Yup that is a 'Gollum'. Well first question is gonna be does it have drainage holes?

The mix looks quite gritty but what do you mean stuck together? Like glued together? Is it only the top layer or is the whole pot the same stuff?

Also you might wanna remove those dead and rotting leaves, it won't help the plant and will only harm it on the long run.

Well I'm gonna repot for sure. Really not sure why it's stuck together. If I use a bit of force it breaks apart. Haha... she's got 2 cats and there's cat hair stuck to it. Seriously, if she didn't tell me it was real I would think bc of the "stuck together" mix that it was just artificial. She said she forgot about it and probably hasn't watered in more than a month. There was another plant next to it. The furry kind like a kalanchoe? But died and those are the dried leaves around it. The leaves that fell off the gollum looks ok to propagate. But not sure if it's the kind that does from leaves. There's a slight bump like there is a baby but no roots.

ps. Not sure if it was glued or whatever it was just disintegrated and had a sticky substance? Or something to do with the cats? :-/

Well if you have your own mix then definitely repot. I always process my new plants via repotting, also allows you to check the roots and for bugs, so it gives you a clear picture of how the plant is.

The Gollum can be propagated via leaves, so you might give that a shot.

However I'm worried if it's healthy, just make sure there's no root Rot or stem Rot. If there is, then you gotta deal with those carefully. I'm worried because it looks like that other plant was died from Rot? Can't see well to say for sure. I may be wrong. But it has also dropped a lot of plump leaves, which is not a good sign.

If you need help judging it, post pics of the root. Might take a while to get a reply but I'm sure you will within a day. Don't worry if you have to leave the plant unlocked. It'll be fine sitting bare rooted for a day or two as long as it's not scorched by the sun.

Thanks Yan :) Curious and nervous to see what's under there. Hahaha.... :-P hope I'll get something from propagation;)

So here is the plant uprooted and the pink arrows is where there's signs of new growth. looks pretty healthy the roots don't look rotted. I just rinsed so it's moist but the rest is pretty woody-like. I think bc the top (dressing?) was stuck together it acted as a barrier and there was a soil type mix under that probably had just enough moistness to hold in not rot the plant and still keep it alive??? Leaves don't look shrivelled that it was using its own stored water. She said she hasn't watered for more than a month. And the soil was not dried out. Haha... anyway.... At least I know I'll give it a fresh start. ;)

It was likely sold like that: few plants potted together and topped with decorative rocks that are glued together - reason, likely, is that they and the soil do not spill out during shipping...maybe different reason?

Pry the rocks off slowly; they will eventually all lift off. Other plant looks like it was Kalanchoe tomentosa, and looks totally gone.

Clean up Gollum, get rid of all dead leaves. Healthy ones could be propagated into new plants. Not sure if it is just a shadow, but at least one of the stems looks dark - as Yan suggested, there could be some rot. If either stem is rotted, it could be re-cut and re-rooted. Use pot with drainage hole and well draining mix...

You posted while I was typing...Check dark parts of stem if soft to make sure they are not rotting. They are probably just discolored, but you should make sure. Roots are not greatest, but unless they are mushy or all broken up, they may work. Some ppl may advise to cut them off completely and re-root...not sure if that is needed?

Just checked they're actually pretty good. No mush. I think I'll plant as is, maybe will revive itself.

Ah, a "glue garden." Fantastic for shipping across the country to big box stores, terrible for the actual plants involved.

I had no idea. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Rina, you are correct ... They are now selling "mixed succulent gardens" topped with rocks that have been glued together ... AND they're mixing cactus with succulents that require more water ... AND there are no drainage holes in those cute pots! Isn't that aweful? I asked why glue rocks together and the nursery employee told me "to keep a neat appearance." I asked her what happens when the tower cactus wants to grow in girth? Ha ... She shrugged her shoulders.

Maria Elena