BY: Maria Hernandez VeraIf you love plants like I do, you will have love for anyone who crosses your path.Cacti, succulents, anything is welcome.My latest purchase was a lithops or stone cactus.If you want to have such a plant, learn about the care it needs and how to make it flourish.In addition to calling them stone cacti, they are also known as living stones, living stones, flowering stones or stone plants.Its name derives from the Greek , which means stone, and , which means shape.It is a plant native to the southern part of Africa and is called stone because that is what it looks like when it does not have a flower.Thanks to its composition it manages to go unnoticed by predators.There are approximately 100 species, of which the best known are: lithops bella, lithops lesliei, lithops insularis, lithops aucampiae and lithops schwantesii.The stone cactus has two leaves that are usually 5 cm high and between 1 and 3 cm in outer diameter.When growing they do not exceed 8 cm wide and 20 cm long.This plant usually lives approximately 10 years.You may also be interested in: How to combat the shield mealybug so that it does not destroy your plants: 3 powerful remediesIts leaves are united at the base and have a fissure in the middle, through which the new leaves come out;besides the flower.They may have a green or pinkish hue.The flower appears in autumn, is nocturnal and is usually larger than the stone cactus itself.You should not despair if you do not see changes from one day to the next, even in months.This cactus is slow growing.The part where it has spots or stripes is used to collect light and carry out the chlorophyll function.It must remain inside the home, since it comes from hot and dry regions.In addition, being outside there is a risk that birds and some insects bite them.It is also not recommended that they be outside because dew and rain bring excess water that could burst them.What care do lithops or stone cacti need?Being a warm climate plant, it must have indirect sunlight.Make sure that in the winter season you stay indoors.Cold weather will kill her.This cactus does not require as much water, in fact the excess rots it.During spring and summer you should water it every 10 days.In autumn, irrigation is reduced to once a month, so that in winter it does not receive any water.The container where it is should not accumulate water, because that will kill its roots.To know if it lacks water, you will notice that the plant feels soft.In case it feels hard, no more liquid is required.It does not need any special substrate, it can adapt to arid lands.It is only recommended to transplant every 3 years during the spring.When changing it, you will notice that its roots are mature, which is essential for them to continue growing, says the Mexican Society of Soil Science.To plant it you only have to have a 5 cm deep pot (it helps the root settle).Lay down rocks and sandy soil so it has the necessary drainage.Arrange the seed in the middle of the substrate and hydrate the soil until germination begins.You may also be interested in: Potassium soap: homemade recipe with which you will avoid pests in your gardenHow to make a stone cactus or lithops bloomIt can take several years for it to give its first flower.Pay attention if your plant is already 3 years old or older.If that happens, make sure your plant gets enough sunlight and the right temperature year-round.Watering should not be excessive.Once its flower appears, it is white or yellow, similar to a daisy.It has a delicious aroma.What pests should you take care of your lithops or stone cactusNow that you know how to care for a lithops or stone cactus, try having one.