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Cacti & Succulents

Can't keep my succulents alive!!

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Most of my succulents don't have much roots so they're always falling sideways. I'm afraid to loosen the soil around the root because I might break whatever roots are left off! I water them once a week and some are dying of root rot and others are looking like they need some water. Please help!! It's winter where I live right now I never have direct sunlight but I try to keep them by the window..is it bad that it's cool? What wrong with them when it's wrinkly underneath but the stem is still nice and stiff?

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Comments (3)

Nicholas C.
8 years ago
A few things you could try are:
Re-pot them a bit higher in the pot, you want them to be up over the top of the pot so they can get proper light. Also that the containers aren't too big for your plants.

Make sure all your pots you're using have drainage holes so none of the water just sits in the bottom of the planters you're using

And try not too water them too much until they have sufficient roots. Usually you can tell when they have a better root system when they start to show new growth. Even then be a bit careful with watering for a while.
mesembs
8 years ago
One good thing to remember is too little watering is better than too much. And as said above, make sure your pots have drainage holes in the bottom, otherwise water will just sit in the bottom and rot the roots.

Make sure your plants have sufficient sun. Succulents need as much sun as they can get, especially if they are indoors. I can't see what kind of potting mix you have, but go for a nice soil mix that has really good drainage. I have heard you can grow succulents in just a bowl of pebbles!

Always try to get direct sunlight, or you could buy a sun lamp for your succulents.

Hope I helped!

~palmsandsnow
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I would say this is a Rosularia platyphilla which is severely trying its best to reach for the light. When given good lighting, the rosette stays tight and tends to form a mound. I have the feeling you may need to repot this next spring to allow its young to reach the soil. See the very tiny buds which seem to branch out from that very leggy plant (on the most right portion of the picture)? That's how they propagate. They have the same water, soil and light requirement as most succulents. Like a lot of succulents, they are very hardy and stay alive without roots for a long time. I had a single rosette removed from a clump which I had. It never established on the soil but all it did was stretch out like this - the entire winter. Come spring it all the branched grew like crazy to form a colony on its own. The original colony died last winter, I was pretty bummed out as this was advertised as hardy to zone 3 being a plant originating from the Alps. So im glad I got my lone survivor. It's in my basement now under LED light. It stayed compact This was the original colony. This is what I have now, this came from a single rosette last year. This photo was as of last November.
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Looks like a sunburn to me. Did you acclimatize them to sun and what is their exposure? They can take good sunlight but will burn if exposed suddenly. It is difficult to know what conditions they were before, so better be sure than sorry. They should have powdery coating on leaves - it protects them - and that shouldn't be rubbed off. At the same time, they look bit etiolated. I have same plants, and see the difference between plant indoors (left) and outdoors (right):Month without water is too long IMO, unless they are kept cool. My plants get water approx. every 5-6 days or so - mostly when it rains, and if dry for too long, I water them. They should be in fast draining mix, and pot with drainage hole. ETA: lots of comments and we all agree it is sunburn :) Good news, since the leaves will eventually grow out (it may take a while), and easier to manage than rot.
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kaktuskris
8 years ago
Knowledge is power. Read up on succulent care before buying more plants. Succulents need very bright light, and very good drainage. If you do not provide both of these things, your plants will suffer. Never plant in a pot with no drain hole. The water has no where to go, and will eventually rot the roots of your plant. Use a small unglazed terra cotta pot, and a free draining potting mix, so that the excess water will not stay around the roots and rot them. Remember that more houseplants die from over watering than any other reason. And with succulents, this is especially the case. The motto for watering is, 'When in doubt, Don't.' With a little practice, and a lot of light, you will have success.

Christopher

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