Succulent fell over, trunk is turning soft, any way to save it?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I got this plant from a friend and it wasn't in the best shape but somewhat healthy still. It was tall and leaning slightly but the bottom leaves on the succulent were dead so I cut them off (you can see the all the dried leaf remnants near the base still) and then a day later the plant was too top heavy and began leaning heavily, another day later it was basically completely on its side but the trunk didn't appear damaged. So I stuck a chopstick in and tied it to the stick about halfway up. Now a few days later I noticed it is starting to lose more of its integrity and the base of the trunk is turning soft where it was bent over, the bottom leaves are also withering. Is there any way to save this poor guy?

Featured Answer

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Do not water freshly cut top. Remember: no roots - no water.

Another mantra: when in doubt - don't (water).

Most succulents die from over-watering. They will survive under-watering better than over-watering.

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Comments (6)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
It is way too wet, and could be rotting. Heavy, wet soil and possible bad drainage - is there a drainage hole in the container? It is also etiolated - stretched, because of lack of light.

You may be able to save it by cutting top off and rooting it. Not sure if the rest of the stem is salvageable - depends if it is rotting already. Consider using much better draining potting mix to grow healthy succulents.

Plants should have sturdy stem that doesn't need staking.

The jade plant in background looks also little etiolated - they all need better light.
mesembs
8 years ago
Yes, it is definitely the soil that is doing it. The usual potting soil retains much too much water and will cause rotting very often. I don't think there is really any way to save it as it is, but you could do it a favor by lopping the top off, letting it callous over for a few days in a dry shaded place out of soil, then just prop it up in a pot of gritty well-draining soil (search this forum), and pretty much wait for it to root.

when rooting, get the soil just barely moist.

Also, that is hardly a trunk :)

~palmsandsnow
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ripleyahlborn
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the response. As I said, I got the plants from a friend already potted...this one, the jade, and another with the set that's not pictured...they were neglected for some time and not in an area that received much light. Very little direct sunlight at all. I noticed as well that the soil was a bit to heavy and not what I use for my own succulents. No drainage holes either. I'm just trying to do my best to nurse them back to health. Perhaps I did get a little overzealous with the watering though, in my attempt to bring it back to health. In any case, with the current shape, I believe it would have fallen over on its own accord in a short time, and the mostly bare lower trunk with dead leaves was an eyesore from the start so I wanted to do something about that.
ripleyahlborn
Original Author
8 years ago
*Stem, lol. Excuse my lack of experienced terminology.
ripleyahlborn
Original Author
8 years ago
Okay, so I will attempt to save it by cutting the top part off underneath the lowest healthy leaf, let it callous for a few days out of the sun, and then repot in better draining soil with very light watering. This will really be a test of my green thumb! haha. Thank you for the suggestions

Succulent fell over, trunk is turning soft, any way to save it?

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

mesembs

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Succulent fell over, trunk is turning soft, any way to save it?

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

Comments (6)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

mesembs

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