Hello experts. Please give me your opinion on how I'm doing with these succulents. I am new, and have downloaded a plant app but I'm still kind if unsure if these are healthy or not. They are indoor, lots of light, plus I turn on my grow light for around 6 hours when the sun goes down (around 530 pm). I put the light at medium strength. Also, plant 8 is an albuca spiralis, it went south quickly upon arrival but my app said perhaps it's in a dormant phase. I don't know. The bulb is very soft to the touch. Should I keep watering her through the winter?
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Any help is appreciated 🙏 ❤️
by hamburger_train_
3 Comments
#4 give them more sun they will turn purple/pink I love them little sedums
Arrange them 3 1 2 to make I ❤️ U
Since you are new, let me give you some tips. First, 8 looks dead not dormant. You are right to feel the bulb and that is what ultimately will tell you. So if it is soft, it is likely dead, BUT, it never hurts to take the wait and see. Stop watering it though.
Did you use the same soil for all of them? If so, I can tell you from 8 that your soil looks way too organic. If you used a succulent specific from a big brand like Miracle Grow, I hate those because they are too organic. You just need to add more perlite and/or grit. I like pumice or lava rock but that is just me. Your medium needs to more inorganic than organic. I personally use about 90% inorganic and then water more often.
Next, watering. You have to get a feel for when to water. If you try doing it on a schedule then you likely will have poor results. You have to get the feel for knowing when they are thirsty. For your echeverias (the rosettes), you can feel their bottom leaves. If they feel soft, they are thirsty. From there, you should be able to start seeing when they are thirst. Maybe another user can give you the signs for the “baby toes”, sempervium and your “string of pearls”. I look for wrinkling but still trying to get the hang of those.
The moss…. Get it out of there. It looks pretty but all it is going to do is cause rot. In 2 I see a hole where it looks like you lost one. It was probably rot because of the moss. If you are wanting something big decorative, there are some pretty colorful rocks available that will actually help prevent rot.
For your I ❤️U pots, arrangements do they have drain holes? If not, they need some. Succulents do not like their roots wet. And, arrangements are harder to keep the plants alive. Many people will tell you to separate the
And not use those three for succulents. Based on what I see and your post, I would advise the same. Until you get seasoned and understand the specific water, light and humidity needs for each plant, keep your succulents in individual pots. Once you get a handle on those things, then you can go back to making an arrangement like these BUT be warned that they typically require more time and effort to care for. You really have to invest a lot of time observing each individual one and correcting issues is difficult. One attack from mealies could wipe them all out because you cannot isolate the specific plant they are on.
They all look good right now but there are some signs of issues that if you don’t make changes, you will ended losing quite a few.
I recommend repotting all of them, getting them out of the nursery pots while getting rid of the existing soil and moss. Then leave them alone for 4-5 days, give them a quick drink, then don’t water for awhile to let them settle in. In that time, start getting the feel for what they look like when they are thirsty.
Lastly, don’t get discourages. You just have to have a little different mindset for succulents. Good luck and have fun.