Do you have pea gravel around the base of your plant? I noticed that I had severe burning from hot gravel. I took Bill's suggestion and now use styrofoam blocks to support my cuttings until they are established. If that's not the problem you could try shading your plants during the hottest part of the afternoon.
Karyn

Hi Karen,

No I don't have pea gravel. I took it all out, just cactus mix and peralite. At the beginning of summer I left it in the bricks or asphalt to get the heat from the bottom and they were doing just fine. I guess I have roots now because I have a bunch of leaves. So I don't know if now that it is a plant I have to take care of them differently. I was moving them around all day just so they would stay in the sun. Now I guess I have to keep them a little more shaded? They seem to be standing up on there own without to much problem. Just as they dry out they list to one side but then i press down on the soil again to straighten them.
Thanks Mar

This may sound wierd but take a tube from a toilet paper roll and split it straight up the roll so you can snap it around your stem. This keeps the sun off the stem and is easily removed when leaves come out to block the sun. Use some styrofoam to hold the plant and put the roll on top of the styrofoam. Bill
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Bill Thanks for the info. That is such a good idea.And I think everyone has those styrofoam inserts and paper rolls laying around. Now I finally have a use for them. So I guess it's not killing the plants slowly though. Do you just plants these for fun or do you sell them? How many can you take care of? I guess though in So Ca you don't have to do much work. It is so nice to see something that you start with a stick and end up with a plant. Everytime I get a new leaf I get excited. It's really looking like something now. What do you have your sitting on I can't quite tell.
Thanks again
Mar

Mar-I have about 150 starts sitting on black plastic oil drip pans from Pep Boys Auto and these sit on concrete. They keep from having brown pot rings on the cement and being black it transfers much heat. I do not sell plants. I give to schools, gardens, neighbors, and friends or to clubs or groups for fund raisers or raffle gifts. I may eventually sell some of the rare ones when they get big enough to cut but right now all but about 25 are common whites and/or yellows. Bill