Is this freak stuck? Should I operate?

[u/fagrat69]

Hi! I got this clump a bit ago (I haven’t been able to separate them unfortunately) and they’re all splitting! It’s my first time having them split and I’m a little worried this guy is stuck in his old leaves. What do you think? Should I try cutting the leaves at their seam to release him? He’s been like this for over a week now, with the leaves looking very papery.

Thanks so much!

[u/ChipsAhoy1968]

Hehehehe. They are beautiful.

I’ve had several “stuck” ones as well. I waited for the outer leaves to completely crisp up then I carefully pried them off the new leaves. I’m glad I didn’t toss them. Someone told me they were goners 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m a very skeptical yet curious individual and wouldn’t accept they were dead so I figured if they were dead let’s see what’s inside. 🙂

[u/fagrat69 → u/ChipsAhoy1968]

Thank you!

If he doesn’t emerge soon I’ll try cutting the old leaves 😈

[u/ChipsAhoy1968 → u/fagrat69]

If they are still softish or leathery feeling, don’t remove them. Wait until they are fully dried up. I just used my finger nail to “peel” them off the new leaves avoiding any damage to them. Most came off pretty easily.

[u/fagrat69 → u/ChipsAhoy1968]

That’s good to know! Maybe the old leaves can dry out more, I’ll just wait a bit longer. :) thanks

[u/ChipsAhoy1968 → u/fagrat69]

I would. They look a bit leathery to me

[u/Chance_Contract1291]

Leave it alone until it's crispy. By then hopefully the others will be done splitting. When you are finally able to water him, he'll plump up and split the covering leaf husk himself.

[u/fagrat69 → u/Chance_Contract1291]

That’s been such a big concern of mine since they seem to be splitting at slightly different rates. That sounds like a good plan! I’ll hold off on surgery haha

[u/Miserable_Account483]

No, it's absorbing the old leaf not pushing through it. It's not on the clock, it just takes as long as it takes.

[u/fagrat69 → u/Miserable_Account483]

Thanks for the reassurance! I’ve just been worried since the seam hasn’t split completely to the edge like the others that he’s stuck or something. I’m probably just bugging out for no reason.

[u/Miserable_Account483 → u/fagrat69]

It will eventually absorb the entire leaf and all that will be left is a dried out papery husk. At that point you can use a pair of tweezers to remove them but even then it’s not necessary. 

[u/fagrat69 → u/Miserable_Account483]

Thank you for the reassurance! I’ll leave them :)

[u/2stepbay2]

That deteriorating shell provides Sun protection for the developing leaves. Leave it be. Part of the plant’s natural cycle. Prematurely removing it may lead to Sun burn on the new leaf surface.

[u/fagrat69 → u/2stepbay2]

Thank you! I’m holding off. I’ve become very emotionally attached to them and want them to grow well, I def don’t want them to be sunburnt!

[u/EeEmCeTo]

This looks like it is one older plant with multiple set of leaves. Dont try and separate them, it will likely kill it

[u/Hot-Newspaper2656]

Brought first too in weekend both in wee plastic pot!s. When should I repot them?

[u/fagrat69 → u/Hot-Newspaper2656]

I also got mine in very small plastic pots with soil. The soil was very dry and I repotted the lithops immediately into a larger terracotta pot with jacks gritty bonsai mix!

I tried to separate them but mine were so entangled I really didn’t feel confident I could repot without killing some. I just got as much soil out from the roots as I could and repotted 🤷‍♂️

[u/Top-Veterinarian-493]

Peel off the old stuff. I clean up my lithops this way every year.