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dancercr

wilting succulents?

11 years ago

Hi everyone,

So my friend gave me two succulents this year (a Kalanchoe and zebra Haworthia), and they started wilting recently. The Kalanchoe even had a couple leaves fall off. I thought maybe it was because they weren't getting enough water and the soil was so dry (like 3 inches down), and I know they don't need to be watered as often. So I upped up their water intake but now they are wilting even more. :( Any ideas?

Comments (13)

  • 11 years ago

    It may be poor drainage or overwatering, or both. Take them out and check to see if the roots are healthy, dancercr.

  • 11 years ago

    They are not wilting, they are very over-watered and you should take them out of that wet peaty mix asap. Otherwise they will die.

    They are also overpotted - pots are too big, there is too much soil (very easy to over-water). If you can save them, they need to be potted in smaller pots, and in much better draining mix.

    Haworthia seems to have loosing the middle of the plant? - is it? It may be rotted thru - but as marguerite said, take them out, get rid of all soil around roots and see if there are any. Are the leaves and stems soft?

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks so much you two!

    What would you recommend for a potting mix? Will they survive until tomorrow when I can get new mix? Or what should I do in the meantime?

    I can go out tomorrow to get smaller pots too...but honestly these are the smallest pots I could find, unless I put them in seedling containers...?


    For the Haworthia, yes - the middle of the plant is starting to go. Only the leaves that are flopped are a bit soft - none others are.

  • 11 years ago

    The haworthia may not make it, it should look very sturdy, no flopping leaves.

    At this point, they are better out of the soil and pot. They won't die from being without the soil.

    Take them bot out and shake off all the soil. Leave them on some newspaper or kitchen towels, out of sun. Take photo and post to see if they have any chance at all.


  • 11 years ago

    Okay second update - I took them both out and repotted them in seedling containers that are slightly smaller than the pots. Unfortunately I had to use potting mix, but at least its dry. The komachoe roots are strong and dry, but the Howarthia's roots are totally rotted. :( Can it be saved?

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Could have left them out of the soil for a while as the others mentioned. Especially because you'll have to pull the haworthia back out of the soil. ALL of the rot has to be cut off until none of it remains. It may be too far gone but there's nothing to lose at this point. After the wounds callous over you can try to get whatever is left to root. I'm not sure how well this will work with haworthia and hope others can help with suggestions.

  • 11 years ago

    Shouldn't have been re-potted immediately...

    Haw is most likely gone since the center of the plant is rotting (you said it is soft and leaves falling out). Kalanchoe doesn't look like it has strong roots either.

    Nicolas, I don't think there is anything to cut...

  • 11 years ago

    Rina...you *said* they had to come out of the wet soil asap and that they should be re-potted...so I did.


    Nicholas - should I remove them from the new pot? They've only been in there for an hour or so.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I believe what Rina was referring to when talking about repotting was that they needed to dry out of the soil for a while then when they are ready to be repotted to change them to a less organic mixture. That way it holds less water.

    I would go ahead and remove them again and like Rina mentioned gently shake the soil off the roots and let them sit out on a paper towel or newspaper. Rina is also correct in saying the Haworthia is probably too long gone but could still try to save some.

    Edit: again I'm not even certain healthy Haworthia can be propagated this way but why not try.

  • 11 years ago

    You also said "...and you should take them out of that wet peaty mix asap."

    Anyway, thank you for your help everyone!

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Yes, that's exactly what I said. And followed by: "At this point, they are better out of the soil and pot. They won't die from being without the soil. I never said to pot them up immediately and/or into the same soil...

    I am not trying to be picky, just wanted to make sure I give good advice - I try to post in steps that are recommended by many. Succulents will survive better when under-watered than over-watered (dry rather than wet).

  • 11 years ago

    Alright. Well either way I think everyone is right - I must have overwatered them somehow, even though I was doing so very infrequently.


    Thank you for all your help!