What is wrong with my succulent?

9 years ago

I watered this plant around 3/4 weeks ago, and the 'stem' isn't taking up any of the water, and the soil is still moist. The stem looks more like a shriveled stick than a stem (it was like that when i bought it so i thought it was normal). It has grown lots of 'air roots' (i think that's what they are called?) and the bigger leaves closer to the base have gone brown at the bottom, and are softer than usual. When I pulled it out of the pot, there were lots of small white furry balls (not the perlite, much smaller). They weren't moving and don't look alive. What is wrong with it and how do i save it?

Featured Answer

greenclaws UK, Zone 8a

9 years ago

Your plant is a Sedum rubrotinctum, possibly the variety called 'Aurora', aka Pink Jelly Bean plant, if so it 'could' look like these two pots do in my greenhouse. Any beans that fall off (and they drop if you just look at them the in wrong way!) can be poked into the soil in your new pot to make a new plant in no time at all. Mine have survived temps in the g/h up to 100c and have coped when outside it was as low as -17c and get watered when I remember to .

Gill

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Comments (9)

Katherine (SC 9a)
9 years ago
Uh oh, looks like root mealies. :( Unfortunately I hear that they are difficult to treat; I don't know how to treat them. Hopefully someone will come along nd provide further info. Maybe in the meantime you can start googling in the meantime.
Alice B thanked Katherine (SC 9a)
Alice B
Original Author
9 years ago
Okay, I'll do some research. Thanks!
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
That look like a fungus, not rot mealies. It won't kill your plant, but it means soil is constantly wet and shouldn't be used for succulents. Original stem looks dry, is it?

If my plant, I would get rid of all old soil. Regardless of fungus, it is not suitable to grow succulents well. Get a fast draining mix. Simple and easy would be getting bag of Cactus & Succulent soil and a bag of perlite. Sift or rinse perlite, mix 50/50 with C&S soil and use for your succulents. Or you could make 'gritty mix', search this forum if you want to know more about it.

If my plant, I would cut original stem off:
Let cutting callus for few hours or overnight. Clean existing pot thoroughly (it is suitable to use, do not get bigger pot); make new mix. Fill the pot with new mix - higher than it is now; stick callused cutting in it. Keep in bright spot but out of strong sunlight for a while. Do not water until roots start growing. Slowly acclimatize to good sunlight.
Alice B thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Alice B
Original Author
9 years ago
Great, I'll do that. Thanks so much!
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
9 years ago
PS, the stems on mine are also very woody too.
Alice B thanked greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
Crenda 10A SW FL
9 years ago
I've had those little beads (fungus) on my plants and pots, too.

It is very damp and humid here, especially during the summers. So sometimes, even with a gritty mix, I get them with the added algae for color.

Neither cause damage to the plants, but the circumstances allowing it to grow can be bad for succulents. Good advice from Rina on how to help your plant.
Alice B thanked Crenda 10A SW FL
Katherine (SC 9a)
9 years ago
My bad! Apologies for misdiagnosing! I should have remembered seeing those little dots on the bottom of your pot, Crenda! Fungus is much better than root mealies!
Alice B thanked Katherine (SC 9a)
Crenda 10A SW FL
9 years ago
Katherine there were several of us - yes, me too - who thought we had root mealies! So relieved to find out it wasn't. Heck, fungus is a way of life here so I shouldn't have been surprised. It does look like eggs of some sort.
Alice B thanked Crenda 10A SW FL