I planted alsteomerias(last year) next to the house in a bed that they are protected from the winter weather, gave them some seasoil compost this year and a soakerhose around them and they grew! Last year they were very wimpy barely nothing! I kinda ignored/gave up on them this year, and WOW! They were just THERE one day, it seemed!lol! Dear Hubby had moved the glad bulbs I was trying to dry out last winter...out into the rain and they all got soggy and moldy...grrr, so was pleasantly suprised when I saw this volunteer show up! It has about 2inches of gravel it travelled thru to get to the surface!!! Have done nothing to get it to grow...except tell dear hubby to not weedwack it down!ha! Thanks for all your nice comments, I do so enjoy this forum!

Thanks! I think it's the foam and the soil. I found a thread on the container gardening board that mentioned some major problems with the walmart soil which is what I repotted with. So... I'm going to get some lighter soil.. tear our all that foam and repot and take a few cuttings to be sure the plant is preserved one way or another! LOL Thanks a bunch and I'll let you know how my plant in a week or so! As for over fertilized.. I don't think so even though I do feed it weekly bc I tried to fertilize to see if it helped with the leaf dropping. So that problem started long before I started fertilizing at all. I think it's bad soil that doesn't drain well combined with foam stuck in around the roots. Well! I have work to do! Thanks again! Michelle

I really enjoyed reading this post! I'm probably guilty of buying ALL THE PLANTZ!! I started with a couple then a few more... Because I'm lucky to find so many different types in my area at reasonable prices I take risks in buying ones that may or may not do well here. I figure it's worth the risk. I had no idea how lucky I am to find such a variety, but it's rare to find a big established plant. Although I just passed on a 5 foot (on trellis) multi flowering carnosa because I couldn't fit it in the car... I have a couple of Graveyard hoyas, most I've replaced and trying again. (Or will if I find another one for sale) I don't think I'll get another lauterbachii again even though they turn up all the time. Mine grew fast and tall but died. Not sure if it was underwatering or the cold but as I since found out it grows huge with next to no chance of me ever seeing flowers here I really cant be bothered buying it again. Since joining this group and learning "if in doubt, unpot and check roots and/or chop" I haven't lost many plants, except poor polyneura that got cooked in the last heatwave :( (I bought a new one in case my cuttings didn't take but they did!)

Yes, I would repot them and if my plants, separately. If you want to keep some together, it is OK too. The rubbing off can't be totally helped, but try to handle by leaves as little as possible - try stem. If you have to grab a leaf, maybe just one (and same one if needed). Lots of ppl use 50/50 or 60/40 perlite/soil and it apparently works. I use grit, perlite & some turface for all succulents. IMO, turface & soil together in equal amounts is not necessary, turface holds some water. So for less-often watering, you could use more turface (I do not know about soil reducing porosity of turface). You really need to experiment a little in your exact conditions. Many succulents will like higher temps; acclimatizing them to full sun is important. If very hot where you are, keep them in dappled shade during hottest part of day. Good air circulation helps a lot too. Lights could be installed for plants on windowsills too (maybe a problem if renting, or if you don't want to look at them in your living area); you don't need the basement. But for few plants, desk lamp r 2 may work. Just get a good lightbulb (high kelvins). I take plants outside as soon as nighttime temps stay close to 50F....