Over-watering my succulents?

10 years ago

My dickias (dyckias), my silver jelly bean stonecrop, my
gasteria armstrongii, and my mother-of-millions are in trouble. We just got
them from a fellow gardener, but this is our first time dealing with
succulents. As you can see from the pics, the leaves are shriveling and the
tips are browning. Their former owners had them in the sun during the morning
and the shade in the afternoon, as we are in Southern Arizona (zone 9) and the
sun is strong this time of year.

Here’s the problem: I’ve been watering them every day, but I
thought that succulents were supposed to be extremely hardy. So, if they look
like they’re drying up, should I water them more? Am I watering them too much?
Is it a nutrient issue? We’ve only had them for about a week, the jelly beans
are completely gone, and the colors started changing only 3 days after they
came to us. They were re-potted when they came to us, also.

Help help help!

After

Before

Before

After

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

User
10 years ago
" I’ve been watering them every day, but I
thought that succulents were supposed to be extremely hardy."

They drown easily. Over-watering kills more succulents than neglect does.

With succulents, thoroughly soak them, then use a moisture meter and do not water again until the soil reads dry. Then soak them again.

Repeat.
linywiny
9 years ago
Yes I agree DRY DRY DRY then water well & they need good drainage.Use your finger as your moisture meter, stick your finger in dirt down into pot dirt should be dry all the way through to bottom.They do not like this hot blazing AZ sun all day. Outside,Dappled sun/shade or early morn. or late afternoon sun, but not all day sun they will burn.Some eventually will adapt to full sun all day but needs to adapt gradually. They will also get damaged or even die from the frost/cold we have here. They will need to be brought in or under porch or covered with blanket depending how big they are,or if you can move them in.Sometimes if they start to die you can save them by taking them out of pot remove bottom rotten leaves then repot in dry soil. Water in a few days then really dry.You can also cut the damaged leaves off at point where they are damaged.Succulents like to be dry,root bound and left alone. Just look at them, don't move them around much either unless they are in a window and need turned regularly to grow centered and evenly. If you want them to bloom or make babies(offshoots) leave them root bound(smaller pots are better) and somewhere they get at least 4hrs. of sun or really bright light a day.Sun thru a window needs to be limited because the glass intensifies the sun and will burn them.
Related Professionals
Baton Rouge Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tulsa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Stamford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Reno Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Queens Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lawton Landscape Contractors · Plattsburgh Landscape Contractors · Denver Landscape Contractors · Bozeman Landscape Contractors · Anderson Architects & Building Designers · Waco Architects & Building Designers · Kalamazoo Architects & Building Designers · Middletown Architects & Building Designers · Montrose Architects & Building Designers · Kalispell Architects & Building Designers
Blake
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That first one is definitely over watered. The second almost looks like sun damage.

Watering every day is too much. I think once a week is more typical. Make sure your soil drains very well (try half cactus soil from store and half pumice) and that your pots have holes in the bottom for the excess water. Also, try just watering the soil directly instead of dousing over the plant. And as others mentioned, they also need plenty of sunlight.