Portulacaria afra dropping healthy leaves suddenly?
Shannon Fordyce
3 years ago
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Shannon Fordyce
3 years agoRelated Discussions
leaf drop on Portulacaria afra and Aeonium Kiwi
Comments (11)Yep, try switching their locations. Here in Calif. my Portulacaria afra, is not doing well, I have it outside, and it's unhhappy. Mine is also variegated. I do have it in a Western position. The Aeoniums, are really smiling, they like it cool, and I have pulled leaves off the plants to start new ones, I plant to cut the head off as well, and restar so it will be larger. One is in flower so it will die, too late to save it now. So I'm trying the leaves, if you keep cutting the heads every year, they will grow larger and think they are a teenagers again, and will not go to seed. Do not attempt this during the summer. I hope I'm making myself understood....See MorePortulacaria Afra care question
Comments (13)Thanks everyone for comments. Here's my tree and what I did: Once full of leaves, now pretty bare, about 8" tall. I bought it about 6 months ago. A closeup on a branch, showing some desire to leaf out again. I decided on a repot into more water retentive soil, keeping the 1/4" bark but replacing the granite with 1/4" pumice, still 1:1. Once unpotted, nice fine roots are seen to look quite healthy. The pine bark is nicely moist, with roots wrapped around it. All looks well. Hmmm, I probably just jumped the gun and the plant was shocky from the move inside several weeks ago. Oh well, hope it survives the second shock of a repot. Back in it goes. I will water immediately b/c the gritty mix I use falls away so easily I'm not worried about damaged roots that need to callous over. Here's what the new soil looks like, courtesy of Bonsai Jack's. They clean and pre-sift it. Nice. From what I've read, pumice holds onto less heat than granite, so hopefully a better environment for the roots come those 100F days of summer Assuming it survives my care :-\ of late, the intention is to thicken up the trunk considerably through lots of growth, then trunk chop it to about 6 inches and attempt to grow it in the form of a baobab tree(and put it in a much smaller pot). Here is the tree I am using for inspiration, courtesy of google images: ez...See MoreNeed help! Portulacaria afra wrinkled leaves
Comments (8)May have already been suggested by others I share the common suggestion that each pot house one different plant per pot ( exceptions are the same lithops can share a single pot With out to much talking about pots Each pot will need some form of drainage and be of a relative size for developing the growth you want , size shape and materials of pots can be something for you to explore . Your soil links are basically okay to use for but as you read more into soils for & as your time and investment into succulents becomes bigger you may want to consider better options for soil materials. A bit higher end but may be worth the investment for you especially if you get the any type of plant in a pot cultivating bug ( succulents included) http://www.amazon.com/4pc-Soil-Sieve-diameter-Interchangeable/dp/B0007P4JAU/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1452090931&sr=1-1&keywords=soil+sifting+screen Yes there are sifters that can fit the bidding at wally world yet for some of us here compromising is something to be considered. Compromising; You may want to shop in a hydroponics store for super chunk sized perlite to replace http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GTDI6YO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00 Chances are you may even find some type of pumice at a hydo shop, a bit pricey but if so grab a bag of it It's being suggested that you spend time in developing a made by you ( custom made ) soil for succulents. There are several forms of succulent soils though out the C&S forum yet fast sharp drainage seems to be the key As suggested start with a basic mix formed from some of the items you already have on hand by sifting and rinsing some of the items you already have on hand as to how and what do you do isn't mentioned I wouldn't ( and wont) suggest the sand be used with out a sifting and rinsing and a pic view of it after sifting for opinions ( I've never used it or have seen it sifted ) which can be easily replaced with sifted construction sand found at home depot or lowes http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GTDI6YO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00 Sift all the three items as follows for a better mix: Apx 35 % sand from the link or after pic of yours on hand Apx 30 % of the bagged soil on hand and the remaining % be perlite Using the apx mix % is for each per pot not the over all % amount of each bag. The pot preference for most here is terracotta pots as they provide a breathable surfaces but plastic can also be used. What I do is make enough mix for several pots at a time then fill each pot then re-sift/ remix the soil back into the pot while potting in a plant. Some re-potted in the newer soil mix and draining pots will need a dryer soil> ( Example the lithops ) It might be suggested to let them pots dry for a day or two before re-potting and some will be okay to pot in a damper soil ( example your P afra.) PS. Use some ethics please chances are you wont overwhelm yourself and not overwhelm your plant(s). If you have questions feel free to ask on this ( your) thread. Feel free to read them but please don't ask your questions on another persons plant with problems threads As you get use to your new plant growing hobby ( thats an art for others) you found you may find a need to ask about a particular plant on a different topic feel free to start a new topic ( thread). Example; It would be considered ( maybe) rude of me to post a comment asking for advice on your thread. A small example of me being rude; What should I do so the vine will reach the side stick on this un-ordinary onion? Bowiea volubilis ; you need to concider is that rude can often end up in a very winding vine in a very messy wig...See MoreNeed help for Portulacaria afra variegata
Comments (10)The variegated form like yours isn't as tolerant of continual direct sun or of drying out for long periods of time compared to the regular green type. When dry for too long they are prone to leaf drop. I do have one myself and dare I say it, it's growing well, it lives permanently in the g/h and rarely drops a leaf. It gets watered when the pot feels light, fed when the other inhabitants do and gets whatever sun the UK climate throws at it. Temps rise in there to 90-100f and can be as low as freezing point during the winter months, so it has a lot to contend with. In its natural habitat in the S African Karoo it would also be subject to similar, even greater variations I would think. Mind you, mine don't get munched on by many elephants...being confined to the g/h! Here's mine in Nov 2015, it's grown since then. It's in a mix of gravel, bark chips, perlite and c/s mix in equal parts, the brown gravel is just a top dressing. I regularly pinch out the tips to make it bush out better. What is yours planted in? It does look rather weak and struggling. I would be very tempted to unpot, clean off all the old mix and repot into a smaller pot with a different type of mix, but we'll wait to see what yours is composed of first. As it's already struggling, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain IMHO. Oh yes, where are you situated, is it humid? Gill...See MoreShannon Fordyce
3 years agoShannon Fordyce
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3 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
3 years agorina_Ontario,Canada 5a
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoShannon Fordyce thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5aShannon Fordyce
3 years agorina_Ontario,Canada 5a
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoShannon Fordyce thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5aShannon Fordyce
3 years agoShannon Fordyce
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a