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anthony_conner

HELP! Succulent dying..

9 years ago

Echeveria "Blue Sky"

I received this over shipping about 2 months ago. A few leaves fell off initially after unwrapping. It's in a good cactus soil. We water it thoroughly when it gets dry (not on the plant but around it). I unwittingly put it outside in the hot (TN) sun too early without adjustment about a week in. We thought it needed sun because it is drooping, but the leaves are just getting burnt. Right now it's in the shade on our deck. We repotted the plant about half a month after getting it.

What do I do? What am I doing wrong? Help please!

P.S. I'm trying to re-root the succulent with some leaves that fell off.

Comments (2)

  • 9 years ago

    Hi Anthony. Don't be hard on yourself. Just learn from mistakes. Even the more expert here still make mistakes ;-)

    Anyway I'm no expert, but I can suggest a few things that I've learnt on this forum (but just my opinion) and then hopefully some others will come in with more eg. Don't listen to Helen :-D

    I agree that it needed more sun, not from being droopy, but from growing stretched out, looking for more sun.

    I would pull off the bottom most damaged leaves (I can see 3 that I would pull).

    Bagged Cactus and Succulent soil is too water retentive for succulents. Unfortunately the better the quality the more water retentive because they put in water holding stuff. So cheaper the better. Succulents prefer faster draining soil. A lot of people here use a 50/50 mix of C&S soil / Perlite (rinsed through a strainer. I use it too now - much better. Many of the more experienced growers use less (or no) C&S soil and use other inorganic stuff. But it needs to be the right size. For me - I might look at that later.

    Another common problem is what we consider as dry. I've found from this forum, the easiest is poking a wooden skewer down to the bottom, leaving for a few minutes, then pull it out. If it's all clean it's dry, if it's dirty then the soil is still damp or wet.

    The sunburn on the leaves doesn't heal, but the plant will eventually drop those leaves as the plant grows.

    The only reason I can think of for it to be droopy is watering too much and/or the soil staying wet.

    Some might suggest repotting into better mix. That way the roots can get checked for rot, and dealt with. I would probably do that.

    Some might suggest beheading to get a more compact plant, hopefully two as the top can be replanted. Personally I wouldn't until the plant is in good mix for a while and well established.

    I think I've said far more than needed. I'll be interested to see what others suggest. Good luck with your Echeveria 'Blue Sky' :-)



    Anthony Conner thanked Helen Agius (Adelaide,Sth Aus) USDA Z10b
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yes, those burned leaves will not recover and may be better if pulled off. Definitely improve potting mix: get perlite (inexpensive and available just about anywhere); sift using kitchen strainer or rinse well (gets rid of dust). Mix at least half of volume with soil.

    Helen is right, all those 'fancy' soils like moisture holding or with extra fertilizer are not really best for succulents. They grow naturally in 'poor' soils, that are quite grainy. Also make sure there is drainage hole in any container used.

    I would repot and eventually behead - just as Helen suggested. You can see some photos of beheading in - this thread-

    Plant needs more sun: put into just couple of hours of morning sun first, moving into more and more every few days.




    Anthony Conner thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a