Dave--(or anyone else?): I am really confused by these "weeping" Norway spruce cultivars. You show one picture of a 'Reflexa' that was not staked but is growing erect, then another picture of the same kind of tree that had to be staked. So, does this tree grow erect sometimes, and not all the time? As for the P. abies 'Frohburg' I find confusing statements. You say it needs to be staked or it will grow prostrate. Iseli nursery, and a couple of other places on-line, says it is an upright grower. Elsewhere I see a cultivar name P. abies 'Frohburg Prostrata,' with the 'Prostrata' sugggesting a flopping tree. So what am I supposed to think? Now in the Gotelli collection at the National Arboretum in DC they have two P. abies 'Inversa' trees. Both of these have picturesque irregular habits, but they are definately not prostrate. One, or I think both, have multiple erect trunks growing upright with severely pendulous side branches. I would like to grow one of these, but several sources say they will not grow upright. I have also seen another P. abies 'Inversa,' or so it is labelled, in the courtyard of the Winterthur museum in Delaware. This tree is also growing upright without any staking. And there is another similar tree growing prominently in the National Memorial Park in Fairfax, VA, but this tree has no label at all. I don't know if you have seen my postings in the trees forum under the topic "Large Willow" where I comment on the rampant confusion about golden weeping willows, but I may be even more confused and frustrated in trying to get information about the growth habit of these so-called weeping varieties of NS. I want to grow one or more, but what do I buy? And from whom? Are those I saw labelled 'Inversa' actually something that I can buy as 'Inversa," or is that an incorrect name? And this 'Frohburg' thing? Is there a 'Frohburg' that grows erect, and then another that is 'Frohburg Prostrata' that must always be staked--or which is more properly meant to grow along the ground. Of course, I assume that any of these that are potentially erect growers probably must be staked for a time, but from what I have seen with my own eyes (at the Nat Arb, and at Winterthur, and at the Nat Mem Park), at least one, and maybe more than one of these cultivars, can grow on their own after a period of time being staked, in at least some irregular erect fashion. So, is 'Inversa' one of these? Or 'Frohburg' or what? I have seen them, want one, but what one, or ones is/are it/they?? H E L P!! this is driving me nuts!! --Spruce

Yes I agree DRY DRY DRY then water well & they need good drainage.Use your finger as your moisture meter, stick your finger in dirt down into pot dirt should be dry all the way through to bottom.They do not like this hot blazing AZ sun all day. Outside,Dappled sun/shade or early morn. or late afternoon sun, but not all day sun they will burn.Some eventually will adapt to full sun all day but needs to adapt gradually. They will also get damaged or even die from the frost/cold we have here. They will need to be brought in or under porch or covered with blanket depending how big they are,or if you can move them in.Sometimes if they start to die you can save them by taking them out of pot remove bottom rotten leaves then repot in dry soil. Water in a few days then really dry.You can also cut the damaged leaves off at point where they are damaged.Succulents like to be dry,root bound and left alone. Just look at them, don't move them around much either unless they are in a window and need turned regularly to grow centered and evenly. If you want them to bloom or make babies(offshoots) leave them root bound(smaller pots are better) and somewhere they get at least 4hrs. of sun or really bright light a day.Sun thru a window needs to be limited because the glass intensifies the sun and will burn them.

Your succulent is probably looking for some more light too. Can't really tell for sure if overwatered, but the potting mix it is in looks quite peaty - it may be retaining too much water (looking dry on top, but still too wet below). "Mushy" is not what you want with succulents :). Old leaves will naturally shrivel, dry up and eventually fall off, but shouldn't feel really mushy. I only pick them off when dry, and they come off without any force (literally fall off). That is usually just few leaves, here and there. If you have too many at the same time, it would be best to check for what I suggested above - drainage/water retention of the potting mix. It also potted too deep/low inside of container. And as mentioned, I believe it needs more light. It seems to be too stretched, and the leaves are growing too far apart. I can't tell what the 'scar' is, hardly visible in the photo - it could be just a slight mechanical damage (scratch...). If it gets dark, it may be rot.

I usually wait a week, but if you’re environment is really hot and dry watering in 4-5 days is fine. If you’re unsure water in 7 days;). You didn’t ask about this, but always slowly acclimate the new succulents to your light/sun. A lot of times these plants come from lovely greenhouses or stores that have kept them protected from harsh sun. Then one puts them out in all day sun, and in a day or two that succulent is burnt. Start with morning sun afternoon shade. Then take it from there, tbh that’s all they could need. Goodluck;).