Living Stone Care

While an easy plant to care for, it should be watered with caution. Once the leaves have fully grown in autumn and into the water, it is safe to water your Rubra. They will not require watering during their dormancy period in summer and will only require little watering during fall, winter, and spring. Be sure to let them dry out fully between waterings.

Pruning is not required for this succulent.

For a succulent that is prone to rot, it is not advised to use fertilizer. They can be fed once during the winter, but it is not necessary.

Living Stones love to be in the sun. They’ll do best in a well-lit room that offers them some shade to keep from overheating. It is recommended to place them in west- or south-facing windows.

This plant can be overwatered or retain water, which will cause root rot. To combat this, use loamy soil that has some sand in it. You can also make soil using gravel, sand, and loam.

Propagation for Rubra should take place in early spring. The easiest method is to plant seeds in your chosen pot and keep the soil at 69°F (21°C). They will take three years to fully mature and bloom. It is also possible to propagate from the cuttings of a parent plant, but it can be difficult as they form tight clusters.

As a native African plant, the Rubra is quite hardy. It will comfortably live in 65°F (18°C)- 75°F (24°C), a wide range for many growers. Take care to protect your plant from frost.

Living Stones thrive best in a small pot that allows them to completely dry out between waterings, so a clay pot or one with holes is recommended.

This plant thrives best when left alone and requires little management. When clustered together, they look like a pile of living stones, hence the name!