My Succulents Look Unhealthy (I'm a newbie)
Koletta Anastasia
6 years ago
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
I'm a newbie and my seedlings are dying... Any help? (Pictures)
Comments (4)It sounds like the roots are saturated, which will eventually result in a condition called root-rot. This is caused by poor drainage or too much water. The end result is that the roots are unable to draw in nutrients, which will gradually starve the plant. Be sure to only water when the soil dries out. I water my seedlings once or twice per week at most. I wait until the soil is dry to the touch. I then water deeply, ensuring water runs out of the drainage hole. This seems to keep the plants healthy, and also helps prepare them for similar conditions outdoors. Finally, never fertilize seedlings until they have developed their fourth set of leaves. The salt content that is present in most commercial fertilizers can burn the roots. If you use a fertile potting medium, fertilization is not needed at the early stages of growth....See MoreSucculent Newbie - is it time to water my Haworthia Cooperi?
Comments (8)Well, good job on researching and reading up! I myself would guess you may have a H. cymbiformis hybrid. While I have a cymbiformis hybrid or two, I just adore the cooperi clan... glad the bug bit you as well. Below is one of my H. cooperi var. cooperi, and it shows the diversity in leaf shape and that longer leaves is not necessarily an indicator of lacking light. But smart of you to observe that changes in a single plant's leaf shape do mean something! Insufficient light is the reason behind your plant's stretching leaves, or their looking less plump, as you observed. I don't know quite how best to explain the signs of underwatering--it can be a flattening or slight withering of the leaves, and you can just tell the difference once you've seen it. I think you'll just know. Outdoors, bright light or bright shade is the sweet spot. In direct sun the plant will redden due to stress (a temporary change, so not something to freak you out). Indoors, do provide as much light as you can get because indoor light, even direct light, is extremely deceiving and does not compare to even a shaded outdoor area. Mine are actually indoors; it can be done. And yes, probably a very good thing to add a great deal of pumice or perlite or other well-draining materials to your currently heavy soil mix. Good luck! These Haws will put up with quite a few care mistakes, so I know they were a good first plant love for me when I was very new....See MoreUnhealthy Succulent? Help!
Comments (7)The bag may say it's cactus soil, but look closely, it looks the same (in texture) as the first pot it was in. Unfortunately (most of us here have learned that) most commercial C&S mix has too much peat & stays water retentive, so it still need lots of perlite or pumice added to make it faster draining. That's KEY to growing succulents, You still need to pls. go out & get perlite & unpot the plant, mix the soil 50/50 w/ perlite, repot it & don't water it for 3 days at least. Seems you didn't answer why you potted bigger, in future it's best not to unless you know for sure the roots need it (am guessing yours didn't)....See MoreI'm worried about my tall succulent
Comments (2)That looks like Crassula mesembryanthemoides. And probably not getting enough light, should be more compact. Stems should be strong enough to support themselves. These plants spent whole summer outdoors in full sun, and are under supplemental lights right now:In case of low light, 'huge' is not a preferred growth - plant is etiolated - stretched, because it is looking for more light....See MoreKoletta Anastasia
6 years agomesembs
6 years agoKoletta Anastasia
6 years agomesembs
6 years agoKoletta Anastasia
6 years agorina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoKoletta Anastasia
6 years ago
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