I don't know what's wrong with my succulents!

8 years ago

Hello all - I'm glad to have found this community! I have a small collection of succulent plants and I LOVE them - but recently two of them seem to be doing badly and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. One is an Echeveria, the other is a Pachyphtytum. They are both showing new growth, but the Echeveria, especially, has very rubbery, unhealthy-feeling lower leaves. The Pachyphytum was initially very full and supple, now it seems to be withering a bit. They get full sunlight all day. Am I watering too much, or too little?

Featured Answer

kwie2011

8 years ago

Hi Rachel,

I agree with previous poster, and would add that watering every 3 days is too frequently for succulents in almost any conditions. Exceptions might be plants in grit (non-soil media akin to cat litter); plants that are very pot-bound, or plants in terra cotta that are in direct sun and high temperatures all day. For a plant in soil like yours, a once-weekly soaking is more than adequate.

I agree that a soil change would be helpful. A 1:1 or 2:1 mix of potting soil and perlite will help it to drain and dry out faster, which succulents prefer. A south-facing window is preferable in most climates, but acclimate them First, and don't leave them in direct sun until the roots have had time to colonize the new soil- at least several weeks. Depending on where you live, east or west windows will also work. North-facing windows rarely, if ever, provide enough light for succulents.

The smaller plant appears to be a Sedum, burro's tail, I think. On my small screen, it looks like all but the new leaves are a bit shriveled. They should be fat and turgid like grapes. I suspect the roots have died back from too much water/inadequate drainage. When you pull the plants to change the growing medium, examine the roots. They shoukd be white, firm, and profuse. I think you'll find small roots just around the stem, and many of those will be mushy, grey, or shriveled. If they appear that way, it will confirm the over-watering/poor soil hypothesis. Post some photos and someone can let you know if you're unsure.

So, new soil, less frequent watering, a pruning or re-start for the Echeveria, plenty of light, and minimal fertilizer shoukd GI e you healthier plants in a couple of months.

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Comments (10)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
Can we see some photos?
cooliceball
8 years ago
Pics
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Oooh, that's a great Aeonium. Many people, including me, would kill for such a nice, large specimen as that! And it does not look too poorly from here, with the exception of a couple things. Summertime is the time Aeoniums go dormant and most of the time want a major cutback on water, or to go basically dry with just a sip of water periodically. Summer is also when the rosettes ball up like yours are, which could be perceived as them sort of shriveling up. That is completely normal for this time of year. Full sun could be fine. I happen to do only part-sun with mine over the summer, to try to encourage them to wake up faster when fall comes and temperatures start dropping a bit. My conditions aren't ideal, so my plants are potted and I move them around in an attempt to please them at various times of the year. What isn't normal are the few branches that have flopped over. Where the branches have flopped, are they kind of mushy? If so, they're rotting, and you should remove them/perhaps cut them back to the main stem, to where the tissue is green and healthy inside. Also feel around the base of the stem for any mushy, rotting areas, and I would pray the root system is healthy and there isn't any rot going on below the soil line. My Aeoniums generally start waking up in the fall, and they do most of their growing through the winter and spring, until hot weather hits. Aeoniums are characterized as winter growers, which just means they don't like the heat much. If your summer doesn't get very hot, they can decide to not completely ball up and go entirely dormant, but instead only partially ball up and keep slowly growing through the season -- most of my Aeoniums went completely dormant this summer, but in the exact same conditions a couple of them didn't, and that's just a fluke. Aside from the few problem stems you have going there, I would hope it's one healthy plant. Just make sure you remove what has rotted so that the rot cannot spread. Don't let the balled-up look of the rosettes scare you. The leaves will open up and really start growing soon. Out of curiosity, I'd like to see a closer view of the plant. It has a look to it a bit like Aeonium balsamiferum, which I quite like. This post was edited by teatree on Sun, Aug 4, 13 at 19:55
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Kendra Not the soil to add, but perlite. That is the white granules, few are visible in your soil (but it is better to add more). You can buy a bag of it, screen it and rinse it. I would add some and gently poke the soil closer to the rim with a chopstick (so I won't disturb the roots much), to mix it in - not leaving it on top. Or if the soil in the pot is loose enough, you could shake some out holding the plant. Mix this with perlite and put back in the pot. Perlite is very light and easily floats to the top. This would be temporary help, and if you don't feel confident about doing it - don't. I am only suggesting it for a time until you decide if you want to make 'proper' mix. You would need to make it yourself - they don't sell it in stores. There is just couple of places you could order similar by mail, but I am not willing to pay the $ they ask + shipping so I don't buy it and can't advice you about them. robinswfl gave you good advice, re-read her 2 posts again. Using well draining soil is much better for the plants, and makes it easier for the grower because it decreases chance of overwatering. Sure, even gritty mix could be overwatered, but it would take lots of water to do that+leaving pots sitting in saucer full of water. Keeping plants outdoors is also much better for the plants, and with that kind of soil one doesn't have to worry much about the rain...again, just my opinion.
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kwie2011
8 years ago
There are so many conditions that can cause lower leaves toose their turgidity. We really need more information. If you can take a photo of the whole plant, another up close so we can see the affected leaves, and another of your growing medium/soil, we'll probably have enough to make an educated guess at the problem.

What kind of soil or growing medium is it?

How long have you had the plant?

When and how do you water it?

What temperature is it being kept at?

Have you recently moved it, like moving it from indoors to outdoors in the warmer weather?

Have you examined the roots?
Rachel
Original Author
8 years ago
My apologies for not adding photos earlier! Thank you for all your responses!

I've had the big plant longer - about a year. I just got the litlte one maybe two months ago. They both live at my office, in a window that gets lots of sun. I water them every 3 days, on average. I have not recently moved or re-potted either of them, and their general climate has not changed. It is usually roughly 74 degrees in here.

I have not examined the roots, but I will if you think that would help. Below are photos of them both:

Thank you all in advance!
andy_e
8 years ago
It's normal for echeveria to shed their lower leaves as they grow. That said, it looks like that plant is getting too much water and/or fertilizer for the amount of light it has, probably due to the water-retentive soil you're using. In the second pic, higher up on the plant you can see the internodal distances (vertical space between the leaves) got much larger than in the past as the plant was stretching to get into the light. Water and fertilizer will fuel that growth when the light is insufficient. What I'd do is chop the head off just below the first set of droopy leaves with a good, clean set of pruning shears, let it sit outside in a spot sheltered from sun and rain, wait for roots to emerge, and then replant it.

I can't tell what issues you may have, if any, with the other plant.
Rachel
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you so much!! I was wondering if I needed to get rid of the long stem it has grown, it just keeps reaching further up - it also keeps sprouting little off shoots, as you can see in that top photo. I'm going to take your advice - and I think I need to change my soil as well.
Neil
8 years ago
You've gotten really good advice from our fellow forum members. I just want to mention one thing to you...if you choose to clip the rosette, do not discard the stem. In time it will make many new rosettes for you to enjoy which in time you can clip again to make many more new plants. All The Best - NJC -
Rachel
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you ALL so much! I'm going to get new planting medium today, and then carefully examine the roots as I move everyone around - I had NO idea that rotting roots were a possibility. I also had no idea that the stem could produce so many more rosettes and will absolutely be taking care of it, as well. Thanks again - so happy I found this place!
Neil
8 years ago
Rachel- I've been reading through this forum for a while but, only recently "actually" signed up. It's become my favorite online haunt. Everyone I've communicated with on the forum seems so sincere, and so very passionate about plants and succulents in particular of course. I've gotten the best advice from the members. I've also learned so much from them and i'm very grateful to have an online neighborhood like this one. Before I really sound like an old sappy commercial, I will wish you well and hope to catch you on here again! - Neil -

I don't know what's wrong with my succulents!

kwie2011

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