I sowed them 12/19/20, so they're just over a month old now!

This is the grow light I use, in the mode where all three color lights are on, 12 hours a day. I had them on one of these until I took them out of the germination box (I bought it when it was about half the price, though, I wouldn't pay that). I had the box on the heating mat and I would spray the seeds with water to moisten once or twice a day. They germinated in 48 hours, super fast. They're the lithops mix from Mesa Garden.

I just used a plastic cup. I have seen many people on youtube successfully use a plastic cup. In the future, I'll use terra cotta. I've had a lot of them explode the last couple weeks. =[ It mostly seems to be the ones that rest against the moist substrate that explode. Next time, I won't sow them as densly. I also won't use as much play sand to sow them, it really soaks up water. I honestly wasn't expecting the level of very fast germination I got. When I noticed them starting to burst from moisture, I acclimated them to the air over a couple days using the vents in the germination box. Now I bottom water them once every other day to every day. Make sure the roots are fully covered with substrate but try to keep substrate off the sides of the lil babies. I've had quite a few shrivel up because part of their root was exposed and dried up and they die super fast.

As for the substrate, I used about 40% pumice, I use this, it's sifted very nicely. It's dusty, but the pieces are evenly and perfectly sized. That's not the pumice pictured in the cup, though, that was a cheapo Amazon "pumice" that I'm not buying again. I use about 20-25% of this med. grain sand I get from Lowe's. I like this sand because the grains are even and around 1mm so it gives some variation to the substrate but is much larger than a fine sand. I use 20-25% organic potting mix for the organic bits, not miracle grow or any brand that have hydration pearls. I pull the larger pieces of bark out of here and try to keep the substrate 4mm or less. I will use 10% organic material or less in the non nursery pots after I report them into terracotta in like a year or earlier if it gets too crowded in there, but I'll use the same pumice and sand.

To sow, I mixed about 100 seeds with about a tsp of play sand. You don't need nearly that much play sand. I sprinkled over the top of my substrate that was already moist. The sand wicked up enough moisture to dampen the seeds, then I sprayed them probably twice a day til they germinated.

It's been a learning experience for sure, but they grow so fast there's new stuff to see with them everyday and I am SO excited for them to start showing off more of the traits of their varieties.

I think my favorite cultivation phrase is...."It all depends on ones growing environment and cultivation style." To add: The other one is "adapt or die". 😁

This is an excellent site showing lithops in the wild. It's optimal to try and replicate it within reason those things that are doable. https://www.travel-tour-guide.com/Namaqualand_flowers_photos_south_africa_succulents_trip/07_lithops_photos_conophytum_photos_fenestraria.htm

This is how big-box stores sell their plants....which are cultivated in a setup that grows tons of other plants and is automated to make life easier and more efficient for the company and allows them to get plants out the door more quickly. It gets the razzie 🏆for best sub-optimal, awful-for-a-homegrower potting. https://www.reddit.com/r/Lithops/comments/vazdue/when_is_the_right_time_to_repot_these_they_were_a/

This is how the boutique seller° I purchase from pots his plants. Potted in this manner, this could be a "forever" setup. I consider this optimal and as close as possible to their natural substrate for home cultivation short of bringing substrate from Namibia/Namaqualand. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNWVgB9JzyC/

To replicate more closely my seller's pot substrate and substrate in the wild, you can use this: Decomposed Granite. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B09FRQZ294/ Add in about 10% by volume of organic potting material and you and your plants are good to go.

My go-to organic is Sungro Blackgold Succulent Mix....available at Amazon, Ace Hardware or maybe your local upscale garden center if you are in the US. I aggressively sift it to remove (or manually break up) large pieces.

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My current potting mix is this: https://www.instagram.com/p/CeaFVtog8g-/ Deets are in the description.

This is the 1/8-inch pumice I most recently purchased. Perlite is not a fav as it's too floaty but it does serve a purpose and it's a less expensive point of entry. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XP36YCM/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_J7TKJNMBWDR857TMYZA6_0

This is the sharp sand I purchase via Home Depot.... https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAKRETE-0-5-cu-ft-Step-2-Paver-Leveling-Sand-40100316/205153035

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Most premier growers use 4x4-inch plastic pots..a few use terracotta but they aren't my fav. My plastic pots are a tad smaller....3.5x3-inch repurposed plastic cups. More pot size thoughts here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lithops/comments/w89z6s/is_7x7cm_plastic_pot_ideal_for_growing_a_lithops/ihos91g

Solo v Community pots... https://www.reddit.com/r/Lithops/comments/wnmc1n/thanks_to_another_kind_redditor_i_was_finally/ik8wccg

My thoughts on clear pots...hint.....👍🏻💕. But of course, there always needs to be a drain-hole..... https://www.reddit.com/r/Lithops/comments/xg6dnx/planter_size_advice_please/ioqujtj

https://www.reddit.com/r/Lithops/comments/verd0n/finally_new_root_growth_d/

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I wrote a Big Brain Dump on my cultivation thoughts, parts 1 and 2 plus random other thoughts rounded up as a comment here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lithops/comments/v42cx9/my_lithops_are_dying_one_by_one_advise_is_needed/ib2b372

And if you live in the northern hemisphere, more likely than not, if you plan on indoor cultivation and want a better chance of success, you will need to augment with a full-spectrum, white-lite grow light...not the truly awful gimmick of the blurple lights. (Bleh! My eyes hurt just thinking about them. 😆)

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° Where I purchase lithops: Succulents of the Veld. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SucculentsOfTheVeld

Pumice: General Pumice Products still has good prices despite shipping thru amazon now

Lava (search the sub)

Akadama: Club pricing

Material: OKla has great urbandori crepe myrtles, native elms, southern hackberry and more. Keep your eyes open.

Containers: anderson flats, conrete mix tubs, and building wooden containers.

Fertilizer: Organic fertilizer of most all types is good. Most people put theirs in tea bags or those little coffee plastic things

So I'm guessing (too lazy to look it up) you are inland, not in one of the coastal enclaves that have chronic late morning fog until noon or 1 o'clock.

Anyway...lithops can be addictive once the bug bites. With that said, the bonsai mix you linked would be fine but it already has an organic component. I would choose this instead... Boon Bonsai Soil, same price and quantity .... https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0762XXHSJ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_0H6WPRK1KET64CVE91D6

The mix itself works fine. Serious growers might chime in about pH, etc that the various materials can add to the pot. But the composition isn't totally necessary for the hobby grower...IMO.

I personally prefer the smaller 1/8-inch size...small roots, small particle size and would prioritize that.

If I could only purchase one item, I would select 1/8-inch 100% pumice mixed with well-sifted succulent mix over the aggregate combos like the bonsai/succulent mix.

I purchased this.... 3 Gallon Bag Garden Pumice (1/8" Stone) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XP36YCM/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_JQT2K59J0ZK8VM5A11RQ

You can also use it for your succulents as a top-dressing. I think the size is perfect and would work if you decide to try seeds. You might have to pick through it a little and I always rinse a big batch (to remove dust and fines that could clog the root system) and have it ready to use as needed.

It's costs a little more but it's 12 quarts of product vs 1.25 quarts.