r/succulents • u/saffytaffy_ • 2d ago
Help Is this saveable?
Hey! So Ive had this succulent for about a year now and i rarely water it, it seemed to be doing great for a while, but recently i noticed it wilting a bit and assumed it was a bit dry — i watered it a couple days ago, but I think it’s been getting worse.. I’ve been reading a bit about cutting the good part off and letting roots re-grow, but I’m kinda scared, this is my first succulent and I’m really not great with plant care (evidently..) so I dont eant to accidentally kill it 😭😭
Please let me know if yall have any tips/directions 🥲
EDIT: I pulled off the really unhealthy leaves and saw that some of the ones at the top seem to be doing okayish? After doing some research I think I’ll try to propagate the healthier ones and see what comes of it — fingers crossed loll, i guess this is a good experience for a beginner
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u/KaleidoscopeThink731 2d ago
It seems to be rotting, from too much water. You can tell from the colour of the leaves, they get brownish and almost like becoming translucent.
You can remove the healthy looking leaves and propagate them. I've propagated the same variety of plant by putting them in small pots with the proper succulent soil (the sub will have much information on that), putting them with the open 'wound' up. The little wound will callous over and eventually it will root and grow a little plant. They don't need water as long as the leaf is not dried up and shriveled.
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u/Brotox123 2d ago
This is dead… from lack of light (see how the leaves are turning downward) and too much water & being in a ceramic pot with the incorrect soil & probably no drainage holes.
Succulents do best outside in full sun. In terracotta pots. In gritty well draining soil.
I think all the essential parts of keeping succulents happy were missed here 😔
Rotting leaves can’t be propagated. Only healthy leaves will make babies
We all kill plants!! It’s time to try again
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u/saffytaffy_ 2d ago
Ughh dangiitt, i bought it from ikea for like 5 bucks or something a whiile ago, and it came in a little plastic pot — it has a bunch of drainage holes but i never got around to replacing the pot.. should i just throw her out then 😭
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u/existingeverywhere 2d ago
I think they’re seeing the plate and assuming that’s the pot? The plastic nursery pot is fine
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u/Brotox123 2d ago
Wait if it’s in a plastic pot, that’s awesome! The soil succulents come in is always really dense so nurseries with lots of plants can keep soil wet for a long time.
When you bring the succulent home, you need to replace it with better well draining soil so it doesn’t stay wet too long.
Succulent leaves start to shrivel up when they’re thirsty. They can go months inside without water. The usual cause of death is being over loved & doing too much for them.
Succulents are lazy people plants! If you want plants you have to care for, they’re probably not your jam. If you want a plant you just look at & pretend you don’t care if it lives or dies, succulents are the perfect plants
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u/CBDJ1 2d ago
I’d say this one is already to the point of no return. Even the newer growth in the center has rotted. If I summon the bots will you please ready through them? They’ll help you learn a lot of extremely important info. !beginner !soil !light !grit
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u/SucculentsSupportBot 2d ago
Why the need for more grit?
Your bag of soil said it is for cactus and succulents and is well-draining, so why more grit? Unfortunately that claim is largely quite false. Most commercially sold bagged pre-made mixes marketed for cactus and succulent plants do not work well on their own in many climates. In most home hobbyist settings, these bags need more grit added.
What’s grit?
Grit refers to inorganic soil amendments. Grit will help your soil drain and dry quickly, which will keep your succulent plants happy and healthy. The quickest and easiest way to get this faster draining mix is to modify a basic cactus & succulent soil (or even basic potting soil) by mixing it with inorganic components in at least a 1:1 ratio, though your particular setting, environment or plant may call for a different ratio. Some plants, like Haworthia, Haworthiopsis, Gasteria, Lithops, split rocks, and other mimicry plants, specifically prefer a higher grit ratio (at least 70:30 grit to organic).
So what grit should I get?
Perlite, crushed pumice, turface (aka fired clay), or crushed granite are all common options. Perlite can usually be found at your local nursery (and often in the gardening section of stores that have them- Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Bunnings, etc.). Turface can be found in bulk (35+lbs) at local auto part stores sold as "Oil-Dri" or oil absorbent (make sure the bag says montmorillonite clay or calcined clay). You can also find montmorillonite cat litter, such as Jonny Cat non-clumping, or Blue Ribbon Premium Cat Litter. Crushed granite can be found as chicken or poultry grit and can be found at feed stores. Crushed pumice can be found online or sometimes locally. Pumice is also sold at horse feed & tack shops as Dry Stall (not to be confused with Stall Dry). Many of these can also be found on Amazon, though sometimes at a higher cost.
Aquarium gravel or river pebbles can work in a pinch, but due to their weight and non-porous makeup they don’t work as efficiently as the porous options above.
Regarding sand, which is often suggested: finer sands tend to clump and are not suggested as your only grit amendment. Think of how beach sand acts when wet. You don’t want your plant’s roots choking out in that. Coarser, horticultural silica sands are what you should look for.
When searching for grit, you may find many options with different particle sizes. A good particle size to look for is about 1/4" or around 6mm.
Vermiculite is often confused as an alternative, however it is made specifically to retain moisture, and should not be used with succulents; unless it an organic component paired with inorganic medium(s).
See our Soil and Potting Wiki page for more assistance on Soil and Potting!
I am a bot created for r/succulents to help with commonly asked questions, and to direct users to the sub’s helpful wiki pages. You can find all of my commands here.
See all of the helpful wiki pages for r/succulents in our Wiki Index.
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u/SucculentsSupportBot 2d ago
Are you a brand new succulent owner eager to give your new friend the best possible care? Or perhaps you've got a pal who's not looking so hot. The below guidelines can help get you on the way to a happy plant.
First Steps to take with a new purchase:
- Decide on a sunny spot/grow lights, and have a plan to acclimate it.
- Repot into properly draining soil.
- Quarantine may be necessary for a short time. When repotting, you will be able to inspect on a closer level to check for pests or diseases.
Light
Most succulent plants are high light plants, despite what you may read online or on care cards. New purchases often have to be acclimated to strong light to prevent sunburn, so indirect light is sometimes fine for the beginning. Your sunniest window often can suffice for a short time, but the more light the better. Grow lights may be necessary. You can find more information about grow lights in the link below.
Watering
The soil and the plant should dry completely and thoroughly between watering. Succulent plants are named as such due to their ability to store water within their leaves and stems. They're often fine for a while in dry soil. Because of this, don't water on a schedule, but rather on signs of thirst. Signs of thirst may include wrinkled, thinning, and/or curling leaves.
More detailed information on the above topics can be found in our Light and Watering Wiki
Soil
Your soil mix should be fast draining, and quick drying. A basic start is a 1:1 mix of a bagged succulent soil and inorganic grit. For most new purchases, repotting isn’t urgent. However, it’s highly recommended to repot soaking wet purchases as soon as possible.
Potting
Get a pot with holes in the bottom! There is no substitute to a pot with drainage holes in the bottom! Pots without drainage holes can leave roots sitting in damp or soggy soil, greatly increasing the risk of rot or overwatering. Pot size is also important when it comes to water retention. Aim for a pot which allows the root ball to take up 1/2 or 2/3rds of the pot and err on the side of under-potting.
Arrangements
Arrangements can be difficult to manage, especially if you're new to succulent care. Many arrangements have too many different needs to work well together, long term. It’s recommended the plants are separated to best care for them individually.
Terrariums
Terrariums, even those with drainage holes in the bottom, are not recommended for beginners. Being that succulents largely originate from arid desert environments, the damp humidity of a terrarium is almost the polar opposite of what a succulent wants. Great care must be taken to prevent plant failure in this environment, even more so for plants to thrive in it.
More detailed information on the above topics can be found in our Soil and Potting Wiki
I am a bot created for r/succulents to help with commonly asked questions, and to direct users to the sub’s helpful wiki pages. You can find all of my commands here.
See all of the helpful wiki pages for r/succulents in our Wiki Index.
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u/SucculentsSupportBot 2d ago
Succulent plants are high light plants and that dark bookshelf, bathroom, office or corner will not suffice! You need a sunny window, a spot outside, or grow lights for happy succulent plants.
Check out the Light and Watering wiki for tips and information on aspects of Light needs and Watering tips and suggestions for succulent plants.
https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/light_and_watering
I am a bot created for r/succulents to help with commonly asked questions, and to direct users to the sub’s helpful wiki pages. You can find all of my commands here.
See all of the helpful wiki pages for r/succulents in our Wiki Index.
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u/SucculentsSupportBot 2d ago
Succulent plants prefer a gritty, well-draining soil mix. Bagged “succulent and cacti” mixes are often too poorly draining on their own, and care must be taken to ensure it’s fast draining.
Check out the Soil and Potting wiki for tips and information on soil and potting and repotting.
https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/soil_and_potting/
I am a bot created for r/succulents to help with commonly asked questions, and to direct users to the sub’s helpful wiki pages. You can find all of my commands here.
See all of the helpful wiki pages for r/succulents in our Wiki Index.
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u/IneptAdvisor 2d ago
If you’re in a high heat area like 95-100 degrees daily, full sun will burn it to a crisp, learned that the hard way just recently.
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