Growth is not predictable or linear

Hot takes from my Lithops plant

Lithops is an amazing plant.

It looks like a rock, thrives in harsh environments, and for most of the year, it basically waters itself. Its fleshy leaves grow in pairs, and during its growth season, the old leaf pair feeds the new leaf pair until the new leaves mature. No watering needed.

I got my Lithops last year, and I followed the nursery’s instructions exactly — water once a month, only during its summer growth period. I waited all summer for the new leaf pair to emerge.

Nothing happened.

The plant got stiff and wrinkly, and at some point, I gave up and figured it was probably dying. But succulents die slowly, and I didn’t have another small plant to take its place, and perhaps I wasn’t emotionally ready to admit I’d failed… so I left it for dead on the windowsill. For a year.

Several weeks ago, I picked my Lithops up again. It looked exactly the same — same size, same rubbery leaves, same wrinkly gray — but something felt different. Somehow, despite no discernible outward changes, my inner green thumb knew the plant was thirsty.

So I watered it. Nothing happened.

A few weeks later, I watered it again. Nothing.

Yesterday, I noticed that the leaves looked extra wrinkly.

Oh no, I thought. I’ve definitely killed it now.

I looked closer, squinting into the seam between the leaves, twisting it back and forth to get a better glimpse…

My beautiful, wrinkly, growing Lithops

…and when the light hit just right, I noticed the beginnings of a brand new leaf pair. My Lithops not only survived; it’s growing!

We expect growth to be linear, predictable, practically a natural law. Do X, get Y. Water plants, get more leaves. Work hard, get rewarded. Write on Substack, grow subscribers.

Nature doesn’t work that way. Making art doesn’t work that way. Life doesn’t work that way.

And doesn’t that just leave room for the most beautiful surprises?

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