Portulacaria Afra Variegata (elephant bush) and Adromischus cristatus (key lime pie). Working on getting these names down!

Hello, I only grow the port afra so I can't really offer specific advise on the others ......you don't say how long ago you got the port afra plant...to me if looks in a pretty rough condition if you don't mind me saying so. If it was a recent purchase, did it look like that in the advert? Was it like that when it arrived.? if so I would seriously consider contacting them and asking for a refund. What did the roots look like when you repotted it, white and fresh or brown, stringy and rotted or bone dry? Sorry for all the ?'s but just trying to find out more to help you. The roots could have either rotted from too much water or dried out from too little in which case it will need to be rehydrated before it can take up any water, but you say you have yet to water it....so when was it last watered??...need some more clues first as to what's going on with it.....and before it dies completely.

That said, I grow mine in a gritty mix of equal parts horticultural grit, perlite, small bark and general purpose compost. It drains instantly its watered. If the plant were mine I would cut it back severely, repot into the mix above having checked the roots over, water once but thoroughly, place in warm spot but out of direct sun, sit back and wait. The branches are mostly bare and thin so imho you will get a much better plant overall if you prune it back to begin with rather than waiting for it to fill in on its own as in nature it would get eaten back by browsing animals rather than some plant lover armed with their secateurs!

Just a note on the second plant, I don't grow them but I might add that it's planted in a slightly too large a pot and too low down...(we see this so often, I don't know why) sorry, again just my thoughts.

good luck and come back......

Gill UK

thank you! Yes it looked like that when it arrived which was three days ago, and no it was like picture perfect when I originally bought it, it was supposed to be the exact same plant from the picture too, and the roots where brown and dry, how do I prune it correctly? It was only in shipping for three days I think. It had a few more leaves on it when it arrived but as soon as u touch it the leaves just fall right off. The port Afra is my favorite, it was the reason I bought more to begin with

My advice to you on the afra would be to carefully re pot it in a soil mixture like greenclaws described, set it somewhere sunny and safe, and let it rest. It is probably stressed out beyond belief from transport. I've bought afras and other plants from the clearance section of the greenhouse in conditions similar to that... Some have made it, some haven't. I might even advise that you let it sit somewhere for a week before you re pot, it might help. When you re pot, don't water for at least a week! Succulent roots grow in dry soil, snaking out to look for water. If you want a strong and established plant, water light until roots are firmly gripping the plant into place.

Your key lime pie is looking good, I would just keep it in that pot to let it really grow into a big amazing plant. Not familiar with the walmart plant, but little guy indeed looks to be a hatiora. They all look to be healthy :)))

Jess

Doesn't sound right, you bought plant pictured as: ..."it was like picture perfect when I originally bought it, it was supposed to be the exact same plant from the picture too"...

and what you got:

...."Yes it looked like that when it arrived which was three days ago......and the roots where brown and dry"...

3 days in shipping should not dry out the succulent roots that much. This is the reason why I don't buy anything live 'unseen', as much as I know this is the way today.

I would be tempted to return it - just as Gill suggested, or at least complain to the seller. If you keep it, hopefully you can re-root it. If there are no roots, plant can't take in the water, so you are starting just like with any rootless cutting.

Rina

If it were me, I'd water the elephant bush & let it hydrate, then chop the living crap out of it for new pups.

How do I cut it down correctly?

Eh, I think it's just shipping shock. I got unrooted cuttings and put them in the same soil you used: 50/50 commercial cactus mix and perlite (note: I have no problem with gritty mix, it's just not for me). I kept it dry for about 4 days, then started watering. The larger piece perked up really fast, the littler ones are still rough looking (similar to yours up there). It's been a few weeks, and one looks great, and the other ... may be a lost cause.

I think it's time to water thoroughly and give it a few days. I also agree with above: once it has perked up a bit, chop some of those longer shoots to make it a more compact plant. Good luck!

For the ZZ plant, be careful of its tubers when you repot. I have one of these, its one of my favorites. It's the easiest plant I own, just be careful to not over water it. Honestly, I barely water mine. Maybe once a month in summer, I do have gravel on top of the soil only because I like the look, I just make sure its completely dry before I water. The gravel and straight potting mix I repotted it into (Knowing what I do now, would never have used that mix but I have a balance that is working well enough for now in my house/climate). These guys are pretty tough.