Leaf propogation in sempervivums? Dying sempervivum help

6 years ago

Hi everyone. I think my sempervivum is just on the way out, don't know why it's rotting but seems to be rotting from the stem rather than the roots, defiently not been overwatered. It's a sempervivum simply nightfall. Just wanted to ask if you could propogate sempervivum leaves, which I don't think you can, think you can only propogate offsets. Also if you can think of any way of saving this plant, then please do feel free to help. All of its leaves on one side are just rotting continuously and I'm just not sure of the cause. Thanks!

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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Is the stem actually rotting?

It seems to be in peat, I guess you never repotted...What zone or general area are you in? - pls. put that info next to your name so we don't have to ask repeatedly. Helps to give better advice...

Semps should be outdoors and by now, they are 'winding down' for some winter sleep. New growth is very etiolated and very light color - not at all as it should be -, which suggests to me that you are keeping it in insufficient light (probably indoors?)

They do not propagate from leaves.

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Comments (7)

159harryzone8
6 years ago
I dont know much about semps, so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't you cut out the rot from the stem and hope?
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Hi Lina! I can't tell you what stressed out your plant. But check out the chick on that photo! It looks nice and healthy to me. Also the center leaves look healthy so it appears to still be growing new leaves. I bet your plant is going to be fine. If it was my plant, I would leave it completely alone for a couple of weeks (they'll recover from lack of water but not from too much). After that, I will water the wits out of it. In zone 7, I water them every two weeks even in the summer. When it is really hot here, it is often accompanied by high humidity so I don't increase the watering frequency either. More experienced growers here can probably diagnose your plant and have better ideas. But my sempervivum survived the soda incident so they must be pretty sturdy. If only keyboards were as soda-tolerant.
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Semps are winter hardy, down to z3 for most of them. They grow best outdoors, planted in ground or containers - just provide well draining potting medium. They usually suffer indoors from lack of light - that's why they start 'bleaching' (color gets much lighter) and also etoliate - stretch, looking for more light. Leaves start curving 'wrong' way as you can see in OP's photos. Silver king in last photo seems to be suffering from lack of light too. Overwatering is another very common problem, and from what I can see crown/rosette (pics 2-3-4) appears to be rotting. If you want to grow them, good light and good drainage are a must (as with all succulents). I am not sure if you can save the first one - depends on amount of damage. It lost that tight looks it should have and I don't see any cobweb either. The offsets may survive if planted. Second one looks just a little better, but provide better medium and light - otherwise it won't live either. I don't believe you can propagate them by leaves, they have many offsets (that's why their common name is hens&chicks), but only if growing under appropriate conditions. I am not sure where are you located - they don't care much for very high temps and lots of (prolonged) humidity. I grow them in ground and in the containers. They all overwinter outdoors (snow and temps below 0F). They will rot & die if left sitting in wet spot. I have posted many photos of my plants - but don't want to repeat myself...instead, look at the beautiful semps of another member (Harry from Netherland) - in pots and in ground semps: click here to see many seps
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Steve - Agreed as suggested above to remove all the mushy black rotted parts. Use a sharp knife and clean it between cuts. If you are very lucky, part of the stem and upper leaves will still be okay. This is definitely something that will take quite a bit of time to grow back, if at all. I'd recommend finding a suitable replacement plant in the meantime! Hopefully she'll see your efforts to save it and you can grow some new ones together. I do like your large red pot, but in this case it was just too large for your succulent. Perhaps plan on adding multiple plants to fill the pot better? That will help. But most of all, see if you can go for a much less water-retentive soil mix. The easiest solution is adding perhaps 50% perlite (sift out the dust/small bits with a cheap kitchen sieve and don't breathe it in). A gritty mix (something you can make yourself) is a very good option and does involve a bit more effort to assemble the components. However, it is proven There are many experienced California growers here in the forums and they likely can give a much better recommendation on soil mix ratios that worked for them. I'm in Canada, but my rooftop is a lot like parts of California in the summer! And my plants growing indoors are under lights and have temperatures a bit like Cali too (sadly not my whole house is like that). Anyway, good luck with this one and if you do get a replacement(s), feel free to ask more questions!
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mesembs
6 years ago
Like Rina said, you can't root these from leaf. I think you should unpot it and see where the rot is and if it is possible to remove.
Royan Zone 10a/b
6 years ago
I've had a semp in a similar condition! I was able to save it by cutting off all the rotted parts and putting the head on soil without any water. In about a week or two roots appeared and now its on its way to recovery!
niksouthafrica
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I have a semp that was given to me in an extremely etiolated condition that I tried beheading and the stem kept rotting when placed on soil or even left to air. Eventually I cut the stem very short and turned it upside down with the cut end of the stem exposed to the sun for a couple of days. This time, it dried and callused without shriveling. It sat for a very long time doing nothing. I tried suspending it over a glass of water in the hope that humidity would stimulate root growth but no luck. Eventually I just left it perched between 2 plant pots so that the underside could breathe. After a few weeks I noticed a little root and I potted it up and it's finally growing . The whole process took over 2 months
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
S M

You didn't say what your general location and/or growing zone is? Nik is in warm climate and semps do not like that much heat and humidity - they will grow, but prefer bit milder climate. That is the reason why it took so long to root. What Nik did is correct - cut off all rot, set it on gritty substrate (do not worry about burying it) and unless stem has rotted thruout, it will evetualy root. They are Alpines, should get some winter rest; and many ppl in zones 9 and higher need to keep them in bit shadier and preferably cooler locations if possible.

In my conditions, they do not have problem with rooting much faster. They grow outdoors, in ground or containers. They need very well draining mix especially in pots - and all I see is peat (or cocopeat?) in yours. They will rot if constantly wet.

There is about 5cm of snow outside right now, I'll try to see if I can take some pics...
Nick (9b) Modesto Area
6 years ago
I have several plants around my pond I planted from cuttings and they are doing great. You can cut a stem and propagate from that cutting and you can just cut off an in or 2 below the lowest leaf and plant the stem in soil and it will grow. I do this all the time with them in my yard.

Leaf propogation in sempervivums? Dying sempervivum help

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

Comments (7)

159harryzone8

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