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Cacti & Succulents

What’s going on with my Compton!?

6 years ago

Hey all,

Before I get to the issue at hand, thought I’d share a little backstory on my Compton Carousel in case anyone finds it relevant... I first got this beauty over the summer. I wanted one so bad, but heard they could be quite fickle. After extensive research and reading up about their care I bit the bullet, took a hit to the old wallet and snatched one up. Because I was so worried about killing it, I was very careful about water and light. Probably too careful to be honest but in my defense I was so worried about loving her to death I tried to take extra precautions. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was neglecting her too much, a month maybe. She was becoming slightly etiolated and wilted, and her lower leaves were drying up and falling off at what seemed like an abnormal rate to me. I know these are “delicate” but she just seemed so frail to me. So I took some advice given to me and moved her into a pot with purely pumice and slowly increased her water and light over time. She really strayed to perk up and even started developing those lovely pink tips and edges. I was so happy I was able to turn her around! It’s been probably 6 to 7 months or so and she’s been living happily under my grow lights. Or so I thought. Last night while watering some of my plants I noticed something strange going on with her. Some of the leaves have these small craters or pockmarks on them. On the older leaves the craters have turned a brownish tan color while on the newer leaves the craters Have no distinct color. It doesn’t really look like a wound to me, more like it collapsed in just that area if that makes sense. I’m not sure what is going on or what to do. I saw no other signs of pests or rot. It’s mostly on the last 3 rows of leaves, I don’t see it on any of the new growth. As you can see in the first pic all seems well, but I’d say it’s present on about 5 different lower leaves, only on the white areas and only one “spot” per leaf. I’ve never seen this before... I haven’t been able to inspect all of my plants yet but of the 20 or so I watered last night, none showed any sign of these pockmarks. Any ideas? Is my precious Compton sick??? Is something eating it??? Would it be a good idea to take her out of her pot and inspect her roots? Am I overreacting? What do I do???

Thanks in advance for any insight, guidance, advice, or input!

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Comments (5)

laticauda
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Looks like slug or snail damage to me. Is that a possibility? Or perhaps a very small rodent although I would expect much more damage if it were a vertebrate. Unless it was a bird!
AnnaWSul1 (5a)
Original Author
6 years ago
All of my plants are indoors at the moment and It’s still pretty chilly outside (daytime in the high 30s to high 40s) although I suppose anything is possible lol! Come to think of it, I discovered a giant stink bug in my plant room yesterday and promptly brought it outside. Although it was on the other side of the room when I found it. Could that have caused it? A mouse is also a possibility (the plant room has a small trapdoor that leads to the garage) but I would think there would be more damage, and more of my plants would be affected. I watered a good portion yesterday all within close proximity to the Compton and none had these marks on them
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Anything is possible, but mouse would probably leave more marks - unless it didn't like the taste :) They don't taste all plants, but usually go after ones with 'juicier' leaves.

Next time you find stink bug, drown it...I don't think they go after succulents, but maybe it was starving :)

Small chance, but could it be possibly oedema? It mostly looks like bumps r pimples and sometimes splotches, but on soft-leaved plants it could leave small indentation; skin could turn papery thin and it would look like it is callusing over. If that is the case, just leave all the leaves - it is not a disease but disorder cause by plant taking on more water than it can transpire. Check your watering and temps.

I think that slugs also leave more damage - but again, anything is possible.
AnnaWSul1 (5a)
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks rina! I suppose that could be a possibility. The areas with the indentations are pretty thin and there are some on the lowest level of leaves that have changed to a tannish color. There is even one mark that seems to be on both sides of the leaf, top and bottom. Others are just on the top side or the bottom side, not both. She’s is pure pumice and only gets watered when dry although it does dry out pretty quickly so it is sometimes more often than my other echies. As for temps, the room gets a huge amount of afternoon west facing light, and with the grow lights going it’s gotten as warm as 75 in there (depending on outside temps) though typically mid to high 60s, during the daytime right now. The thermostat is set for 62, so it drops at night when the lights go off.
AnnaWSul1 (5a)
Original Author
6 years ago
I should mention too, I often have the ceiling fan going as well, although not all the time

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