Fenestraria rhopalophylla

This succulent plant is also known as living stones, with larger plants producing small rock-like protuberant leaves. The plant is widely available at nurseries and a live object of artistic interest. Instructions on how to grow a baby toes plant are easy enough for children and young people, who adore the fascinating little plant.

Grows in areas with sandy or calciferous soils. 
The plants occur in very dry areas with winter-rainfall of only 100mm or less. In the wild, the they grows mostly buried by sand. The transparent fenestrate leaf tips are often above the sand and allow light into the leaves for photosynthesis.

Baby toes plants (Fenestraria rhopalophylla) are native to subtropical desert zones. They require bright sun and moderate water in well-drained soil with plenty of gritty matter. Mother Nature engineered them to be very tolerant of low nutrient soils with extreme weather conditions.


The perennial succulents form columns of leaves that are thick and rise up like small toes with flattened tops. The tops possess a translucent membrane over the top of the leaf. The vertical leaves may be mistaken for stems but are really modified foliage. Baby toes succulent may be mottled, grayish green to fully gray or even brown.


How to Grow a Baby Toes:
Starting Lithops from seed can be rewarding but you need a few key elements for a successful venture. First, the container should be shallow and well-draining.

Make up a growing medium with equal parts coir, potting soil, sand, fine gravel and perlite. Moisten the mixture in the pot lightly and strew the seeds evenly on the surface of the soil. Sprinkle a light dusting of sand over the seeds. They will push the sand out of their way as the seedlings emerge.


Cover the pot with clear plastic and place in a low light area until germination. Mist the plants after they emerge and remove the cover for half an hour daily to prevent fungal growth.