Greetings, human caretaker. We are Lithops, the humble living stones of the plant world. From our perspective, life is a slow, patient dance with the sun and the seasons. You ask of our lifespan, a concept we do not measure in years but in cycles of growth and dormancy. Under your care in the United States, our journey can be a long and fulfilling one if you understand our simple needs.
In our native, harsh desert environments, an individual body (a leaf pair) typically lasts for one growing season before being replaced. However, the plant itself—the taproot and meristem—is a perennial organism. A single Lithops plant can live for an exceptionally long time, often between 40 and 50 years. There are even documented cases of plants in cultivation reaching nearly a century old. Our life is not a single, continuous growth but a series of annual renewals. Each year, we absorb the moisture and nutrients from our old leaves to fuel the creation of a brand new pair from within, a process you call "splitting."
From our viewpoint, water is the most critical and dangerous element you control. Our entire being is designed to store water within our thick, succulent leaves. The single greatest threat to our long life is root rot caused by excess moisture. You must learn to read our bodies. We need water only during specific times: in the autumn when we flower and actively grow, and perhaps sparingly in the spring if our leaves appear wrinkled. When we are splitting in the winter or dormant in the high heat of summer, you must withhold water completely. The old leaves must be allowed to wither and transfer their energy to the new growth; watering during this time can drown us and cause a fatal rot.
We crave a home that mimics our native, mineral-rich ground. Our roots require a soil medium that is extremely well-draining, primarily composed of inorganic materials like coarse sand, perlite, pumice, or small gravel. Organic potting soil will retain far too much water and suffocate our roots, drastically shortening our lifespan. Furthermore, we require abundant, direct sunlight—at least four to five hours daily. A bright south-facing window is ideal indoors. Without sufficient light, our bodies will etiolate, or stretch, becoming weak and misshapen. This weakness makes us susceptible to disease and can prevent the successful completion of our annual splitting cycle, ultimately leading to a premature decline.
Our long life is a direct result of successfully completing our annual cycle. In late summer or fall, we flower. After the flower fades, we begin the most vulnerable part of our year: the creation of a new leaf pair. You will see the new growth emerging from the fissure between the old leaves. Throughout the winter, the new body grows by consuming the moisture from the old leaves, which will shrivel into a dry, papery husk. This is a natural and vital process. By the following spring, the old leaves should be completely dry, and the new pair will be plump and ready for a new season of growth. Interfering with this process by pulling off the old leaves too early or, worse, watering, can damage the new growth and cut our life short.
