i have seven different aeoniums-six flourish, one just kinds of hangs around. all have the same conditons so just another of those plant mysteries.

They sure are very finicky. Nothing I did ever made them happy! Oh well.

I hope your six nice ones at least continue to flourish DaveZ.

I have 3 green Aeoniums this winter. Someone wanted me to save them from a killing frost last fall. I've almost ignored them. I'm surprised they are still OK. Actually, they look well and I'm tempted to make cuttings to propagate them. I haven't had good luck with Aeoniums in the past.

Some leaves look sunburned - but Aeonium should be able to take good light; what kind of light bulb are you using?

I have 3; they are under lights and very close to it. These are CFL bulbs that don't produce much heat. A. balsamiferum if only couple of inches away:

Rina

I am in zone 6b(?)and use T5HO, the plant was maybe 2 inches under it? Oops maybe too close if yours are 3.5-4 :x. Yours looks so nice.

Eesh. That does look like burn. Strange that it would happen so suddenly out of the blue after three months. Could it have grown quickly in height recently?

I only have one aeonium variety, not even sure of the specific ID. It's lime green and dark green with pink margins. It's done very well and cuttings seem to take without trouble. I've had the original plant for 5 years in a planter without drainage (gasp!), and it's grown long and draping to 12", which I rather like in its current location on a shelf I installed in the center of a western window. It's grown plenty of aerial roots, probably in response to its terrible situation (I water so stingily to prevent drowning), so I clip cuttings with some of the aerial roots and pot them up. They respond immediately, probably within a week or two. And I have to admit that the cuttings I've set in 4" flats are already outperforming the mother in vigor, rosette size and color after just 4 months in a greenhouse with daily temperatures fluctuating between 120F daytime to 40F nighttime (in recent winter months). Typically, 3-4 new offshoots set after the end is cut.

I've personally found these to be rather hearty outside of frost. I'm in central Texas, though and they're often used as annual landscape plantings in our poorly drained, shallow, caliche soil. Don't be discouraged just yet!

AS

T5HO shouldn't burn - look at Kevin's (ewwmayo) set up, he uses them and they are very close to plants, I believe 2-3". My A. balsamiferum is much closer - perhaps 2.5-3", other 2 are bit further. Maybe yours was moved from lower light to very close to the source suddenly? - that could cause a burn.

I believe that some succulents grow aerial roots regardless the conditions - like A. kiwi, or Adromischus cristatus, or E. Doris Taylor and some others - some will grow them because of the growing conditions.

Rina

Several weeks of cloudy weather and suddenly a day of full sun through a southern window might cause sunburn.

@ A SHmm I don't have a green thin leaved aeonium. It's not because aeoniums have that...sudden death thing after they flower?

It's so weird they fell off like that, almost like rot. But the leaves look sunburned. Don't be discouraged though..! Maybe it was just a weak specimen.... (Did you detect any pests?)

@dorkstenia is your pink/green-> aeonium decorum cv sunburst?

@rina nice kiwi pink edges! Jealous.

@dorkstenia jeez that's impressive haha. I have ONE more aeonium left actually, I think the same as you have described, a kiwi, so maybe I will try taking cuttings of that and see if they do as well as yours. If not then, at least my other plants appreciate me!

@rina I hadn't really moved the plant besides maneuvering to water it but maybe like dorkstenia suggested it had grown and I hadn't noticed and it was then closer to the bulb? That's the only thing I can think of now. :x

@ealdwood No, this plant hadn't flowered. And I've never had a plant rot on me but the leaves still felt hard, almost crispy, not mushy like I would imagine rotten leaves would feel. I never noticed anything off with it but then again I had never repotted in orinigal potting medium it came in so who knows :x

A S - Most plants won't willingly grow into lights to the point of burning. But some species will grow very close. If you don't put them back in the exact same orientation they can burn, particularly if a T5HO bulb is touching a leaf.

I know this because I have done this with a Sans, Jade, and Euphorbia.

• 2-3" away is not an issue if the plant is well adjusted or adapted to the light.
• 1-2" away is a bit close.
• Less than 0.5" typically will result in a burnt leaf.

Notably, if a plant is experiencing drought stress and placed extremely close to a grow light, it becomes much more susceptible to burning.

That all makes sense. It's possible I took it down to water it and put it back closer to the light than intended. Now I know, have to be a little more cautious!