Katherine

over 1 year ago

What am I doing wrong?! I’m not going to pretend I know what I’m doing — I bought this with little hope, a lot of delusion, and a tiny dream, and I’m actually stunned it’s lived for the month or so that it has — it even outgrew its original pot! However, it looks…confused. I am also confused! I see drooping, stretching(?), some “lifting” that looks healthy, and even some new growth in the center, but those lower leaves do not seem like they’re happy and I don’t know how to help. I sized up only 1” in pots, because it was truly overwhelming the pot it was in and I only had a 3.5” terra cotta pot available that I felt comfortable using. I’m using a full spectrum grow light 10-14 hours a day because the natural light from my east-facing window is so unreliable I don’t count it at all. I’ve been gradually increasing the power of the grow light until midday and then gradually decreasing the light again after a few hours of “full afternoon sun” until evening. Basically, I’m trying to mimic the natural sun. I feel like a lunatic, but I am bent on keeping this thing alive and thriving. I’m wondering if a second grow light (this is a small desk clip-on version because it serves only one 2.5” echeveria) would be helpful for more 360° lighting, although the plant is rotated throughout the day. I am avoiding watering more than once a week — less, ideally. I am aiming for completely dry soil before watering, and the last watering was 12 hours after repotting (just under one week ago) to hopefully encourage root growth. The original soil was left intact during repotting, with small rocks and a small amount of succulent soil added, so it didn’t require a full watering, but it felt right after transferring to a new pot. I have not watered it since then, and will wait until the soil is dry. All leaves except the absolute lowest (can’t feel those, won’t hurt the plant to try to manipulate them) are plump and firm, with some reaching toward the “sun,” others lying more flat (presumably in need of more light?) and a few leaves neither stretching nor reaching, that appear to be the healthiest. The photos below are not showing the plant as it would be directly under the grow light — it is incredibly difficult to get a photo under the light without a shadow that obscures the issues. I apologize if this makes any assistance more difficult, but I am open to a second grow light if light seems to be the immediate issue. ANY and all advice is greatly appreciated and welcomed! I have NO idea what I’m doing! Edit: all of the advice I’ve gotten has been so reassuring and kind. Thank you! Also, it’s totally a sempervivum! Sorry for mislabeling this! I’m changing the plant on my profile but any use of “echeveria” here can be replaced with “sempervivum.” :)