I believe a succulent's leaves getting mushy means that it is overwatered- so yeah it does sound like the water is draining towards your echeverias' roots. From the advice that I've received, you really need to have drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Succulents also like being in unglazed terracotta pots, as the roots prefer the dark and the surface also gives the roots something to grip.

You can't water individual plants in a pot without drainage. It just doesn't work that way.

You need to get those plants out of that glass bowl.

So I guess the gravel at the bottom is not enough drainage... rookie mistake. Would it work to combine succulents in a terra cotta or some other container with drainage holes? Will repotting those two echeverias into a more suitable pot save them or do I need to do something to dry out the roots?

Terra cotta pots would probably be your best choice, but at the very least make sure any container you use has a drainage hole. Also as Gill mentioned you should use a half perlite half c/s potting mix because a lot of the commercial c/s mixes are too peaty and water retaining and that can harm your plants as well.

You might want to id and look up the watering and light needs of your plants before you put them in all the same pot.

As for the echeverias, repotting should be enough. However when you take them out of their current container you should look at their roots to see if they have rotted or are healthy. If they're healthy go ahead and repot them, if not I believe you should remove the damaged sections but you may want to check with one of the more experienced succulent owners on here :)

They all look unhappy, but far from dying ... Gill gave great advice above. Freely draining pots, fast-draining and fast-drying soil, and air flow. Water: when in doubt, just don't. They can go a long, long time without water and still bounce back. But if you water them just once too much, you can rot them.

If you are going to use something without drain holes in it you should water very very little. Rocks on the bottom of any kind of container doesn't do anything for drainage. In a glass terrarium it just creates a space for water to collect. Your plants are also suffering from etiolation. They like it outside in bright morning light. Don't introduce them to light too quickly or they will burn. But if they are rotting (the main stem that is) chances are you have lost the main plant anyway and will need to break off a few leafs lay them on soil, and don't give them any water until hey grow roots and a plantelette. This will give you plenty of time to research how to care for your succulents.

that window that gets morning sun and higher temps would probably be better but becareful with the glass so you don't end up cooking them.

Good luck!

Watering very little is not good solution - using container with drainage is.

Succulents need proper watering when they should be watered. Sips of water won't do much.

If using any decorative container (cashepot) without drainage - because many ppl like to decorate - use it only to hold plants potted in proper pots with drainage and take them out when they need watering. Let all excess water to drain away and they can be set back into cashepot. Doing that creates extra work, but helps for plants to stay alive.

ETA: I just read previous posts and realized that Gill said exactly same thing. Sorry for repeating what was already posted...I usually at least scan previous posts before I post, but this time I didn't...She gave you excellent advice, please consider.

Thank you all so much for the tips and instructions. Today I repotted all the plants into individual terra cotta pots - the biggest one in a glazed terra cotta, but all have drainage holes. And I used a mixture of perlite and potting mix, 50/50. I have a couple more questions and I apologize in advance for my ignorance. The two echeverias had very little root development - very thin and stringy and brown. Is this normal for plants this small, or is it a sign of rot or a sign of lack of water?

Second question - should I water them after repotting? The bit of soil that clung to the roots, for all of them, felt cool and a tiniest bit damp, but not wet.

I am going to put all of them in my east facing greenhouse window that gets morning sun. The largest one did very well there - grew a lot - over the last 2 years.

Thanks again!!

P.S. If anyone can identify the bottom two plants, I'd much appreciate it.

Wow, beautiful job, Jodi! They look wonderful. My only comment is that the upper right one could have been potted a little higher. The pot edge could shade the plant and limit air circulation. I would gently lift it out, put more mix in the bottom, and put it back.

Bottom left could be portulacaria afra or elephant food, a very nice plant that one you have. The elephant food can eventually take full sun, but I'm not sure about the others. It will probably take off with these better growing conditions. In my opinion it's an easy plant.

I wonder if east facing is going to be enough light. How many hours do you think they get? If the sun is coming in hard for hours, it could burn them so in that case transition slowly over time into that light.

As for watering now, I'm not sure. If your potting mix was damp, I would say don't water for a week or so or until a wooden skewer or toothpick comes out dry (like testing a cake, right?). But if the mix was bone dry when you repotted, you might water in a day or two. Someone else might come and correct me on this, but that's what I do.

I hope you will post more and keep us up on your plants. It's helpful if you enter your gardening zone in your houzz name. You can get your zone by searching USDA gardening zones and enter your zip code. This information helps people help you.

Again, nice job! If plants could talk, they would say, "Ahhhh, thank you!"

Hi Jodi,

Good job repotting, so much better for the plants!

Yes, to ID of Portulacaria afra. Don't know the plant on lower right, but it's straining for more light, it's unnaturally tall (supposed to be more short & squat).

Pls don't apologize for your ignorance, you simply haven't been exposed to that knowledge yet.

To answer in part about roots: bad roots are brittle & crunchy (dead) or mushy & smelly (rotting).

When one repots succulents, it's best not to water for a day or 2 afterwards, unlike houseplants.

The one on the bottom right has leaves like my recently ID'd graptosedum 'Vera Higgins' (or possibly 'Bronze'), only your plant is very etiolated, like Karen said.

Kd

They look fantastic! I'm sure you'll be rewarded with some happy new growth.