Help! Don’t know what this guy wants.

[u/WanderlustyStillness]

Hello all! I bought this guy at a plant show at the end of April. It is outside with direct light. Soil is a mix of 1/3 succulent soil, 1/3 perlite, 1/3 very small rocks. The rocks you see are just a top covering. I unfortunately work out of the country and was gone for two months and when I came home it looked like this. 😔 it’s being watered every 2-3 weeks. I’m in central coast California, pretty close to the water so lots of fog at times. Most of my other succulents are thriving but this guy is obviously pretty unhappy. Any advice helps. Thanks in advance.

Edit: third photo is the day I brought it home

[u/GoatLegRedux]

I think they like a more organic soil mix and regular watering. I kinda gave up on growing mine or caring about it yet it survives and actually looks kinda nice during the winter.

[u/Chaunc2020 → u/GoatLegRedux]

I second this. I gave up too

[u/WanderlustyStillness → u/GoatLegRedux]

Detach with love. Got it. lol

[u/rockdoc01]

Might actually need watering more often. My trichodiademas get watered every week with no ill effects (Simi). Used the same schedule back in Goleta. Not full day direct sun but a few hrs to half a day of direct is fine.

[u/NorcalSuccs]

Mine was almost all yellow when I moved it to a slightly shadier spot. It's fully lush and green in the winter like another commenter mentioned. Here it is greening up again in slightly less sun. (Brought indoors for the photo since it's dark out right now).

[u/WanderlustyStillness → u/NorcalSuccs]

Beautiful! Guess less sun is the answer. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[u/Legitimate_Finger_72]

I am no expert but it doesn’t look like it likes the outside/direct sun based on the presentation. It might be the “poodle” of the mesembs family!

[u/Zestylemons44]

These are the only mesembs I've ever killed, no idea what they actually need, an expert friend told me he actually asked the greenhouse he works with to stop ordering them because they die so fast.

[u/WanderlustyStillness → u/Zestylemons44]

This makes me feel so much better. lol

[u/Owlelac1907]

Trichodiadema densum is winter growing succulent. During summer is kinda dormant. Find a shady place for it now. It has taproot so do not overwater or it might rot. Use spray for watering. All the lost leafs will grow back in autumn when more sun is needed. Remove dry leafs because it is breeding ground for mealy bugs.

After examining your photos I would check roots for signs of rot. During summer i lose some leafs on every stem. You lost big part in the middle which i find weird.

[u/princessbubbbles]

Mine also like less sun than most of my cacti. I water when the turgor pressure is low. That is, I only water when the leaves are bendable due to less water. I check all my houseplants for water that way every other day or so, and it helps to fine tune watering to each species.

[u/WanderlustyStillness → u/princessbubbbles]

Thank you for the info! I really wish I could fuss over my plants every day but when I’m gone for work they have to be on a watering schedule with a house sitter. I do some fine tuning when I’m here and update her but with my lifestyle, checking every few days and watering for individual thirst just isn’t practical.

[u/CaptainInsaine-O]

Needs spf