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skylerbee

Is this rot?

10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

I've had to trim this species multiple times because it turns out like this so easily. I'll let it callous for at least a week, and not water it for at least 3 weeks. And the new mix they've been in for a while now is 1:1:1 c/s, perlite, and grit, and I water once every 1-2 weeks.

It's been humid the past week I moved them outside. Not totally sure on the % (at least 80%), but humid enough to fog up glasses as soon as you go outside. I haven't watered them in about a week.

I currently have 3 stems that I trimmed weeks ago that have been on a plate inside and still no sign of roots.

Edit- oh, and I do check with a skewer to make sure it's completely dry before watering.

Comments (9)

  • 10 years ago

    Very etiolated Sedum morganianum.

    And likely thirsty - leaves are wrinkly. I don't know if your humidity is making the problems worse.

  • 10 years ago

    Yeah, it's not in the best shape right now and there's been chances of rain so I have to keep everything inside.

    I don't really know what to do because it rots even if I wait 2 weeks to water.

  • 10 years ago

    I have this happen with burro's tail, too. I thought maybe the wind crimped a stem, or the edge of the pot crimped it. Too much sun or too much water? Too little water? When I moved it to bright shade it was etiolated, so it wasn't too much sun.

    This pot looked terrible - but alive.

    I repotted the above, pruned and rooted a lot of stems. They are now in a couple of taller pots that get full sun, but also some dappled shade from trees for a couple of hours. They look better.

    But there is still the occasional dried stem in the bunch!

    I don't let my cuttings dry as long as you did. I figure the gritty mix is dry enough (against all conventional wisdom) and I stick the stem in after a couple of hours. If I'm expecting rain - which means all summer - then I may root them in a separate pot that I can move during a deluge.

    My rooted plants seem to take a lot of water in stride. Maybe you are underwatering.

    Next year my plants may look like the first picture again. I never did figure out exactly what causes this. I just kept pruning and rooting until this year they seem to be happy.

    Good luck!

    Skyler, N. TX thanked Crenda 10A SW FL
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    So should I trim all the stems that look like they're rotting?

    Also I'll be watering any succulents that need it today. They'll all be inside for a few days as there are chances of rain tomorrow and it's going to storm this weekend. Should I water these burro's tails or wait?

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I should have asked before my dissertation - are the stems soft or hard? Do they feel mushy or dry and hard like a stick?

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I'll have to check when I get home. I think one felt soft but another was hard.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I pulled out two of the stems that are definitely soft and limp.

    There's another that feels soft, but when I unburied it a little, I saw that the end of the stem was a dark green, so there's just a dried middle section (and it seems to be rooted).

    And this one I just pulled out and it feels more hard and dry, but came out easily.

    Should I trim all the ones that look dry or rotted like these?

  • 10 years ago

    When you initially potted the plants, did you remove all of the old soil? I was surprised to see that much soil on the roots, given the mix you are using. That could be a part of the problem.

    I don't remember mine getting soft, but I may have missed that step. Mine were dry and hard. I cut in an area of nice firm stem and rooted that part. If the bottom, rooted part looks ok, you can leave it planted. Sometime it will back-bud, like the plants in my pictures.

    As long as the stem is lousy - either too soft of desiccated looking - the rest of the plant will not be getting water and nutrients. That why we both saw wrinkled leaves.

    I would snip them now. Be sure there is no rot in the stems you are going to plant. Toss any leaves that fall off into the pot with these clippings. They may still grow plants for you, even though they are wrinkly.

    Hope that helps!

    Skyler, N. TX thanked Crenda 10A SW FL