What happened to this succulent?

Question

So I was repotting my succulents yesterday because it hasn't been done in over a year and this guy was the only one that didn't make it. I have no idea what kind it is. When healthy it is very bunched together and bushy. When I took it out of the pot it was all dead at the roots and breaking off. What happened? Lack of water? Sunlight? I live in Dallas and we've had tons of rain and no sun. But my succulents stay out of the rain so that wasn't a factor.

Debbie Eaton · Answer

this is called Hens and Chicks.  It is fine.  Just break off the brown and stick back in the soil.  As they have more and more babies, just spread them out or share with friends and family.

Rachel Haneline · Answer

Well what do you think caused this? I want to prevent this from happening in the future.

Janiel Phillips · Answer

Sorry Debbie, it is actually a Haworthia. They are a shade or dappled light loving succulent, growing under bigger succulents in their natural habitat. These actually like more water than usual. If you break them apart, remove any dead foliage & repot, they should all take. Your one looks like it was left in it's pot too long and the soil became 'inert', meaning it had no nutrient left in the soil. The plant then collapses & lost it's compactness while searching for for a better situation, as it would have produced air roots to re-secure itself in a better place. It is actually a myth that succulents do not like fertilizer and this particular variety also does not like being root bound or long periods of dryness.

Anne fenske · Answer

This is called dryout ; The chicks and hens need some shade for part of the day .They don't fair well in full sun all day. I plant moss around them, which holds the moisture, but they don't like over watering. Place them under a tree and they love pine needles. Hope this helps. Take old yellowed leaves off and plant in a rich soil.

Donna M Wells · Answer

Thanks for the explanations.  I have this problem as well.  I didn't realize shade was needed.

Maureen haryett · Answer

if one piece looks dead, stick in some water, and it will recover, then replant.

Lzabelle mae west · Answer

Too much water

Rachel Haneline · Answer

Ok. Thanks for talks help! I have replanted them along with my other succulents in a large fire pit that I don't use anymore. I did a mixture of miracle grow, chicken grit, sand, that white stuff that is super light(starts with a P), and one other thing, can't remember the same but it's light weight and used to soak up oil spills for its real purpose.

Marcia · Answer

Most box stores sell a cactus /palm soil mix that works just fine for succulants.

Rachel Haneline · Answer

well, since all my succulents are already planted Im not going to replant them so I hope what I put them in is sufficient.

Vicki · Answer

yes succulents like dry soil/ground..place a broken clay pot (on its side)ovr the middle so it looks like succulents grown out of it and that will hide the middle piece that has colasped

Janiel Phillips · Answer

Succulents will grow in anything. You do not need Cacti/Succulent Mix. That is just a way of conning extra money out of you. As a Succulent Specialist, I can assure you, your plant did not collapse from over watering. It was from lack of water & fertiliser. I am assuming it was in a pot. BTW, the stuff starting with P ... is it Pumice.

Rachel Haneline · Answer

YES PUMICE! and yes it was in a pot. I keep meaning to take a pic and show you guys what my succulents are planted in now but they have lots of room now. All my succulents were root bound before in their tiny pots so they should do much better now. They are getting filtered light through the tree they sit under.

Anne fenske · Answer

succulents like to be root bound. In the wild they grow side by side ,real tight and multiply till they fill the space. They like a peat kind with lots of leaf material and mulch. Here in Canada they grow wild if covered with leaves and they like moss to hold moisture. These are not the warm climate ones.

Rachel Haneline · Answer

Succulents do not like to be root bound and they def proved it to me when I pulled them out of the pots they were in.

Rachel Haneline · Answer

Photo!

Janie · Answer

Are the lower stems soft, wet and rotting? Probably suffering from shock from repotting - did you perhaps water right after repotting? If you had broken some roots when repotting, watering right after repotting is not a good idea.

What happened to this succulent?

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What happened to this succulent?

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