---
title: "i got this one recently, it came w the duck:3 yall got any tips??"
description: "i got this one recently, it came w the duck:3 yall got any tips??"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JTKPVVVnTWq8RdIJ8lW6Rg/oh9pP3_yTGeBYBZhpCcEPA"
community: "Lithops Lovers"
author: "bryan"
published: "2024-01-30T16:20:21.008527Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lm88NRcTGoEDZgVhYlUXgp8j_z8BXJfj5cuHtcqXaa4/0571oJ9ESBe2S0EogOrwxQ.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Lithops Lovers](https://getplanta.com/community/JTKPVVVnTWq8RdIJ8lW6Rg.md)

# i got this one recently, it came w the duck:3 yall got any tips??

_Posted by bryan on 2024-01-30_

i got this one recently, it came w the duck:3 yall got any tips??

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lm88NRcTGoEDZgVhYlUXgp8j_z8BXJfj5cuHtcqXaa4/0571oJ9ESBe2S0EogOrwxQ.webp?size=large)

## 13 comments

### DanishGramma commented on 2024-01-30

Get the soil right, the water right and the sun right, then ignore them! Lol 😁

### GreenLeaf commented on 2024-01-30

This soil looks like its going to retain way too much moisture, especially for the size of pot its in. I’d look into repotting and possibly downsizing depending on the size of the roots. They have a deep root system, so a shallow pot won’t work. Only water when completely dry.

Never water when flowering or splitting.

My 3 signs I look for (and all must be there before I water) slightly squishy when squeezed, slightly wrinkled, starting to sink back into the soil.

Keep in mind, each plant is different, so my best advice is to (as the above poster said) get all your elements right. This can take some consistent monitoring of your plants to learn it. Once you’ve got that….forget about them!!

Good luck! They are such a fun challenge.

#### Dave\_opuntiaface replied on 2024-01-30

“Doing it right” can be confusing because the plant will look like absolute crud around this time every year. These are my healthiest bunch lol.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gFKgBIDtQUSoNHyzAXA4pLM-wYI4yLGXFPAMGDtMt3o/MJXkBplURWWfblIfkGzRyw.webp?size=large)

#### DanishGramma replied on 2024-01-30

Mine are so tiny compared to everyone else’s but it’s so fun to see one do something

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/JhJVL2SxRSX1JVLqRmRpw1IVPbnimBSWR7NamxzVK_g/QoVcAXhLQN6jP5qamS5EIg.webp?size=large)

#### Dave\_opuntiaface replied on 2024-01-30

(For sure on that soil. It’s going to retain a LOT of water.)

#### bryan replied on 2024-01-30

yes!! i am going to go to my local plant shop who i’ve built a relationship and im going to get a repot there today, i do agree that the soil is way to water retaining, i hope i can get this right, if not ill keep on trying!!

### DanishGramma commented on 2024-01-30

Jane Evans is the lady who brought this plant home from Africa to the US in the 80’s, she has a seminar on YouTube. She’s a real botanist who has been growing them ever since. She says Don’t stop watering them or they will die. They have tiny root hairs that die if they get too dry. I jumped up and watered mine and they seem to be thriving. That was last fall I learned about this and I have been spreading the news about it since. 😁

#### bryan replied on 2024-01-30

i’ll make sure to check it out, thank you!!

### Dave\_opuntiaface commented on 2024-01-30

This is all the advice you need ^^. Except…be prepared that the plant will sometimes meet 2 of 3 criteria for when to NOT water, but then show a reason why you SHOULD water. For example, the top leaf is wrinkled (should water, in theory) but flowering (shouldn’t water, in theory). When that happens, I check the watering schedule to see how soon the next watering is. However, when in doubt, don’t water. These things look like hot garbage half the year in their habitat.

#### bryan replied on 2024-01-30

alright i understand thank you!!

### Dave\_opuntiaface commented on 2024-01-30

And hey, thanks for keeping the Lithops group alive.

### KD 🪴 commented on 2024-01-30

Ducks like water.  
Lithops do not.

### Veggie Lover commented on 2024-03-16

Do not separate the duck from the plant. They are pair bonded and they will both pine and shrivel if you separate them. Also, give them both names.

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