Dyckia encholirioides

This moment it rained cats and dogs and some
hens and horses at precise and regular intervals.

This Dyckia is just for the grown up guys an not a kid thing.

Dyckias do something weird at first glance, they do not discharge the old leaves.
They use them to protect them from Extreme temperatures and use them to gather debris to compound their substrate. Also there comes a time when the old blade leaves are part of this substrate. The axilla is always preserved as the most precious thing by the Dyckia plant.
Here I cut off the leave blades for us to see the "trunk".
Enlarge the pictures no observe. What makes this trunk to be so thick?
This is a characteristic Dyckia comportment. When the species is to small you may not notice.
Dyckias hold on thight the old leaves axils. They are vital to the plant. Remove them and the plant won´t go further.
These old axils play the role of the cork on trees.
They guard the necessary humidity for he plant and also protect it from to much rain and sun and extreme temperatures.
So do not ever remove any old leaf! Cut them! Leave the axil attached to the plant ´cause it will be needed for the plant survival.
The best way to keep a Dyckia is not to remove any death leaf but the effect of all the dried leaves to our eyes is not pleasing and when potted the old leaves may prevent the water from getting into the substrate.
The axils you should never remove!
Now one big problem arises: Do you have scissors with long enough handles to cut these leaves?
Some Dyckias love to remove your skin at this moment of cutting of the old leaves.
They want the old leaves and they fight back!
If you care about your hands try to find a good pair of extra long handled scissors.
This device is the most precious for the Dyckia keeper.
Gloves are useless here even those used by the butchers.
Sp do not think twice if you come closer to a extra long handed pair of scissors.
Preserve your own skin!