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Cacti & Succulents

Rescue succulents from trash

Lamprini Kabbadia

5 years ago

I was walking to work today and found a big container of succulents on the side of the road! I can't carry it around all day, so I broke off. If it's still there, I'll take it home!
There was donky's tail and an aeonium, I think. There was a purple queen, but I don't know how to propagate those.
I think I will cut all the branches individually and root them. Should I put them outside in direct sun? Our house isn't very bright, but our balcony gets full sun in the midday

Featured Answer

niksouthafrica

5 years ago

Don't put them in full sun while they are trying to root. Once they have rooted, try giving only small amounts of morning sun. Donkey's tail doesn't really thrive in full sun

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Comments (15)

Lamprini Kabbadia
Original Author
5 years ago
Here is a photo. I don't know what the little one is to the left, but it's cute!
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An update and a question! Here's my pals two weeks after repotting. I waited 8 days to water (on the 30th) and confirmed that they were dry to the bottom with a chopstick. I'm getting a LOT of yellow, creased bottom leaves like this one: I'm pinching them off as they occur (and throwing them on top of some grit for the science experiment of whether they'll pup). It seems like there might be several things at work, right? - The roots might not be established yet and might not be getting enough water to the leaves (in which case I should definitely leave the plants alone and let the roots establish) - The roots might have rot issues (in which case I should unpot, right?) - The plants might not be getting watered often enough (about every 8 days, fully dry in between) - The soil mix might not be drying fast enough (it's dry in here and the plants are in a spot with air movement, but I wasn't very careful about particle size when I repotted and there's some finer grit and pumice in there). - Sun?? Maybe?? It's been overcast intermittently here; this window gets about 10 - 3 pm sunlight on a good day. The lights I have on them are about 2400 lumens about a foot up, which I suspect is more "better than nothing" than "sufficient for desert plants". It seems like I mostly see problems on here with succulents getting leggy from low sun, though, not creasing/browning. Any thoughts? I'm really enjoying this project, and I've loved reading peoples' posts here!
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Photo please... In general, all succulents need very good drainage, lots of light...
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Lamprini Kabbadia
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for your advice :D I'm really excited to try and grow them. I haven't had luck before, but I think I've learned from my mistakes.
niksouthafrica
5 years ago
You're welcome. Where do you live?
Lamprini Kabbadia
Original Author
5 years ago
Athens, Greece.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Can I see close-up of one you think is donkey's tail please?
Lamprini Kabbadia
Original Author
5 years ago

Here it is. I might be wrong...
niksouthafrica
5 years ago
It's not donkeys tail but probably some kind of sedum hybrid. Sedums don't like excessive amounts of sun, I have sunburned quite afew of them but succulents should grow well in your climate. Don't expose them to too much winter rain, although Aeonium will not mind, they are winter growers
Lamprini Kabbadia thanked niksouthafrica
Lamprini Kabbadia
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you, I will find a place without a lot of sun for them!
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
5 years ago
Yes, Nik is correct - that is not burro's tail (that's the reason I asked about close-up photo :)

I grow Sedums in full sun, contrary to what Nik said - BUT I am in much colder zone. So you need to judge by your climate. It may be one of the Sedeverias (hybrid of Sedum) or similar.

All of them should root quite easily. Just stick your plants into fast draining mix nd they should root. I would recommend to keep them in dappled shade until roots start growing - usually there is some new growth showing when that happens. Or you may tug on them very gently (do not take out of mix) just to feel if they are more firm in the mix. Do not water right away since they don't have roots.

Sorry, I should have asked for a close-up of the small plant too - can't tell what it is.
Lamprini Kabbadia
Original Author
5 years ago
I brought the container home after all. I cleaned all the dead leaves and gave the plants some water. I think I will leave it alone for now and see how it does.

Before

After

The purple queen has some kind of fuzzy-hairy stuff on it
niksouthafrica
5 years ago
The hairiness is normal for purple queen. It grows like a weed where I live
Lamprini Kabbadia thanked niksouthafrica
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
5 years ago
That purple plant is Tradescantia pallida I think...
niksouthafrica
5 years ago
Yes it is
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
5 years ago
Keep in mind the Aeonium will be dormant until the weather cools down in Autumn. It is a summer (hot weather) dormant plant. It may not root until then.
Lamprini Kabbadia thanked hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

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