If you're in central Illinois, has it been getting cold yet? Here in Ohio we've had several frosts already, my plants would not be happy outside at all.

You didn't ask Rachel, but that soil doesn't look fast draining, those few bits of Perlite are not enough to help make things faster draining. When you water, does the water sit on top of the soil for a while?

1st plant is Sempervivum and should be grown outside, year round. Looks etiolated to me. Why exactly do you think it is unhappy?

2nd plant - golden color, could be Sedum 'Tokyo Sun' (or perhaps S. 'Fine Gold') that I saw listed as hardy to z7 but more often listed as hardy to z9 only. I think it is quite etiolated.

I do not know what your zone is, but most of them are tender succulents and should be indoors if temps are around 40*F

I would suggest all of them should be in well drained mix; what I see looks like peat.

ETA: If you don't know your growing zone, find it here by entering your zip code. Add that information next to your name please so we don't have to ask...it helps to give better advice.

Rina, it looks as though the sempervivium is trying to come out of the soil towards the bottom. I’ll transplant it and keep it outside.

Pluto-it’s actually been 60* during the day and only gets to about 40* at night the past week. But when it drops close to 30 * I bring them all in and put them in the window sill.

Karen- I plan to repot them all next year with more perlite since I had gotten these late in the season and was too late to buy any locally. But usually water absorbs quickly in soil and I haven’t had a problem with it retaining too much water.

Rachel

Sempervivums are is hardy succulents and best grown outdoors, year round. I have many, and they overwinter well. Your plant is coming 'out of soil' because it is etiolated - not enough sunlight. It is spreading and stretching to reach more. It makes plant to loose proper shape, proper color and it also weakens plant. Make sure it is in well draining mix.

As for other plants, 30*F is getting quite low. It would be better to research each of them for exact hardiness, just to be on the safe side. If you leave them outside in cold weather (that they still tolerate), they should be dry.

How do you check to make sure 'soil' dries well?

I usually water them maybe once every 2-3 weeks so I don’t ever water them, I don’t check the soil. If I do water them I keep them indoors if it gets cold. I read about the soil being dry if they are going to be outside in cold weather.

I’m buying a terra-cotta pot for the supervivium tomorrow so it can live outside all year round.

Thanks (:

Rachel

Terracotta pot often crack if left outside during winter. There are frost resistant pots available. I have many in plastic pots, some in wooden boxes and also in concrete containers. Terracotta bowls I had are all gone.

UPDATE

added more perlite to soil, got a new one to the collection, and repotted one so it is able to live outside year round. Plan to add more hens to the lonely one .

Hi Rachael, what was the colour change you mentioned? If they are turning paler green/losing colour, that means they need more light. As others have mentioned, most of them look etoliated - growing tall and leggy or droopy, which is likely why they look "sad" :) Means they need a sunnier spot. If they are gaining more colour (e.g. pinkish tips, etc depending on succulent variety), it's a good sign meaning that they are receiving more light. These are high light requirement plants and very picky about light.