Hi all! New to the sub and I did pull a search for information/advice before posting this. I am pretty sick with strep throat and an ear infection (antibiotics making me super groggy too) and therefore finding it hard to comb through large amounts of info.
I’ve had this precious plant for a couple of years. His name is Peaks. Peaks was absolutely thriving but yesterday I noticed he was quite “loose” in the soil and upon closer examination I realized the lower portions of the plant were rotting. I realize now I overwatered Peaks last week and I am horrified.
I read as much as I could take in yesterday and what I did immediately afterwards was based on things I saw online. I realized quickly upon removing him from the soil that there was considerable rot and none of the roots and “lower extremities” seemed salvageable. I trimmed away all soggy/rotted debris using sterile scissors and applied a dusting of organic cinnamon powder to the ends. I then laid Peaks out on a dry surface as seen in the pics.
If I could please have some input on the following questions I would be incredibly grateful. I am super motivated to save my dear Peaks. Like I mentioned I am sick and therefore not in the best state to come up with a coherent plan on my own.
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Should I leave Peaks as is for a few days? It’s about 24 hours now since I removed all the rot and applied the cinnamon. I am unclear if I should repot him immediately in new soil or wait on that. When I do repot him, do I just rest him lightly on the surface of the soil, or do I attempt to burrow him in a bit?
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I’ve seen mention of “grit” being a good thing to include in his next pot. I am unsure what that is. I have organic succulent soil and can buy anything else I may need for him, but if someone can please clarify what exactly I should do for materials I would really appreciate it. Obviously I will make sure the pot has drainage holes.
THANK YOU 🙏 I truly appreciate any advice.
by StarGazingForever
12 Comments
skip the cinnamon next time, just to save you time and cinnamon haha! pot each up into a 2-3” pot w 75-80% grit. water correctly. water again in 1 week. then listen to the plant for when it needs to be watered.
>I realize now I overwatered Peaks last week and I am horrified.
It’s unlikely that this was caused by one watering too many. Succulents rot when their soil stays wet for too long. This can be caused be watering too frequently, but more often it’s caused by soil that dries too slowly after watering. Grit will help prevent this.
>Should I leave Peaks as is for a few days? It’s about 24 hours now since I removed all the rot and applied the cinnamon. I am unclear if I should repot him immediately in new soil or wait on that. When I do repot him, do I just rest him lightly on the surface of the soil, or do I attempt to burrow him in a bit?
Leave your plant for a few days to a week to make sure the rot doesn’t continue. There’s no urgency in this situation, your plant would probably be fine for at least a month in the current state. I’d personally wait until roots start growing before potting it.
>I’ve seen mention of “grit” being a good thing to include in his next pot. I am unsure what that is. I have organic succulent soil and can buy anything else I may need for him, but if someone can please clarify what exactly I should do for materials I would really appreciate it. Obviously I will make sure the pot has drainage holes.
Grit is inorganic chunks of stuff that doesn’t absorb water. It helps the soil dry faster and helps to aerate the soil (roots need oxygen so it’s bad if the soil gets packed into a single piece, grit helps break it up). Perlite and pumice are generally recommended for grit. You can usually buy a bag of perlite wherever you get your soil, but pumice is a bit harder to find. To start off, mix soil with an equal amount of perlite (50/50 mix). Over time you might realize that you want your soil to dry faster or slower, so you can adjust the mix when you repot.
Most ppl do a 50/50 mix of organic/inorganic, but you can increase the inorganic if you live in a very humid area. !soil. Grit refers to inorganic soil amendments like pumice,perlite,lava rocks,etc
If you don’t have the appropriate mix atm, do not repot. It can be left out for ages, and it would do better than in inappropriate soil.
Once you get the soil sorted, make sure the wounds have calloused and repot. Keep in mind when picking the size of the pot and watering , that they have no roots right now. You can burry it a bit as without roots it will have to stability.
Just want to point out ,as an FYI for the future, succulents won’t rot from being overwatered once, so you’ll probably need to adjust your watering. These can go for a very long time without water, particularly in winter, and if you don’t live in a super hot climate.
You can definitely wait till you’re feeling OK, being out of the pot will not harm it since it has no roots.
Look to the right on your screen and you’ll see “soil and potting” under the care and info tips. In fact, so much of what you want to know is right there. They may all not produce roots but looks like you’re on the right path.
Okay Peaks, here goes. I hardly ever give plant advice because there are always smarter people to answer…
I use Molly’s succulent mix with a tiny bit of the succulent soil from the garden center (which always just looks like potting soil to me?) You dont have to use this, but at least you can see what it looks like.
I just stick the little Hawarthia’s bum in the grit and dont really water for a long time. (I learned on this “there are not roots yet to absorb the water”. This little guy I did a few weeks ago so you can see how far in it is. I have excellent success with most so Peaks will live on! Do not water. These can go a very long time without water.
Hmmm…the pic disappeared.
Cuties tho 😁
Let the ends callous. Nestle them into soil. They’ll grow back like mine did.
https://preview.redd.it/k6q8pbdzasgg1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8d60e683c33c5e4a0133b45f306d2d87d431b7a
Prop them sonbitches.
Just place them in a good succulent mix and water in a week.
Kind of an odd recipe, but I bet they taste delicious!
Pot with a drainage hole.
50/50 perlite/soil.
Toothpicks.
Set the bottom of Peaks on the soil.
Build a cage with the toothpicks to prop him up.
Wait a week to give him water.
Leave him alone.
(I said leave him alone! I can hear you staring at him! Walk. Away.)
Grit is something truly I’ve never heard used specifically before but it makes sense. I’m also not in this sub much, but it would be anything that’s rocky and makes room for air to flow. Volcanic rock and perlite are the first things that come to mind. Most cactus mixes will have these things in them already though, maybe not volcanic rock though.