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Avatar for MBNott
Sep 21, 2022 12:33 PM CST
Thread OP
VA
Under watered or over watered??
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Last edited by MBNott Oct 3, 2022 8:04 AM Icon for preview
Avatar for MsDoe
Sep 22, 2022 9:34 AM CST
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
Sorry, but it's hard to give a quick answer to the over/under question!
Have you had this plant very long? What kind of pot is it in? How much light does it get? How much/how often do you water? Can you add a picture of the whole plant and pot? Thanks Smiling
Avatar for MBNott
Sep 26, 2022 12:54 PM CST
Thread OP
VA
I've had it for a few years and always been in this pot. It gets a tiny bit of water roughly once a week. At times it has been in a room with medium light and other times it has been under this grow light.
Avatar for MsDoe
Sep 26, 2022 1:48 PM CST
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
My experience with this sort of pot is that succulents don't do well in them over the long term. Although it has a drainage hole, it tends to hold onto water and keep a fair amount of perched water in the pot. By very careful and minimal watering, you can keep the plant alive but it doesn't develop a strong root system.
Also, your potting mix looks very rich and water retentive--not at all what you want for any succulent.
So, the combination of pot and potting mix will make it very easy to overwater, which leads to soggy soil and root rot. But by very minimal watering, you seem to have avoided this.
I suspect the plant is currently underwatered, but it would be very easy to overwater because the pot doesn't drain well.
To get around this problem, I would repot into a same-size pot, but one with LOTS of drainage holes in the bottom. A nursery style plastic pot works well, you can place it in a more attractive cache pot if you like. Just never leave it sitting in water.
Also, use a cactus/succulent potting mix, and add even more grit--pumice, small gravel, or crushed granite poultry grit all work well.
With a fast draining pot and soil, you can then water the plant thoroughly when you water. Let the water run all through the soil and drain out the bottom. Then let it dry before you water again. This will encourage a strong root system, and avoid the problem of perched water, soggy soil, and root rot.
This has worked well for me with multiple succulents, including aloes and echeverias.
I think your grow light is working well, keep it up!
All of this is my opinion of course, I'm interested to see what others say.
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