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southrngurl1990

please help my sad succulents :(

11 years ago

I have a string of pearls and another plant that I don't know the name of in the same pot. They were doing well until this past week. I've had them outside where they could get plenty of sun and I'm trying to refrain from my instinct to water them when they look sad. They're inside now because we've had a few rainy cold days and very cold nights. I put them in soil meant for cacti when I repotted them after bringing them home. They did get a some water from a short unexpected shower one day last week but I didn't think it was a big deal. Also, the pink one has a baby growing out from its side, I'm guessing it would be best if I removed that and could maybe propagate it into another plant but like I said I'm new to this. Any advise you could offer I would appreciate to help these guys get healthy again.

Comments (8)

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    What Rina said: the soil looks very, very wet — perhaps due to that unexpected shower. Unfortunately, ready cactus mixes are everything but what cacti need; which makes things terrible for us beginners as we're just more prone to go with out instincts and water...

    If I were you, I would remove them from the soil, let them dry a little (and take time to check the roots for rot and/pests), then pot them back into new, dry soil...

    If you really like your plants and want to see them thrive, actually, then switching to gritty mix — a soilless potting — is what's best.

    southrngurl1990 thanked Six Silver
  • 11 years ago

    Thanks, I will read up on a gritty mix and probably repot them. Also, should I remove any soft leaves that look like are starting to wither when I do this? I'll update if they start doing better!!

    This is a better photo of the red one. I took this the day a repotted them from the store.

  • 11 years ago

    Yes, I would remove anything soft/squishy/mushy.
    Sooner you take them out of that wet soil, better.
    Shake off all soil from the root ball (did you just re-used the original soil?), inspect the roots. Remove all soft or mushy roots, also dead roots.
    Leave on some newspaper to dry out.
    Research water needs for the plants (many have different needs & may be better off planted separately).


  • 11 years ago

    I repotted these and several others in a bag mix that was sold as being good for cacti and succulents. I lost 1 or 2 very early but just assumed it was from the stress of getting moved around. After reading many of these posts I'm realizing that may not have been the best move and some of my others may be in trouble. I'll definitely take them out tonight and give them some love. The weather here is supposed to be sunny and in the 60s for a few days, should I let them dry on the newspaper outside? Also, I've spent a little time looking into a gritty mix and I'm seeing a lot of different information. Any suggestions with that?

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Grity mix provides nearly ideal airation for roots it's able to retain moisture evenly though out's the pourus surface. Grits also allow for watering to bedone with more volume when the user of grits waters.

    A slight down side to heavy watering statement is an idication that a fatser draining soil ( grity mix) also dries out faster. Watering with use of grits while cultivating succulents in grits takes a bit of practice but becomes second nature to those who may have made some modifications of the mix for the need of both plant and user.

    Why a growing in grits plants may need watering more often and/or with more volume of water

    1)Pots are small, smaller areas do dry faster

    2) Stronger outside moving air is dryer than slower inside air

    3) Warmer sun heat and UV rays will dry out any type of soil fatser than cooler

    4) A growing plant often reqiures more water than a resting plant.

    Your inside plants might not have been outside for a while I would suggest they get a two- three week transitioning for inside to outside start in well lite brighter shaded area out side moving them gradually and stoping them in the stronger UV & full sun that they can handle.

    southrngurl1990 thanked nomen_nudum
  • 11 years ago

    Do not leave plants taken out of pot, with bare roots, outside and especially not in full sun. Just keep them inside on some newspaper to dry out.
    After they are potted in well draining mix, they should go outside, slowly acclimatizing to much stronger light.
    Pls. do some research on both plants - here, on this forum and/or google them.


    southrngurl1990 thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I don't know what different information you've read about gritty mix; overall, as Nomen_Nudum said, it's a fast draining mix made up of mostly/only inorganic matter that provides great aeration for roots.

    If you're in the US, you should easily be able to get grit, perlite and/or turface. I think some people add pine bark; personally, even if I could get that locally, I wouldn't use it: a soilless, entirely inorganic medium seems a lot less likely to attract pests (not that it can't get pests —just that a lot of them enjoy a moist habitat rich in organic matter)...

    ...and given the mealy and nematode infestations I'm currently having to deal with, I can't wait to be done with repotting (but that is taking time because perlite and turface are locally unavailable to me and so I'm ending up crushing LECA balls)!

    Rina and Nomen_Nudum have both given very good advice. I hope your plants will soon do better :)

    southrngurl1990 thanked Six Silver