My succulent plant is tall, skinny, and about to fall over. Tips?
fly_girl_756
11 years ago
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bikerdoc5968 Z6 SE MI
11 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Question about my succulent
Comments (5)It looks something like Pachyveria 'exotica' (Pachyphytum x Echeveria), but Graptoveria or something even more 'in-between' is always possible. Pot-tipping is always a problem with such top-heavy succulents. The solution is to add ballast stones to the pot. The bigger and more off balance the plant, the heavier the stones. Of course, a prudent beheading once in awhile is always helpful to even things out. Root and pot the decapitated heads. I perform a series of public executions and resurrections this time of year. Try it, it's fun! Leaf recycling of the oldest leaves is normal, especially in winter when it's 'out with the old, in with the new'. In summer, it can be a sign of underwatering, but as long as it is the oldest leaves dessicating, there is nothing to worry about. I agree with Jeffrey, you are growing it well. Pachyveria 'Exotica': Brad...See MoreWhy did ALL of my tomato plants fall over?
Comments (11)I searched "tomatoes fell over" in Google and this page came up first. Just so happens I'm a member! Ha. As for the original post, sometimes tomatoes will shoot up tall and straight, but they are always going to flop sooner or later so that's why you go ahead and stake them in some manner. I plant mine in straight rows with wire (cheap roll of small gauge flexible wire you can get at Home Depot, etc.) on either side (parallel) of landscape timbers spaced every six or eight feet. The wires start a couple of feet from the ground and I run three or four courses up to five or six feet high. As the maters grow I make sure they stay between the wires and later on use panty hose as necessary to train the errant limbs. (For better results pinch off the vines closest to the bottom as they sprout.) But I came here to regarding seedlings in particular. They flop too and when they do it's game over. When I first started growing my tomato plants I used a grow light. Then, later when I started buying at the store I forgot all of that. When I decided to grow again all my plants fell over. It nearly drove me crazy! The reason was that I wasn't using a light. (It only took me three seasons to re-figger out the light angle! Dumb dumb dumb!) The moment the seedlings erupt you need to put them in the sun when possible and under a light of some kind at night. I use a couple of florescent lights.set near to the tops of the new growth seedlings. You do this and they won't flop over. Don't and they will, guaranteed. There can be other causes for flop, most going back to careless gardening habits. But one is sneaky for the beginner. You must never ever use old moldy growing medium...You know, the half bag you had left over from last year that has fuzz on top this year. That kind of soil will kill baby plants in about a half of a wink. Use fresh, or bake the old stuff, or just be darned sure your leftover hasn't gone over. Hope this helps. Mystery solved for floppy stringy, tall, dead tomato seedlings. Give 'em the light light light! All day and all night! Your tomato growing pal, Norm This post was edited by TheNorm on Sat, Jan 31, 15 at 14:30...See MoreHelp! My cactus is falling over!!
Comments (19)Just want to add that they should be in a fair amount of light. Yes they should not be in hot direct sun but filtered light can mean different thing. Sunlight filtered through a canopy in Los Angeles can still be brighter than directly on a windowill in Oklahoma, as a rough example. You don't want them too dark either. If they are in the house I would keep them near an east window where you would say get a little bit of direct sunlight early in the morning then just bright light on the windowsill rest of the day. This is still not the same as direct sun. A bright desk or table several feet from a window may be "bright" for reading a book but way too dark for a succulent. Also the days are getting short and colder in much of the USA now. Warmth will help rooting so keep them in a warmer area to help stimulate root growth. You can also keep them a couple inches below fluorescent tubes of a shop light which will give them good light for rooting/growing but you won't have to worry about scorching them. All a learning experience and enjoy your plant!!...See MoreDahlias Growing Tall and Skinny over Winter
Comments (17)I'm late to this party, but as I store a good many potroots inside at 55-65 degrees each year, perhaps my comments might help a future gardener with a similar 'problem.' Humidity is what triggers dormancy; cold temperature just slows growth down. When you bring a potted dahlia inside, it will try to keep growing until the humidity of the soil drops down to a certain level. There is no need for concern- just pinch off the unwanted green after it stops growing, as dormancy is important during the winter months. No worries... pinching the growth even a few times will not hinder the tuber's ability to grow in spring when you water it. "But I WANT it to keep growing!" If you leave the green sprouted late fall/early winter inside, it will not be healthy enough to survive into the next season, even if you water it and provide some light. You need significant grow lights to achieve healthy growth flowering in the winter, with ventilation and fertilizer... but who wants 4 foot plants to baby all winter long, with the associated pests that accompany it? If the answer is YOU, then check out pot growing websites, as they have it down to a fine science and spent a pretty penny on appropriate equipment/supplies. I'd rather pinch now and dream about the outdoor bouquets made along my fence rows in summer... Cheers! CiCi...See Morecactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
11 years agofly_girl_756
11 years agolme5573
11 years agocactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
11 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years agofly_girl_756
11 years agovuquyty
10 years ago
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bikerdoc5968 Z6 SE MI