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suddanielle

Succulent newbie, need some help

8 years ago

Hi everyone! So I recently got these succulents as a present and I have a really bad history with plants, but I would love for this time to go well. I have ordered them a planter, so they will soon be moving out of these little containers.

I noticed that recently most of their leaves are drooping and getting soft and thin. I’m not sure how to take care of them exactly (i do know to not overwater them!), so I’m not sure what caused this and how to fix it.

Also I have no clue what types each of these are, so if you have advice as to how to help their leaves and also what types they are, that would be great. Thanks!






Comments (9)

  • 8 years ago

    Succulents need lots of light--about 6-8 hours per day. Over watering will kill them, but they do need water. Make sure they are planted in a medium that will dry out quickly. Water deeply then let them dry out.

    Flynnfriend thanked funny face
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Would you mind telling us what is your general location and/or growing zone? It would be best if you can edit your profile and add that info to your name (see as others do). Where are plants kept - indoors? outdoors? What kind of planter are you considering?

    1st plant is Sempervivum. Hardy succulent, best grown outdoors year-round. 2nd plant could be Echeveria Perle vonNurnberg; or E. gibbiflora - they could look quite similar. 4th plant is Crassula oata. 5th plant looks like Graptopetalum superbum.

    It may be best to repot them into fast drying mix - depending what existing soil is like.

    Flynnfriend thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    you have some echeverias and a little jade plant (#4). they like bright light and only direct morning sun.


    Jade plants grow best at room temperature (65 to 75°F), but prefer slightly cooler temperatures at night and in the winter (55°F).

    • Keep soil moist but not wet during active growth in the spring and summer. Allow soil to dry between waterings in the winter. Avoid splashing water on the leaves while watering.
    • If shedding or brown spots occur on the leaves, it is an indication that the plant needs more water.
    • Jade plants may be fertilized three to four times a year with a standard liquid houseplant fertilizer.
    • During the winter months, move the plants away from cold windowpanes and out of drafts.
    • Jade plants do not mind being root-bound. If the plant gets top-heavy and you need to move to a larger pot, transplant when new growth starts. Let the soil dry before repotting and wait four months before fertilizing any repotted plants.

    these aren't like cactus who can take full summer sun. put them in a west or south window, or outside anywhere where they get natural sunlight, some shade is ok. They can take a little extra water but don't keep them damp or saturated. repot w/a succulent potting mix if replanting them. the soil drains quickly. Frost will kill them, so bring them inside if the night temps drop to freezing. if the soil feels dry, water them well. do lot them sit in drained water. let the soil dry out before watering again.

    these are some of mine. I started with tiny clippings from my neighbors yard. look at how they've taken over the beds!

    and yes, they will flower when happy (the ones by the lizard). the others on the right are aeonium, also known as 'hens and chicks'.

    Flynnfriend thanked Beth H. :
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Hens and chicks - and even jade - are just common names, that could be sometimes misleading - they are often used for very different plants, that may not be even related. Good example is 'Mini jade' plant - name that is used for Portulacaria afra. But that plant is not jade at all, not even member of same family as 'jades'.

    Hens and chicks is used most often for Sempervivums and Jovibarbas; but also for some Echeverias; some Sedums; Chlorophytum comosum (aka Spider plant); Asplenium bulbiferum (fern sp.) and few more. I was not aware of the same name being used for Aeonium plants.

    Depending on climate plants are grown in, they may or may not grow well in full sun. In my location, they are in full sun whole day while outdoors, and in best unobstructed window that has S/W exposure. Others are under supplemental lights. That is the reason I ask what is OP's general location or growing zone.

  • 8 years ago

    Northeast! We are in the dead of winter right now, and not too much sun. I have gotten a ceramic planter with drainage holes for all of them. They will be indoor

  • 8 years ago

    PS...I am in a similar climate to you.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I'm in so cal and our summers can be very hot. some are in the sun all day and some are in half shade. In the full sun they turn red. I give them a lot of water in the summer. The ones indoors have to have a bright window. west or south.

    As for the names, yes, those are the common ones I was referring to tell her what I had, not what she had. the care is basically the same for the ones she has. her little 'jade' plant may be a Crassula type.

    just remember where these plants are indigenous to and mimic their natural care. warm, dry locales with ample sunlight. you won't find those in rainforests or in places w/lots of snow and sub zero temps for months. so put them in a bright window or supplement w/a plant light during the winter months. water when they're dry. never let them sit in water, feed them periodically in the summer.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Flynn

    If similar climate/zone as mine, they all need to be indoors. Sempervivums are hardy to z 4 and even z3, but it wouldn't be good idea to put it outside directly from warm house. If you have some colder space - like enclosed unheated porch or similar - it would be OK there. Overwintering succulents in colder space, like wanjess suggested, works well. It is important to keep them dry if cold.

    If you have to keep them in warmer space, they would like some watering. They need best light you can give them. Many of us use supplemental lights. Using very fast draining potting mix helps. If nothing else, adding lots of coarse perlite helps. It should be at east half of total volume, could be more. You could use very inorganic mix, made of grit, perlite, pumice, turface, scoria - any of these could be used either alone or mixed together.

    If my plants, I would not pot them together. But it's your choice. I would advice you to keep Sempervivum in it's own pot; it should grow many offsets and if you have any outdoor space, should be left outdoors for next winter. Here is example of them potted in a plastic planter; you can see offsets growing:

    Right now, they are outside under almost foot of snow, and current temps. 10*F.

    Flynnfriend thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a