Need some advice for this NOID

9 years ago

Good morning,

I have a NOID echeveria (E. Lilicana maybe?) that seems to be having some trouble adjusting to life under lights.

Her new growth seems to be nice and compact, but her lower leaves and dropping frequently and it is concerning me. The two leaves in the top corners will probably be shriveled up by Tuesday next week. She's running out of leaves to spare!

Up until recently, she was in pure pumice, but a few weeks ago I repotted to check the roots and added a bit of MG Cactus and Succulent mix (maybe 15% of the overall composition) to help keep more moisture in the pot, thinking the leaves were dropping due to under watering. I was watering about once every week, but now water two times a week. I stick a chop stick in the soil to see if she is dry.

I have her under T-8 lights, about 3 inches away from the tubes, the lights stay on about 10 hours a day. When she was outside, she received about 3-4 hours of direct sunlight and light shade the rest of the day.

The rest of my cactus and succulents have been doing fine/better than they were outside. Not sure if I should move further away from the lights, increase/decrease watering, stop fussing with her and just see what happens?

Here's what she looked like this spring when I first got her. Thanks in advance everyone!

Featured Answer

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

9 years ago

It appears to be getting sufficient light.

It has not shown a lot of growth since spring. Straight pumice = no nutrients, have you ever fertilized it? Echeverias don't need much but they do need some nutrients. Mine removed from potting mix and planted in the ground in good soil double or triple in size within weeks. The difference must be nutrients. I can't comment much more than that being in a much different climate.

E. elegans, perhaps?

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Comments (9)

Krista Shaffer (Philly 7b)
Original Author
9 years ago
I have only fertilized lightly once since I've gotten it. Does anyone have a recommendation on a regimen? I was thinking a light dose every other month?
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Frank
9 years ago
Definitely not E. lilacina. It looks more like in the E. runyonii vicinity, maybe a hybrid.
Patrick Gabriel (zone 6a/6b)
9 years ago
Many folks on here will recommend Foliage Pro 9-6-3 as the best fertilizer. Personally I use miracle gro all purpose fertilizer and add Epsom salt for the magnesium and calcium (for more info do a search for fertilizing in gritty mix). As for how often, I fertilize at 1/4 strength every watering.

In my experience when a plant is underwatered the whole thing will shrivel rather than drop leaves one by one. And if youre watering twice a week im fairly certain its not underwatered. It may just be stressed from the combination of repotting and changing lighting conditions. I would not be too concerned just yet. The new growth looks very healthy.
Krista Shaffer (Philly 7b)
Original Author
9 years ago
Frank, it does look more like some kind of E. runyonii.

Patrick, I have some Schultz C&S fertilizer I used today with my watering. I took some before pics and will take some again early next year to see the results.
Steven Claggett
9 years ago
The very bottom leaves dying one at a time is not unusual for that plant. As long as you have more new growth than leaf drop I would not be concerned. Your plant looks normal to me, should be fine under T8's, I have mine under T5ho's during winter or when indoors.

I use Schultz Cactus plus fertilizer at 25% every time I water with all my succulents.
Krista Shaffer (Philly 7b)
Original Author
9 years ago
Here's an update. The growth is more compact, and it's not losing leaves as rapidly. Still loses leaves more frequently than my other echies, but it still seems stable. Still using the Schultz, but would like to get some Foliage Pro or other 3-2-1 fert and see how much it affects the growth. I will try to update in a couple months.
Krista Shaffer (Philly 7b)
Original Author
9 years ago

I'm now using a diluted MG fert every week, with some plain water every month or so to flush out the salts. The plant is definitely happier looking. I'm hoping it might have some pups this year, as some are starting to from on my other echeverias.
Lauren (Zone 9a)
9 years ago
It looks so pretty