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Cacti & Succulents

Aerial roots on my Echeveria

Athena's Garden

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Before

2 months later

Lotss of Aerial roots have started growing on the stem of my blue rose Echeveria. I'm wondering if I'm giving it enough water because a lot of the bottom leaves have dried up. What's left is this very small top rosette. I received this from a friend who used to keep its pot sitting in a tray of water 24/7. I followed care tips found here, so I water this only when the soil dries and I give it Morning sun. What should I do to keep this one happy and healthy? How can I help the rosette grow as big as it used to be?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

If this were my plant I would cut it right below the roots. Let callus for a day in a dry shady spot. Then put on top of some mix. I would wait to water for a week. It's nice because it already has roots, you don't have to wait for them.

You can also leave alone because those roots will eventually hit the soil:).

check this Post out. It's all about beheading plants:).

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Comments (6)

cassidy1310zone8b
7 years ago
Aerial roots usually mean that the plant is not getting enough water and is trying to leech water from the ambient air.
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Hi there, I will share something that I heard on this forum, although it was in reference to an echeveria rather than a kalanchoe. Aerial roots form when the soil is kept dry, and then the air is humid. Just a way that these plants have to take advantage of any moisture available. I also have a K. tomentosa that occasionally might get a few aerial roots, and a bryophyllum that regularly does get aerial roots, especially in the summer when it is humid here. If I don't like how they look, I just rub them off. Mostly I just ignore them.
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Sorry for not posting these pictures sooner - I had login difficulties and then I got swamped with work. Anyway, here's some mobile pictures (excuse the poor quality) and as one can see the aerial roots are starting to shrivel on the one phal and then on the other phal they are completely dried and shriveled up to the point of, I'm afraid to hear, of no return. I water them quite frequently - every few days - give or take - depending on whether I think they need it or not and also dependent on weather/light/temperature of the day. What am I doing wrong? Thanks so much!
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Karen S. (7b, NYC)
7 years ago
Aerial roots do not necessarily indicate a need for more water.

Don't know if those suggesting this are new growers or new to succulents. Some succulents just grow that way w/out it being a call for water.

Kalanchoes just do it, that's how many of them grow, it's not an indicator of thirst. Jades often do it too (tho' it can be said in the wild, at elevation they can take in morning dew through those aerial roots).

Hoyas (which I collect) do it as a way to anchor as they climb up into the canopy or anything else they may climb (a trellis). Like Pothos & Philodendrons, they're just anchoring themselves.

A better guide to watering would be the skewer test.
0
Lauren (Zone 9a)
7 years ago
IME when aerial roots come out, particularly with kalanchoe, the plant is either in need of water or something is amiss in the roots area.

I should say maybe not so much "in need of" but could use more if possible. They live on just fine without it though.

i have four kalanchoe tomasa, separated from one pot into four. The one that gets watered regularly in my kitchen, no aeirial roots. The two by the southern window with little water, tons. The one in east window, very few, watered semi regularly.

when my echevaria like the one in the pic is dry, the aerial roots stream out.

I am not saying one has to water then. But I do think the roots are a result of drier soil.
Karen S. (7b, NYC)
7 years ago
Do you mean K tomentosa?
0
Lauren (Zone 9a)
7 years ago
Yep. It was late and I took a shot on the spelling. Trying hard to keep within the guidelines of using Latin names on the board....but I am still learning the spellings.

it was too late for google lol
0

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