What Is Wrong With This Succulent?

9 years ago

I had a container of three identical variety succulents (not sure of the type) that were doing well in gritty mix. Suddenly, one of the three got a pup on the top and then started to bend over. Shortly after it bent to the level of the soil, the leaves started to fall off. Now I see on the sun-exposed side with no leaves that the stem shows signs of either burning or some disease. Can someone look at these photos and help me figure out what might be going on?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

socks
9 years ago
I do not know what happened. I have no patience fooling with plants like this one. I would uproot, clip off that small growing stem, discard the dried-up stem, and re-root the small one in its own tiny pot. My 2 cents.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked socks
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Looks like a sun burn. Like Socks has mentioned just pull it out and turn it into a cutting. This happens I just did this to a bunch of Sedum or like Sedum plants. They grow and then drop the bottom leaves. Some stems get like yours is getting over time. Reminds me of bark on a tree.

Just keep them out of harsh sun till roots form, and then acclimate them once they do get roots:). You know this tho:).

Here's a pile of plants that were in a pot that just needed to be started over imo:).
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
Related Professionals
Hot Springs Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Richmond Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Winston-Salem Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kankakee Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Youngstown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Sheboygan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kahului Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lexington Landscape Contractors · Farmington Landscape Contractors · Reno Landscape Contractors · Mobile General Contractors · Atlanta General Contractors · Brunswick General Contractors · San Luis Obispo General Contractors · Elko General Contractors
Crenda 10A SW FL
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I agree with Kara - over time the stems will get longer and the plant will recline from the weight of the plant. This is a bunch that needs beheaded. See those long stems?

Maybe this happens to others, but my plants seem to "self behead" if I don't get to it in time. I've wondered if it is my very wet summers. They will also jettison a lot of leaves at once, usually after a good rain. I think you can see a few rosettes about to do just that above.

This shows how the stems get almost desiccated before dropping the head. Yours "may" be starting to do the same.

I beheaded this one and didn't think at all about protecting it from the sun. Well duh - the other leaves had been shading the lower ones! It burned.

I don't think you need to uproot the plant. You can leave it to see if it will back bud and grow some new rosettes after you behead it. If you like, that is. Your call. This plant is back budding nicely.

In the end, it is not anything you have done. Your plant is not sick, it is mature. LOL
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Crenda 10A SW FL
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
9 years ago
So, strangely enough, the plant I posted about here was completely overwhelmed by whatever ails it and has shriveled up and died, all the way to the roots.

The pup was rescued, but then it came down with the same condition, all petals fell off, and then it turned black as well.

I'm really wondering if this was not a disease?