karasmontana red top plants would go dormant in late summer.
Toxicity
Lithops karasmontana red top plants are non-poisonous plants for pets as well as for humans.
Common bugs and illnesses
Chances are that you may come across yellow and mushy looking leaves if you provide them with excessive water.
In addition to that, you may encounter brown spots of the plants and root rot as a result of over watering. Whenever you come across these indications, you need to identify the issue and attend to them immediately.
Ideally you need to wither the plants and disinfect the healthy roots and repot them in a fresh soil mix. Ensure that you water them properly so that you will not run into that issue again.
Apart from the above, chances are that they may come across pests’ attacks from spider mites, thrips and from scales as well.
Mealybugs, aphids’ snails and slugs are also invasive for these lithops karasmontana red top plants. Animal species such as mice may try to consume these plants as they have water conserved in the plants.
Special Care tips
These are easy to care for plants and all you need to do is to provide their growing requirements.
However, I recommend you inspect your lithops karasmontana red top plants on a weekly basis so that you could identify if there are any early signs of any upcoming issue.
That will allow you to avoid further repercussions.
How to propagate lithops karasmontana red top
You could mainly use the seeds or division method to propagate the lithops karasmontana red top plants.
With that being said, it is somewhat challenging to use the division method for the lithops karasmontana red top plants to propagate them as these are slow growing plants and it would take several years to form them.
If you wish to use their seeds to propagate them, you simply need to arrange a potting medium which is well draining and sprinkle those seeds on the surface.
Next you could cover those with a sand layer. Ensure that you keep it moistened during the germination process.
Division method could be used if you could spot any division on the plants. You need to simply pick the plants first .
Next examine the plants well and knock away any old soil around the roots. After that, you may make a cutting whilst ensuring that the leaf has enough taproot. You may plant them in individual pots finally.
lithops karasmontana red top plant benefits
They are useful as decorative plants, and you could plant them either indoors or outdoors.
When you grow them indoors, it will help you to stay focused. Further it would be beneficial in purifying the air as well.
Conclusion
lithops karasmontana red top plants are some amazing succulent types which you will find.
Even a beginner in gardening can grow lithops karasmontana red top plants as they require only an easy maintenance from you.
So, hope you found this information useful and now you are very much confident in handling them well.
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