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Carolina Gardening Cacti & Succulents

My succulent is dying!

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I recently purchased a jelly bean succulent(sedum rubritinctum), and lately it has bean losing seemingly healthy leaves. The stem has also started to turn brown and harden, it almost feels like a stick. The black color has been spreading throughout the stem and I’m not sure what to do. I didn’t think I was under watering, but it is summertime so I guess it’s a possibility, but I just discovered that all of my cacti were overwatered and are now suffering root loss. I keep my cacti in my room though, so perhaps they are watered more frequently. Anyways, just trying to figure out what‘s wrong with my succulent! If you have any ideas, please help!

Comments (9)

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
5 years ago
The stem and the root system of this plant is dead. You can try re-rooting the rest of the plant by cutting off the stem above the dead tissue. You need to cut to healthy tissue.

Then let the cut dry out for several days in cool, bright shade.

Then empty out that little pot and fill it with fresh new cactus/succulent soil, preferably with added pumice or perlite. Do not water it. Put the cutting into the soil and the little pot into bright shade. Mist the foliage with water lightly and frequently and wait. The plant can grow new roots. When it has some roots you can start watering the soil. Let the soil just dry out before watering again.
CasaLester RTP, NC (7b)
5 years ago
Quite likely overwatering. Try cutting off the green part of the stem and put it in fresh cactus soil, 1:1 sand/sphagnum moss, or sand alone. Let the leaves touch the soil as they root by themselves as well. Keep it slightly damp only.
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My succulent is dying. Help?
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Comments (12)
Sorry to be so repetitive - but I also agree with what was said by others: soil is all wrong, and even if one has a drainage hole (that is quite a surprise, usually glass bowls don't), with that kind of potting it is still not good for succulents. It's like being in a sweat room - just a little, but succulents do not need any humidity. It may look OK as an arrangement, but not good to grow healthy succulents. Stores will sell anything, and if one doesn't know already, usually finds out the hard way. All need lots more light; I keep all succulents outdoors as soon as it is warm enough (cold z5), in full sun - from about 7:30 am till about 7:00pm. If you don't have access to outdoors, maybe you should consider supplemental lighting. Otherwise the plants will grow tall, skinny, with leaves far apart rather than compact. And plants will loose the color in low light; very visible on your E. Black Prince that should have very dark leaves: Tall succulent is likely one of the kalanchoes.
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All my succulents are dying!
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Comments (6)
First things first:) your mix needs more drainage. You can use perlite or pumice. I think pumice is superior, but if you don't live in California pumice can be expensive. Perlite will do the job, and perlite is cheap and easy to find. A good mixture to start off with is 50%-60% perlite or pumice and 50%-40% cactus mix. Your mix should fall apart. The top pic was an Echeveria and that one is a goner. You may be able to save the stem, but I wouldn't bother. When keeping succulents it is very important to have drainage holes. Keeps air moving and not just sitting. I've yet to meet a succulent that does not like good drainage. Another issue I see is over potted plants. Most succulents like to be crammed for space. This helps from having to much mix in the pot that will hold on to moisture. I see terra cotta pots in your pics:). Terra cotta may not be the prettiest, but it helps moisture evaporate. Plus terra cotta will usually always have drainage holes. Light is another important part when keeping succulents. I don't see etiolated plants. So I don't think light is your problem. The bottom pic hard to tell, but looks like a burned Aeonium, that is wayyy over potted. I'm assuming that plant is no bigger than 2 inches across. I would put that in tiny 2 inch pot. It will never grow in that big pot. Most likely will die:(. Hope that helps a little. Feel free to ask any questions if I missed anything or you're confused:).
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Help, my succulent is dying!
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Comments (2)
Don't propagate any of your plants yet (unless it is rotting...) but get them all into better growing conditions: they should be all repotted into better mix and given sunlight (gradually, or they will burn). Echeveria, could be 'Neon Breakers' on another ruffle-leaved one.
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My succulents are dying
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Comments (4)
Deana Not sure what you mean: overwatering is excess water. Maybe I misunderstood? Caroline Oldest leaves will slowly dry up, shrivel and fall off. That is normal. It looks like you have too many yellowing at the same time. That could be for few reasons - overwatering being one of them (and more common). Bending of stem could be result of too much water, or it could be because plant is reaching for more light. Succulents should be poted in fast draining mix, and container with drainage hole. When watered, they should be watered thoroughly, and any excess water should be drained off. Tha could be 1x/week, or longer or sometimes bit shorter. Depends on plant, temperatures & time of year, and the mix. Touching surface of the soil is not enough. Get a bamboo/wooden skewer or chopstic (or pencil). Insert deep inside of pot, about 3/4 deep or even more. Leave in for few minutes, then pull out. If stick is dry - time to water. If still damp, wait longer. Make sure you do not leave pot sitting in a saucer full of water. It would be recommended to repot plant into well draining mix - looks like it is in original, probably peat.
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Polypompholyx
5 years ago
The stem in the red oval is all dead. You might be able to save and reroot the end if you cut at approximately the orange line.

Let the cutting callous then place it on some soil and wait for roots to grow. Might take some time. After roots start to grow you can start watering.

I'm guessing that is rotting from the bottom up because of over watering but I'm not sure.
socks
5 years ago
The only thing you can do at this point is clip the stem off where it’s still green, let this piece dry out for a day or so and place in a tiny pot with proper potting mix. Do not water until it gets roots. It looks like it was far too wet. If you want to know what potting mix to use, ask here. It would be helpful to you if you read some of the other threads here to find out proper care of cactus and succulents.
karen__w z7 NC
5 years ago
The stem and roots are dead, looks like rot from over watering as you're seeing in your cacti. You can cut the stem above the darkened part making sure the cut end is free of any rot, let the end callus in air for several days, and then stick the cutting in a gritty, freely draining mix. It should re-root. The media it's planted in now is too water retentive.
Jessica SF Bay Area 10A
5 years ago
It definitely looks like the stem is rotting to me. I would snip it above the black where the stem is still kind of green, let it callous for a day or two and replant it in a good soil mix.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
"The black color has been spreading throughout the stem"... that is rot spreading thru the plant. To save it, you need to cut healthy part ASAP. Sooner = better.

Cut where it is green, and if you see any dark marks in the flesh, keep cutting thin slices off. That is rot and it needs to be eliminated. You may end up with very short stem, but if there is any dark left it will likely continue.

Just in case there isn't any healthy stem left (it should be), leaves will root easily.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
5 years ago
Just checking - I posted a comment 1hr ago, but post still didn't move up or showed there is response, yet comment is there.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Something is 'weird' - when I wrote my 2 posts (at 3:19 and 4:29pm yesterday), there were no posts at all. Now I see there are 5 posted before mine, and posted before noon and few even days before - np, just wondering how it happened...

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