--- title: "Hi all! All of my plants bit the dirt (ha ha) after an experimental…" description: "Hi all! All of my plants bit the dirt (ha ha) after an experimental bottom watering gone root-rot. Lesson learned. Not always ideal for glazed pots in…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/J73gUBICj4jeOtatwK3ZNY" community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle" author: "Katherine" published: "2025-08-10T23:27:14.802479Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SX9Tdzsz78W-IhVR2FSz2c0RmU0QYMMm_UZQLhtP55c/sZ5JlB-jRACkCc-SldfMIQ.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Cactus \& Succulent Circle](https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w.md) # Hi all! All of my plants bit the dirt (ha ha) after an experimental… _Posted by Katherine on 2025-08-10_ Hi all! All of my plants bit the dirt (ha ha) after an experimental bottom watering gone root-rot. Lesson learned. Not always ideal for glazed pots in particular! I have not tried to care for an Echeveria Perle Von Nurnberg yet, and this one is (in my minimal plant experience) absolutely massive. 4” approximately. My new plants, including this one, arrived about one week ago in mostly dry soil, not \*completely\* crumbling, so I’m holding off on watering all of them for at least a few more days. North facing window light is trash, but my grow lights have been upgraded and doubled, and I used my bunny ear cactus as a metric for light success — it’s growing at an absurd rate, so I think I’ve hit the grow light sweet spot. All of this to say: I am 99% certain I do not have a water or light issue, for once! Regarding this echeveria: does this need to be in a deeper pot? It arrived very much like this, after a period of rest it was transferred to its “home” pot from the plastic nursery pot. I added about a half of an inch of soil and some small bonsai pebbles as a topper to give it more opportunity to succeed. However, it seems like it’s “throwing” little roots toward the soil and I don’t want them to be exposed to any pests/become damaged and compromise the plant. I don’t want to disturb existing roots, this plant is very well-rooted and seems comfortable (with about an inch of extra perlite cacti soil beneath the root base) in the pot that it’s in, but if it requires more space, I can transfer it. I’m also not sure if these are just the result of the lowest leaves (maybe 1-2) inevitably being weak and removed/knocked off shortly after “settling in.” All opinions and advice are welcome! This plant is very new to me and I have a similar-sized echeveria chroma (a favorite!) that is also SO tall, and I feel I might run into this problem with that one even though it is in a terra-cotta pot with a wider top. Two photos of the mystery roots, two photos of the plant for reference. (It’s the pot, isn’t it?) ![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SX9Tdzsz78W-IhVR2FSz2c0RmU0QYMMm_UZQLhtP55c/sZ5JlB-jRACkCc-SldfMIQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SX9Tdzsz78W-IhVR2FSz2c0RmU0QYMMm_UZQLhtP55c/J5FgTeoQSY6BMO3JxgwfhA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SX9Tdzsz78W-IhVR2FSz2c0RmU0QYMMm_UZQLhtP55c/j9_BZXWcRZK8-l6blqjh4w.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SX9Tdzsz78W-IhVR2FSz2c0RmU0QYMMm_UZQLhtP55c/hVbXOq5ZTa6kafvtxL2nWg.webp?size=large) ## 10 comments ### Phil commented on 2025-08-11 The roots are normal. Succulents are shipped in dry soil. That’s common and the correct way. Does the current planter have drainage? That is a necessity. As for the best size planter, I usually go by root size and not plant size. #### Katherine replied on 2025-08-11 Pot drainage is decent in these, but I’m thinking of switching to terracotta. Glazed ceramic seems to be kind of tricky. Terracotta seems to have the perfect amount of drainage/evaporation when it’s lacking any glaze. Roots seem comfy with some space to grow, so perhaps I’ll leave it alone until it’s ready to repot into something slightly larger and give it a little more depth. Thanks! #### Phil replied on 2025-08-11 Terracotta is by far the best but I like the look of ceramic, however I found the perfect terracotta pots on Amazon-wide and shallow and a little style. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/Jok_GFumQ7Or3G9DbG8kVQ.webp?size=large) #### Katherine replied on 2025-08-11 Oh, these are great, thank you. I love the saucers. ### Phil commented on 2025-08-11 I know you light is not a problem, but seeing your two echeverias stretching out may mean you need even more. In the pic, the small one is about a year old, and the large one I’ve had about 6 months. Neither is stretching. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/yZIJ-H5QRE2F3fnLPEP8BQ.webp?size=large) #### Katherine replied on 2025-08-11 This is interesting, and it seems I can’t ever get enough light. Do you mind sharing what light you use? Not a brand or anything, but the specifications? There has been no additional spread since they have arrived, so I am hoping they will adjust to the light. #### Phil replied on 2025-08-11 I’ll give you brands. I recommend them a lot. For succulents, by far, it’s Sansi. Huge variety. For tropicals and Haworthias and Gasterias, I use Barrina. Check out my Planta. It’s public. #### Phil replied on 2025-08-11 Top is 46 watts and 32 watts, or about. Two black boxes are 70 watts. On right are Sansi pods under the shelves ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/db-nIFhZRqS9_mqG_xjnGA.webp?size=large) #### Kelly replied on 2025-08-11 Your plants are amazing! What’s the name of the purple one on left second shelf from top looks like a strings of some sort? #### Phil replied on 2025-08-11 That is Callisia Pink Panther. It is a semi succulent. --- _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_