Hi everyone! I really want to be able to care for succulents, but every time I get one, it withers and dies. This sweet little golden sedum had so many leaves a few weeks ago, and they keep turning brown and translucent and falling off. Am I wrong to put them in terra cotta pots with succulent - specific potting medium? How do I know when to water? I will not be defeated by succulents 😅
How often are you watering?
0 Likes I guess I don't know how to tell when they need water 🫣 I water based on the schedule by Planta but it obviously isn't right. Should they be totally dry before watering again? They dry out really fast in a small terra cotta pot.
1 Like Yes I would let them totally dry out, I do mine!!
1 Like They almost defeated me but I’ve actually gotten really good at caring for them!!
1 Like He will be okay!! Just let him dry out before watering again, they are very drought tolerant so I water mine once a month or when they are completely dry!! That was my issue when I started with them was over watering!! Also try not to get water on the plant itself!!
1 Like Ok so a follow up... My FIL had me babysit an aloe he had, and it pretty much died on my watch. This is what I have left from the one remaining leaf it had, and it always look shriveled like this? I keep thinking it's not enough water because it's not fat anymore 😭
Translucent leaves on a succulent is a sign of overwatering. Many succulent soils, such as Miracle Grow, still need to be amended. Your current soil still looks to be too organic but the terracotta pot helps balance that out. Pot should be totally bone dry before you water. Probably bone dry for several days. The plant’s leaves may feel kinda soft and rubbery. I have many succulents with many going for 4 to 6 weeks between waterings. And add water until it exits the drain hole.
3 Likes What do you think of the blackened shriveled stem on the sedum I showed first? Is that over watering too?
1 Like I think yes.
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Some of my succulents I go a month without watering it’s safer for them to be desert dry than super moist I killed so many succulents by overwatering but I use a Chopstick and check the very bottom is dry then I give it a good water and set it in the sun and leave it alone :)
2 Likes I have to be over watering. I felt like they were bone dry but idk anymore 😅 thanks everyone!
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I’d suggest using the chopstick method as mentioned, you can also use a cheap moisture meter like this one but use it sparingly (insert down the side of the pot to avoid damaging the roots) to adjust your moisture level to get an idea of how long you can go between watering.
Someone recommended the moisture meter - I have tried several and they don’t work accurately. More reliable method is to stick a bamboo skewer all the way to the bottom, leave for 30 seconds and pull it out - if it comes back dry then you know the soil is dry.
2 Likes They don’t work well with succulents if you have very gritty soil. I usually go by the weight of the pot.
1 Like Me too but it takes time to work that one out and can be overwhelming for a newbie.
0 LikesMine is in a very small pot as well. I water it every 2nd week and soak till the water comes out the bottom, and then let it sit in a little water for 10 minutes.
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