No Maria, you've got to cut back more until you have good green viable stem. And as Jeff (CactusMcHarris) has said you don't need anything on the cut end. I leave cutting in warm indirect light sometimes for weeks and they just root from the natural humidity in the air. Having said this, it might not happen in very low humidity areas, but here in Michigan we almost always have 40% ~ 50% RH. I just cut this from one of my Echeveria to demonstrate what you want to see after cutting. I would allow my cutting to callous for at least a week until I see the cut end dry and looking like a callous on your hand or foot; it will look hard and dry and somewhat rough. The mix is something I make but you don't have to have the same thing. Again, as Jeff has said, Perlite is readily available at any Big Box store or Garden Center. Do NOT use regular sand because it packs down too much and dries slowly. If you have a problem finding something course or gritty, go to a pet store/Walmart/Target and ask for bird gravel; the stuff used on the bottom of a bird's cage that they eat to help digest food. It will be a bit pricey but if all you need is a small quantity, it will work. I'm personally not a fan of "Topsoil" as a portion of my mix because it won't dry quickly for me.

I can't really tell if it's rotting, but it's definitely lacking light. Your little friend does not look happy. If this were mine I would take it out and get all the old soil off. Inspect the roots and check for rot. When you potted this up did you take all the old soil off or did you just leave the old soil on. For me I think it's very important to get all that old soil off when you first repot. For a couple reasons. One you can't inspect the roots properly. Two the soil that usually comes with the plant is not good. It's very peaty. Peat is no bueno for succulents in the long run;). Can retain moisture. On the other hand once peat dries out it becomes like concrete. It's like trying to saturate styrofoam with water. Doesn't work. If the plant looks ok then repot. From what I can see it doesn't look rotten. Just needs more light. Start to acclimate your Echeveria to more light slowly. It will burn if this is done too quickly. Goodluck:). Yes you can try to propagate the healthy leaf:).

Your plant seems to be doing well, Madeleine. Strong work! Thanks for the kindness in your words, Leslie. There are ways to put some simple science to work that can help you cope with soils that are too water retentive. Try reading this, http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0914024623640.html?37, then ask any questions you might have. When you say to 'stop the pruning cuts just beyond where a smaller root branches towards the outside of the root you are pruning'.. are there images of this somewhere that may help me understand? I hope that helps. You want to concentrate on removing large roots that aren't really necessary for anchorage so there is room for a much larger volume of fine roots. Of course, it's unlikely your tree's roots will be as well ordered as those of the guy who dreamed up the image, but you should get the gist. Recovery is much faster if you prune just distal (beyond) a fine root pointed away from an imaginary line straight down from the trunk's center. When the pruning of the roots is completed (keeping them moist during the process) and we are ready to place the tree back into the pot, does the soil need to be damp or moist? I bare-root, then root prune and let the roots soak in a tub while I prepare the pot and partially fill with dry soil (if it's gritty mix). I lift the plant with wet roots from the tub and set it on the soil and fill in around the roots with dry soil and work it into all the pockets between roots with a wooden dowel that's sharp on the end but not extremely so - like a very dull pencil. If I'm repotting with the 5:1:1 mix, I make sure it's damp enough so as not to be hydrophobic. I dampen the soil by starting with dry. Before I start the root work, I take about 1/4 of the volume pof soil I'll need and put it in a pot or bucket and add enough water to completely saturate it - so it's mucky - and let it soak for a few minutes. Then I mix it well into the dry soil and allow it to rest while I'm doing the root work. By the time it's ready to use, it's no longer hydrophobic. Do we need to water the tree as soon as we are done repotting it? Yes - whether using the 5:1:1 or gritty, water well. Water the gritty until the drainage water is perfectly clear. The only exception might be various succulents and/or cacti. Edited to say: I'm not sure why the formatting came out weird when I copy/pasted your questions. Sorry Al

Normally a Majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis) will take full sun and as much water as you can give it. The record-breaking temperatures would stress any plant. Move the plant away from the glass while the weather is hot -- it is likely the reflected glare that toasted the frond tips. I'm not sure about the darkening of the stalks -- that could be sunburn. That could occur if the plant just came out of a greenhouse, but it will adjust. Most problems show themselves in the leaves first, and except for the one scorched leaf, the leaves look fine. Soil should be pressed firmly around the rootball to avoid air pockets. Check to be sure drainage is good. Keep soil damp, but not soggy. In Madagascar, this palm will grow alongside rivers and IN shallow ponds, so it will be difficult to overwater it. Most people do not give them enough water. Ordinarily one would not include garden dirt in a potted mix. You never know what's in it and it can tend to be heavy. However, unless it was a large portion of the potting mix, don't disturb the plant by repotting again. Later, when the palm is better established in the pot, you may lightly fertilize it, and continue fertilizing periodically until temperatures become much cooler and growth pauses for winter. Then ramp up again in spring. A well grown specimen will develop a very fat trunk base over time. And it's not really a houseplant in Los Angeles -- feel free to plant outdoors when it outgrows the pot. Enjoy your palm!