skip to main content

Cacti & Succulents

Need help diagnosing a succulent issue.. brown spots

11 years ago

At first I thought it was just physical damage of some kind (though I can't imagine how that would have happened) but now I'm noticing these spots spreading to other nearby succulents. As they just sit quietly on their shelf and are never moved around or disturbed much I'm 100% positive this isn't just damage.

They are hard, dry brown spots. I've checked out a few webpages for succulent health problems but I can't seem to figure out what the issue is. Anyone here know? I would greatly appreciate some help with this.

Here is a link that might be useful: More pics here.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

bikerdoc5968 Z6 SE MI
11 years ago
could be fungal or an insect sucking...? spider mites. Get out the magnifying glass, a Jeweler's loupe is great and look for nasties. i'm certain others will have better answers.
norma_2006
11 years ago
I have been told by a chap in New Zealond, it depends on the species, Gasteria are especially prone to this problem. It depends on the cold and watering conbination I would love to find the letter to back it up. Norma
Related Discussions
Need Help Diagnosing Lawn Issue
Q
Comments (3)
Definitely looks like drought stress. Were those areas dark green before they turned brown. TTTF gets very dark when it is drought stressed, then it will turn brown shortly thereafter. It looks like the grass on the edges of the brown spots are dark green. Do the blades in those areas look folded up and thin? If so, that's drought stress. You would be well advised to water the area ASAP. Hitting it with shampoo before watering might help water get into those areas faster, as it looks like they might have some hydrophobic soil. Fungal diseases usually start out as rings or circles, sometimes accompanied with fungal mycellium. Then the blades collapse and die, and if conditions are right spread outward. If I remember correctly you live in Westchester county, and the weather in your area hasn't been that conducive to fungal diseases yet.
...See More
Need help diagnosing succulent issue
Q
Comments (1)
Maybe a picture of the bug you've caught would help someone here help you? This is half suggestion and half bump to the top of the list since I noticed no comments yet. ez
...See More
Need help to ID and diagnose succulents leaves turn brown and purple
Q
Comments (7)
Either soil wouldn't be suitable for succulents, but 1st one at least wasn't dense. Can you get some perlite and grit? Or pumice, scoria, lava rock, turface? Few of these would make good mix forsucculents. Same is discussed in this thread: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4025867/is-this-soil-good-for-succulents?n=21 see post by Crenda toward end of it showing good photos of gritty mix, or mix of soil+perlite. In your weather, gritty would be much better for succulents (and plastic pots could be used). You said plants were outside for 9 days - I would think that they were not acclimatized to the sun; it should be done gradually putting them into more and more sun every few days.
...See More
How to diagnose brown spots on dogwood leaves
Q
Comments (4)
Is it just me or is that tree 'telephone poled' ? A buried root flare can put the tree under stress that can lead to other problems. Giving your general location (big city name) and usda zone also helps people diagnose problems. ' samples to your local extension service office ' Why didn't I mention that! :^)
...See More
mrlike2u
11 years ago
Agrees with the watering part but not sure about a fine thin hairy Gasteria
dgobi
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the quick responses! :) I haven't been able to spot any critters on the leaves(? fronds? branches? not so sure about terminology here!) so far.

The cactus pictured is an Epiphyllum - I just did some research and identified it. Whatever is going on with it is also affecting my Euphorbia milii - there are little brown spots and holes appearing on some of the lower leaves. I water them sparingly with room temperature water and allow it to run through. They're located close to a window in my kitchen... I don't think it's too drafty there but I could be wrong. There are more pics of the problem in the link.

Thank you for responding!

Related Stories

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Red Yucca Spikes Dry Spots With Color

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Neither heat nor cold nor lack of water fazes this flowering succulent, which adds spiky texture to Southwestern landscapes

MOST POPULAR 7 Ways to Design Your Kitchen to Help You Lose Weight

By Mitchell Parker

In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better

Ideabook 911: I Need Help Staging for Resale

By Becky Harris

PETS How to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor

By Alison Hodgson

Good fences certainly help, but be sure to introduce your pup to the neighbors and check in from time to time

GARDENING GUIDES How to Fix Bare and Yellow Lawn Spots

By Christine Tusher

Restore your turf’s good looks by reseeding unsightly patches

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Saturated Colors Help a 1920s Fixer-Upper Flourish

By Madison Modern Home

Bright paint and cheerful patterns give this Spanish-style Los Angeles home a thriving new personality

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Create a Whole-House Color Palette

By Laura Gaskill

Don't be daunted. With these strategies, building a cohesive palette for your entire home is less difficult than it seems

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 10 Low-Cost Tweaks to Help Your Home Sell

By Lurdes Abruscato

Put these inexpensive but invaluable fixes on your to-do list before you put your home on the market

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Quit Procrastinating on Color Choice

By Laura Gaskill

If you're up to your ears in paint chips but no further to pinning down a hue, our new 3-part series is for you

Sponsored

More Discussions

Are cacti legal to sell online?

3

Free plants or cuttings

5

ID this cactus please?

8

Easter Cacti in bloom

4

6