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Cacti & Succulents

Crassula pyramidalis care

purple_haworthia

6 years ago

Hey everyone! I recently got a C. pyramidalis plant and I already managed to kill some of it off I think. It's the first succulent I've had trouble with. Parts of it are brown and soft so I suspect overwatering but maybe also over exposure to light? How do you care for your C. pyramidalis? Would you say it requires more or less water than the average succulent?

Featured Answer

greenclaws UK, Zone 8a

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Yep, soil looks very dodgy, there are some large particles of something in that pot! Plus it's planted far too deeply inside the pot. Needs much more soil in there so it sits higher up. The pot looks on the large size too, more chance for that water retaining soil to stay wet for too long, I would step down a couple of sizes for sure.

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Comments (10)

Lars
6 years ago
It needs good drainage, and so perhaps your soil retains too much moisture. I have mine outside in full sun, and so overexposure to light would not be a problem. I water mine about once a week. They die back after blooming but put out side shoots.
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purple_haworthia
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks, I'll change the soil, I think that may indeed be the problem. Does it look like it's going to die off entirely or does it still have a chance?
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Ahh, good ol' Crassula perforata... my very first succulent. I found a piece of it on the sidewalk, brought it home and stuck it in some dirt. DIRT! I put that sucker directly in the sun... yep. Did it die? No. Did it grow? Not really. I still have it though, and about 4 or 5 of its clones in various places. It's easy to break a piece off of these plants. I just found a broken piece on mine today, matter of fact. The stem gets woody over time so it has no give when bumped. It's also weak at the joints so it snaps pretty easily, sometimes even from growth getting too heavy. It's easy to root the pieces in well-draining soil. Just carefully remove some of the leaves at the base, exposing about 1 inch, let the cuts and stem damage heal (callus) for a few days. You can use rocks to stabilize the plant while it's rooting. Don't water for at least 2 weeks, best done during the plant's growing season. I haven't had any luck growing these from leaves, and I've tried... not that it's necessary. Many succulents, though, can be grown from leaves.
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Helen Agius (Adelaide,Sth Aus) USDA Z10b
6 years ago
I'm no expert, but while you have the plant out of the pot I would wash the dirt off the roots. Then I'd check them and the lower stem for rot (black and squishy). If there is any rot it will need surgery.

There are many threads on cutting off rot from roots/stem/leaves and how far to cut. You could do a search on rot. But if you suspect rot take a photo of the plant showing the affected areas and people can guide you through.

If it needs rerooting this is a helpful thread about beheading plants and rerooting.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4611851/beheading-plants?n=58

As I said I'm no expert and I may be saying all this when not needed.

I hope thats the case :-)
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Karen S. (7b, NYC)
6 years ago
No sorry, don't wash the roots, just crumble the mix off DRY pls.

I'd suggest not washing roots of any succulents which are struggling, esp not Crassula. If the concern is rot already, let's not add wet the roots, unnecessarily risky & invites rot.

Helen you may not know this yet, but it does matter, washing a struggling succulent roots is just ill-advised.
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Helen Agius (Adelaide,Sth Aus) USDA Z10b
6 years ago
I'm really sorry Karen and purple Haworthia, thats what I've been doing each time I repot out of unsuitable mix into much better mix. I thought that's what I had been advised. I must have got it wrong. Must have been in different circumstances. Thats a few stuff ups now, I think I'll back off and let those who are much more experienced give the correct advice. I would hate to be the cause of someone's plant dying.
purple_haworthia
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you all, I appreciate all the advice!
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hellkitchenguy Manuel
6 years ago
Helen Agius (Adelaide,Sth Aus), I also always wash off all the old caked on dirt from the roots.
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breton2
6 years ago
Helen,

So do I. If it looks rotten, obviously you would cut off rot and let it callus before planting anyway.
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Helen Agius (Adelaide,Sth Aus) USDA Z10b
6 years ago
Thankyou guys. I appreciate it.
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