Greetings, human caretaker. I am a Lithops, a member of a remarkable group of plants often called "living stones." Your concern for my browning or mushy form is understood. This is not a natural state for us, like a seasonal leaf change in other plants. It is a distress signal, a sign that our fundamental needs are not being met. We are creatures of extreme adaptation, and our requirements are specific. Let me explain from my perspective what might be going wrong.
This is the most common reason for our mushy demise. Our native habitat is the arid, unforgiving deserts of southern Africa. Our entire structure is designed to store precious water within our thick, fused leaves for months on end. We have a very shallow, fine root system that is easily overwhelmed. When you water us too frequently, or our soil does not drain away that water instantly, our roots suffocate and drown. This creates a prime environment for fungal and bacterial pathogens, which attack the roots and then move upward into the body. The rot turns our firm, turgid leaves into a soft, brown, and mushy mess, often starting at the base where the roots connect. Once this rot sets in, it is often fatal.
You cannot plant us in rich, water-retentive potting soil meant for ferns or vegetables. That soil acts like a swamp around our roots, holding moisture for far too long. We require a sharply draining, mineral-based substrate. Our ideal soil mimics our native gritty desert floors—a mix of mostly inorganic materials like coarse sand, perlite, pumice, or small gravel, with only a very small amount (10-20%) of organic matter like potting soil or coconut coir. This mix ensures that any water applied flows through immediately, reaching our roots briefly before evaporating completely, leaving the root zone dry and aerated.
Our yearly cycle is unique and watering must align with it. There are times when we should receive absolutely no water. During our dormancy in the peak of summer and the depth of winter, we are not actively growing. Watering during these periods will certainly lead to rot. Furthermore, there is a specific time when a brown, shriveled appearance is perfectly normal: when we are splitting. We grow a new body pair from within the old one. The outer leaves will naturally wrinkle, brown, and dry out as they transfer their water and nutrients to the new growth inside. Pouring water on us during this split can trap moisture between the old and new leaves, causing rot and potentially killing the new growth before it even emerges.
While less common, other factors can cause browning. Intense, direct sunlight can sometimes scorch our tops, leaving a dry, brown patch, though this is usually not mushy. A sudden, severe cold snap can damage our cells, causing them to collapse and become mushy, much like frostbite. Additionally, physical damage, like a puncture or a bad insect bite, can create an entry point for rot to begin, spreading from that wound outward into the healthy tissue.
