I posted this in a Facebook group, but I thought I’d ask here as well.
Help! What’s happening to my plant! I’m still very new to trying to take care of plants. They usually die under my care because I don’t know how to read them properly. But between my plant app and ChatGPT (I know, I know) I’ve managed to cultivate a little garden. But we had a recent cold snap (I’m in South Florida), and the temps at night were in the 40’s, so I brought the plants inside. Now that it’s warmed back up, I put them all back outside on Saturday. By Sunday, this was happening. And it’s getting worse. The app says it’s fine, and ChatGPT says it’s lignifying (or corking). It says this is perfectly normal after a cold snap and that I shouldn’t worry, but I am worried. What’s happening to my echeveria runyonii? 😭
by KurieiFoxfire
5 Comments
And because I don’t know how to edit a main post on Reddit, I’d like to add that it hasn’t been watered in about two and half weeks. Also, the leaves are still firm and plump.
Not an expert but looks to me the bottom of the stem has rotted and the upper portion is offsetting and possibly re-rooted. I’d examine the roots, cut away any rot, callous and replant.
Edit: just want to clarify, the shriveled lower part of the stem is definitely not fine/corking, it’s rot and will spread to the healthy part of the plant if not cut away.
This has happened to me as well, and I believe it to be the consequence of the soil being too closed and not allowing for proper ventilation, and not having enough space for the roots to work properly.
Yeah those bottom stem portions are dead. If you do nothing roots will start popping about above, or you can go ahead and speed it up and cut them and put in dry soil and wait a week or two for it to get new roots.
The good thing is that your plants are plump and happy so shouldn’t have an issue rooting 🙂
Rot