UK compost
What compost for beautiful living stones in the UK?
Lithops bella
More about beautiful living stones in the UK
Which compost beautiful living stones needs
For beautiful living stones the mix to buy is peat-free multipurpose compost cut roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit or perlite. Combine perlite, coarse sand, or pumice with a small amount of potting compost. A pH of 6.0–7.5 suits this species. Avoid peat-heavy or moisture-retentive mixes. Shallow clay or terracotta pots encourage rapid drying and mimic the rocky quartz habitat of this species.In British garden centres the bagged growing medium is sold simply as “compost” (multipurpose, ericaceous, or loam-based John Innes), which is a different thing from the rotted garden “compost” you make in a heap — for a pot you want the bagged kind.
Peat-free compost
Buy peat-free. The sale of peat compost to home gardeners is being phased out across the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free on environmental grounds. A good peat-free multipurpose grows beautiful living stones perfectly well; the one habit to change is watering — peat-free dries faster at the surface while still moist below, so check by feel a knuckle deep rather than trusting the look of the top.
Ericaceous or multipurpose?
Beautiful Living Stones does not want a rich, water-holding compost — it wants sharp drainage. Cut peat-free multipurpose roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit, sharp sand or perlite, and always pot into a container with drainage holes. A "cactus and succulent" bagged mix is a ready-made shortcut.
For the full recipe, pH and drainage detail (US wording), see the beautiful living stones soil & potting-mix guide.
Compost for Beautiful Living Stones in the UK — frequently asked questions
What compost should I use for beautiful living stones in the UK?
Use peat-free multipurpose compost cut roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit or perlite. Combine perlite, coarse sand, or pumice with a small amount of potting compost. A pH of 6.0–7.5 suits this species. Avoid peat-heavy or moisture-retentive mixes. Shallow clay or terracotta pots encourage rapid drying and mimic the rocky quartz habitat of this species. In UK garden centres this is sold simply as "compost" — the bagged growing medium, not garden-made leaf-mould — so match the description above rather than a brand.
Can I use ordinary multipurpose compost for beautiful living stones?
Not on its own — multipurpose compost holds too much water for beautiful living stones and will rot the roots. Cut it roughly 50:50 with horticultural grit, sharp sand or perlite so it drains fast.
Should the compost be peat-free?
Yes. Sales of peat compost to home gardeners are being phased out in the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free for environmental reasons. Modern peat-free multipurpose composts grow beautiful living stones perfectly well — they dry a little faster at the surface, so check moisture by feel rather than by the look of the top.
Does beautiful living stones need grit or perlite added?
Yes — beautiful living stones must have sharp drainage. Add about one part horticultural grit or perlite to one part compost, and always use a pot with drainage holes.
What pot and drainage does beautiful living stones need?
Always a pot with drainage holes. Coarse, gritty succulent mix with 50–70% inorganic material. Stand it on a saucer, empty any water that collects after watering, and never leave the pot sitting in a full outer cover — waterlogged compost in a cool UK room is the commonest cause of root rot.
More beautiful living stones care
See the full beautiful living stones care guide, its UK watering and UK hardiness.