Lithops shared planter

Names and identity

Kew accepts the genus Lithops N.E.Br., published in 1922.

The September 23 photographs show four heads, each with a paired-leaf body. Two heads have tan islands and brown/olive channels; the other two have greyer sides and more open olive-green windows. The photographs do not establish whether the two heads from each nursery pot share a root base. The two appearance groups share container #9 / P35.

Shared container and members

The component pages describe each group's botanical background and appearance. Both share the pot recipe, watering, and whole-pot weight history below, but their leaf cycles still need separate inspection.

Probable species and alternatives

The two leaf patterns offer useful comparisons with Keith Green's species descriptions:

The tan/brown group's page and grey/green group's page explore the distinguishing windows, colors and flowers of these working matches.

Neutral-daylight top and side photographs, followed by flowers from each group, will make it easier to compare their development.

Nursery and repot evidence

The September 23 label photographs show Stone Faces / Lithops spp., grown by Altman Plants, with assortment text S 2.5" .ASST MIMICRY, code 487712, and UPC 092852023689. The former nursery pots were described by the owner as 2.25 inches; the label gives a nominal 2.5-inch assortment size. Both were purchased at Home Depot in Howell, Michigan, on September 21, 2026.

Owner photograph, September 23, 2026: both nursery labels read Stone Faces / Lithops spp.

At 02:34 EDT on September 23, both groups were repotted into the D'vine Dev Blush Mauve pot, setup 2, with 80% Molly's Succulent Mix + 20% Perlite. The logged pot size is 4.2 in round. The seller's selected 4.3-inch variant, model 27-C-Z-K (B0H6J4RCF8), remains in the equipment inventory; neither figure establishes usable internal depth.

The complete pot weighed 1247 g, with Dry medium and all four heads described as firm. The owner reported both nursery pots were very well rooted, bordering on root-bound; loose, extremely dry old leaves came away freely during cleanup. The lighter, bumpier group had small scars/fissures but remained firm.

No watering was recorded with the repot. The 1247 g reading is an initial pot weight, not a calibrated dry or freshly watered reference.

The 02:38 EDT measurement on September 23 records an individual head at 1 in tall × 1.25 in wide (2.54 × 3.175 cm), measured with a ruler. This is the size of one head, not the whole group; the measured head was not assigned to either probable species.

Owner photograph, September 23, 2026: four heads in two appearance groups, sharing P35 / #9.

Owner photograph, September 23, 2026: completed shared planting.

September 25 condition update

The owner reported all four heads firm on September 25, 2026, covering both the probable L. lesliei and probable L. salicola groups. This is a tactile owner observation, not a conclusion from a photograph. No new medium-moisture, root, weight, watering, or feeding observation accompanied the update; the September 23 Dry record does not establish September 25 moisture.

Owner-supplied photograph received September 25, 2026; the actual capture time was not supplied. The full-frame view documents the four heads, their patterned upper surfaces, and the shared planting. Firmness comes from the owner's hands-on report above. This photograph does not show either split rock.

Care in this collection

Topic	Practical starting approach
Light	Final position and leaf-height exposure remain unrecorded. Acclimate gradually to a bright position; do not assume the cactus display's exposure suits newly acquired plants.
Water	Let the fresh repot settle and assess root disturbance before considering water. Use leaf-cycle inspection and actual root-zone dryness together. Firm heads and the absence of a recorded watering are not a reason for an automatic post-repot drink.
Shared planting	Inspect all four heads separately. Sharing a pot does not guarantee matching replacement cycles. If their needs diverge, reassess the shared arrangement rather than watering one firm or replacing head to satisfy another.
Pot and medium	The recorded recipe is 80% Molly's Succulent Mix plus 20% added perlite, not a measured 80% mineral fraction. Drainage and usable internal depth still need confirmation. Wisconsin Extension suggests roughly 3–5 inches of depth for Lithops roots.
Tracking	Weigh the complete P35 assembly consistently. Keep setup-2 readings separate from nursery weights and establish its own references from subsequent observations.

Watch points

• During replacement, let old leaves supply the new body; do not water to restore the old pair's former fullness.
• Record firmness, leaf stage, basal condition, and changes to existing scars. A soft or translucent base needs inspection, not an automatic watering.
• Do not use a calendar interval, low weight, or model date alone to decide.

Sources

• Owner condition report received September 25, 2026, about 5:09 p.m. EDT: all four heads firm; exact hands-on observation time not supplied.
• Owner reports, September 21–23, 2026, and Google Photos originals inspected September 23: acquisition, pot choice, four visible heads, nursery labels, and completed repot photographs.
• Owner acquisition record: Home Depot, Howell, Michigan, September 21, 2026.
• Owner care record, September 23, 2026: repot at 02:34 EDT, recorded 02:40:36 EDT; setup 2, recipe, weight, firmness, and root observations.
• Equipment inventory — exact ordered pot identity and seller variant, kept separate from the logged dimensions.
• Kew Plants of the World Online: Lithops — accepted genus, publication year, and genus-level range.
• University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension: Living Stones, Lithops — paired-leaf replacement, light acclimation, drainage, and root-depth guidance; regional seasonal examples are not an indoor watering calendar.
• Keith Green: Lithops species descriptions — species patterns, colors and flowers.
• International Cultivar Registration Authority: Lithops cultivar register — registered cultivar names and descriptions.