--- title: "What am I doing wrong? For the life of me I can’t keep succulents…" description: "What am I doing wrong? For the life of me I can’t keep succulents alive! This is my second go with all new plans and so far one is completely rotting and the…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/HsfqQFu2mNQQV7TkfeSyGQ" community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle" author: "Abby" published: "2025-07-24T14:43:43.470511Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/KiChEvqHkpFdzrNa9tA7WVgZ7ivhLZxxUhqBnl4OG6Q/F58pjkX-TVenPJL1p8Dvpg.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Cactus \& Succulent Circle](https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w.md) # What am I doing wrong? For the life of me I can’t keep succulents… _Posted by Abby on 2025-07-24_ What am I doing wrong? For the life of me I can’t keep succulents alive! This is my second go with all new plans and so far one is completely rotting and the other lost half it’s thing.. I’m watering when the app says about once every 2 weeks, they have a growth light (which I slowly got them use to.) I love the look of them but can’t keep them alive!! Why’s causing them to loose their petals? Or rot. It’s cactus soil, pot has drainage. Any advice would be great! ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/KiChEvqHkpFdzrNa9tA7WVgZ7ivhLZxxUhqBnl4OG6Q/F58pjkX-TVenPJL1p8Dvpg.webp?size=large) ## 11 comments ### Lost Hyperion 🪴 commented on 2025-07-24 Same issue constantly here 🖐 what i find is that they are fine for a week or 2 and then start wilting and rotting away. Most times I have found suspicious remains of possible pests/bugs so I always contributed to that. ### happysoxdonkey commented on 2025-07-24 Have you tried bottom watering only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry? Planta might be having you water too frequently. #### Abby replied on 2025-07-24 I will try that going forward. Sadly I haven’t even had these long enough to give them their second watering.. I’ve had them for less than 2 weeks #### happysoxdonkey replied on 2025-07-24 I wonder if the roots are OK ### Nunyabzwx commented on 2025-07-24 I know how you feel. I can't keep many of them alive and well for more then a year and some less!! I believe its not enough light in my case. Although they are under a growlight but i don't think the light is strong enough. ### SamShine commented on 2025-07-24 Not sure if you’re doing this but also do not water as soon as you repot! Succulents and cacti prefer to set into their new homes dry before having any water. Would also recommend the bottom watering mentioned above or I like to use a pray bottle on the straight stream to control the amount of water terracotta pots are a plus since they absorb excess water and don’t put the succulents directly under the light right after watering 😊 let them sit in shade for about an hour or so then replace them back under their lights. Hope this helps! #### Abby replied on 2025-07-24 Thank you!! I most definitely did water after repotting. Hopefully I can keep the others in the pot alive and the new ones I got to replace the dead ones. #### Nunyabzwx replied on 2025-07-24 😲😲😲 really? Ok great advice!! I'll try this. Thanks ❤️ 😊 ### SamShine commented on 2025-07-24 I killed several before I found this out! I think we naturally want to do it but I’ve had much better success not watering. Good luck 😊 ### Lisa commented on 2025-07-24 Perhaps you’re just overwatering them. I only water mine about 4-5 weeks. ### Barbara commented on 2025-07-25 I have loved mine to death with water. I finally changed my schedule so I only water about once a month. They are very beautiful plants, and I have to stay away from them to keep them alive. 🙂 Don’t give up on succulents. Take it as a challenge, you got this!! --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_