From a botanical perspective, Lithops, commonly known as "living stones," have evolved a highly specialized growth cycle to survive in arid environments. Each plant body is composed of a pair of succulent leaves fused together. Annually, a new pair of leaves emerges from the fissure between the old ones. This new pair is fueled by the water and nutrients stored within the old leaves. The old leaves essentially act as a self-contained fertilizer and water reservoir for the developing plant. This process is a crucial evolutionary adaptation; by drawing resources from the old leaves, the new growth can develop without relying on external conditions, such as seasonal rain, which may be unpredictable.
The core physiological mechanism at play is the controlled reabsorption of resources. As the new inner leaves begin their growth phase, they send hormonal signals that trigger the breakdown of the carbohydrates, water, and minerals stored in the old, outer leaves. These valuable resources are then translocated directly into the new growth. Over weeks or months, you will observe the old leaves gradually shrivel, becoming papery and dry, while the new leaves plump up. This is a clear visual indicator that the plant is successfully sustaining itself. The outer leaves will eventually reduce to a thin, brittle husk.
Intervening by manually removing the old leaves before this process is complete poses significant risks to the plant's health. If you peel away the old leaves while they are still fleshy and contain moisture, you are essentially performing an amputation. You are severing the new plant from its primary source of sustenance. This can have several detrimental effects: it can stunt the growth of the new leaves, leave the plant vulnerable to dehydration as it loses its stored water reserve, and create open wounds that are entry points for bacterial or fungal infections, especially if the soil is moist. The plant is designed to shed its old leaves on its own timeline.
The optimal approach is one of non-intervention, allowing the plant's natural cycle to proceed uninterrupted. Your role is to provide the appropriate environmental conditions to support this process. This means you must drastically reduce or completely stop watering the Lithops as it begins to form new leaves and throughout the entire absorption period. Introducing water at this time can confuse the plant's cycle, potentially causing the old leaves to remain plump and not transfer resources, or worse, causing both old and new sets to rot. The only acceptable interaction is to gently remove the completely dry, papery husk *after* it has naturally detached from the new body, and even then, care must be taken not to damage the tender new tissue underneath.
