skip to main content

Cacti & Succulents

baby succulent dies after parent leaf falls off and is replanted

6 years ago

I'm new to succulents and propagation. I've actually been experimenting for about 6 months, but I live in NYC on a first floor apartment with not a lot of sun, and long, dry, cold winters so the growing process has been slow. I've been placing the succulent leaves in a shallow cooking pan with cactus/succulent soil with perlite mixed in. One baby plant was doing well and the parent leaf fell off so I replanted it so it could begin to grow into a larger plant in an actual planting pot. It died just a couple days later. And another new sprouting succulent's parent leaf just fell off a few days ago, so I did the same thing - replanted it, and now it looks like it's about to die. It's little stems are collapsing and overall looks much weaker than it did before the parent leaf fell off. Any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong? How do you know it's time to replant the new sprouting baby succulent? The baby plants just don't do well when the parent leaf falls off, it's as if it needs the larger leaf to rest upon because it doesn't have quite enough strength yet. As for watering - I've been watering about once a day. I use one of those plastic squeeze bottles with a nozzle to give just a little bit of moisture because the soil dries up so quickly. The plants are in a south facing window, but it doesn't get great sunlight, because of trees and buildings that block some sun as well as the fact that I'm in NY and sometimes the sun hardly shines at all on winter days! Anyways, any helpful hints are appreciated. Thank you!

Featured Answer

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

ammar

One of the reasons for me is that I keep leaves in same container after they grew first roots and plantlets. As they start getting watered, it is just easier to make sure roots do not sit in wet mix for too long - and that could happen easily in small amount of mix and shallow containers. I find it easier not to worry about them once I start watering.

Trying to pot tiny plantlets with probably few and fine roots often kills them; I just leave them to grow stronger. Here is an example - these could have been potted, but still growing where they were started:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
I don't attempt much propagation except by accident :- ) But your watering practices sound a little off to me. Watering daily with a squirt or two of water is not addressing what these plants want.......watering thoroughly when you do water and then waiting until the roots and mix are quite dry before watering again would be better. But your pan for starting or propagation will need to have drainage holes. You just can't grow cacti and succulents successfully without good drainage.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
Could you post photo of the plantlet and/or any other leaves you may have?
Related Discussions
Question on Reusing a mother leaf
Q
Comments (3)
Joanne, You are correct about 'mother' leaves. All violet leaves are capable of rooting and producing babies. There is much , however, that is subject to environment and variety, age of leaf, etc. which we all know and understand. But, as long as a leaf is healthy, it is capable of reproduction. When you are separating plantlets, it is recommended to gently tease apart the plants rather than cut them from the mother leaf. Your mother leaf may or may not retain roots. If it does not, make a fresh cut and re-plant. If it does, just replant. Many recommend planting a leaf with a short petiole in a shallow portion of soil. I have my best success with a long petiole in a deep soil. Some growers do not like the long petioles on the deeper babies but that works itself out quickly when they are potted up. I am not sure that the babies having farther to grow to reach the surface would have any affect on the roots. When you are doing research, make sure it is fairly recent. There is so much new information and improved understanding of violet growing over the years that older research can be misleading and false. Linda
...See More
Aloe Vera Replant Problem with Pictures (sorry about first post)
Q
Comments (8)
Bunnygirl is right on the mark. When transplanting any succulent, let the roots/cut stem dry in the air for a few days so that any small injuries harden to prevent fungal infection. Plant in dry soil and do not "water in". Soil should be at least 50% inorganic materials like pumice, perlite, gravel, etc. Do not use sand. Peat retains too much water and should be avoided like the plague! Commercial potting mixes (including those labeled Cactus and Succulent) have too much peat. My basic mix is about 75% pumice. It looks like they are all are infected by fungus, and will certainly die without intervention. The translucent color is a very bad sign. Pull them up immediately and inspect the roots and lower stem. If they are falling apart, and the stem is dark and soft, the only cure is to cut the stem above the rot. This may not be possible for the pups, as I suspect the leaves will fall off the stem leaving nothing to grow, but the parent plant may still be salvageable. After transecting the stem above the rot, let it dry out in the air for three days or more to callous. Then place in DRY soil. You may need to prop up the plant. Do not water until the plant has started to grow new roots, this will take some time (weeks). During this time, water in the lower leaves will be resorbed by the plant. This is natural. Succulents usually have sufficient water reserves to last for months without any water at all. When you see signs of new growth, start watering. Let the soil dry out completely between watering. There is no proper schedule, everything depends too much on your local conditions (heat/humidity/season/latitude/soil composition/etc). The basic rule is: If in Doubt, Don't! This axiom is true for any action, watering, transplanting, fertilizing, etc. Succulents thrive on neglect. The ideal cultural practice is called Benign Neglect. In your case, there is no doubt that intervention is necessary to save your plants. For more aloe care advice, read the Aloe FAQ page here on the site. Good luck! Brad
...See More
Gardenia - after fertilizing leaves turned yellow and fell off
Q
Comments (35)
Maybe "cheating", but Grafted (onto G. thunbergia) gardenias by Monrovia (sold in many nurseries or directly thru website}, though $$ are much hardier/less fussy with watering & dying!!! The only plant I have truly killed is a gardenia! (Rose & fragrant flower nut.) I have an August Beauty (nursery person thinks since tag fell off), whose flowers are Huge! (3 1/2" in Fremont, CA in a 21" pot, now 4 years old & entire plant is enormous 4' x4'x3' with a slight weeping habit.). P. S. It did well but has really started to take off in the last 2 years once I was brave enough to cut off a strong shoot that never really had the right leaves & no flowers, finally figured out that was a "sucker" from the rootstock though situated smack in the center. That said, I've just started growing a double flowered Arabian Jasmine Sambac "Summer Soul" also Monrovia (pic). The flowers are huge for a jasmine 1-1 1/2" & the scent is heavenly (TDF), this beats everything else I have ever grown for scent hands down no contest, roses, gardenias, other jasmine etc.!!!!! P. P. S. Tried several other fragrant "gardenia-like" plants. Easier to grow but not impressed with strength/quality of scent on any. Including: African Gardenia (Mitriostigma axillare) & Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata) from Logee. Vietnamese Gardenia (Gardenia (Kailarsenia) vietnamensis) from Top Tropicals, & Double-Flowering Crape Jasmine (tabernaemontana divaricata 'flore pleno') from Kartuz greenhouses, also super slow 1st year. All outdoor pots in Fremont, CA, acid-loving potting soil, & no fertilizer till 2nd year just to be safe.
...See More
update: partners tropical cacti succulent or anything grows!!!
Q
Comments (149)
Barb...both happy and sad....Happy he is moving forward with his life. Knowing he will go far as long as he stays focused on his studies, and learns to quit being so wasteful. Sad because he is moving on and we will be seeing very little of him in the next 4 years or so. We havent made any new life adventures yet. House needs some TLC. I suppose first we will get used to having a home with just us and the critters and go from there. Chell I used to be a dog and cat groomer. I loved it too. But my employer was a deedeedee. Never had the money to pay me each week and always "owed" me. And she never gave me my tips either.Then at the end of the year she reported more earnings for me than what I had really made.Fortunitly I kept records and proved my case and won, so make sure you don't let the same happen to you. I have kept my clippers, blades and accessories and still will do a neighbors dog or two once in awhile to keep my skills up.....but don't miss the hair stuck in places I did'nt know existed....lol. Love all the pictures the everyone post. Always enjoy seeing ya'lls babies. Regina
...See More
Crenda 10A SW FL
6 years ago
It does sound like a problem with too much water to me. There is a problem with seedlings called 'damping off.' It's similar to what you are describing and is caused by too much moisture and fungus. Pictures will really help us help you.

My growing conditions are much different. I can grow outdoors and approximate the way they grow in nature. You are trying to recreate those conditions indoors.

I wonder how big your plantlets are when the leaves fall off. My leaves seem to hang on for a while. This one was quite unusual - the leaf stayed on for nearly a year!

In this next tray you can see a few dried leaves, but they are still hanging on, like that one near the quarter. All of these leaves rooted before I planted in these trays, but I have tucked them into the potting mix and let them sprout in the soil with no problems. I've done the same thing in my garden - let them root where they fell.

These are a few weeks older. I tried using turface and perlite fines I got from sifting. I won't do that again because it stays wet too long. It looks like sand and I should have known better. LOL

A couple of these have fallen off the leaf - like that one just above the quarter. I will leave it in this tray until it gets larger so I don't disrupt or damage the roots.

Oh - these are deli meat trays that I punched holes in. The potting mix is not deep, so I water about once a week when it dries out completely. Mine are in the sun after plantlets show up, but I have also put them in the sun once I have roots in the potting mix.

I look forward to seeing your leaves!
ammar nadeem
6 years ago
guys i have started propagation couple of weeks ago, the question that why does it need a drainage hole in the early stages, my soil gets dried up very easily too. I have a couple of new small babies and dont get it why we need a hole. in the later stages, i understand but why in the early process
Danielle Rose
6 years ago
At the end of the day, if you aren't able to give your succulents lots of very bright light and some full sunshine here and there, you're not going to be able to grow succulents successfully. If you really do want to explore growing them, have you given a thought to getting a grow light? Many here in this forum have gorgeous plants that grow happily on a shelf under a decent grow light.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Unsung Bulbs for Fall Planting

By LuAnn Brandsen

Don't hang up your spade after summer — plant these unusual bulbs in fall for a spectacular spring show

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Cold-Hardy Succulents for Cool-Season Interest

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

These attractive plants shrug off colder temperatures, and many can be brought inside in containers in extra-chilly climates

GARDENING 101 What to Do in Your Edible Garden After the Summer Harvest

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Set up your veggie garden to be productive and healthy year after year with this fall checklist

FALL GARDENING 5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden

By Therese Ciesinski

Improve your soil and yard the organic way with a valuable garden booster that grows on trees

KITCHEN DESIGN Have Your Open Kitchen and Close It Off Too

By Jennifer Ott Design

Get the best of both worlds with a kitchen that can hide or be in plain sight, thanks to doors, curtains and savvy design

GARDENING GUIDES How to Save Money on Succulents

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Do you love succulents but not their price tags? Find out how to enjoy their beauty for less

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your house and yard for cold weather with this list of things to do in an hour or over a weekend

HEALTHY HOME Give Your Baby the Healthiest, Safest Nursery Possible

By Robyn Lawrence

Protect your newborn by choosing nontoxic nursery furniture, bedding, rugs and paint. We give you all the details here

GARDENING GUIDES How to Plant Bulbs in Fall for Spring and Summer Blooms

By Marianne Lipanovich

Follow these step-by-step instructions for planting daffodils, irises, tulips and more

ARCHITECTURE 10 Great Homes and Landscapes to Tour in Fall

By Becky Harris

Catch autumn color’s splendor while visiting these spectacular sites

Sponsored

More Discussions

I need your help to improve this jade plant. (My first jade!)

31

What's wrong withy my cactus?

0

Easter Cacti in bloom

4

6

Jade in Need of Help

4