I am also finding that many succulents - namely, the ones on the summer dormant list, can't take high nighttime temps; they simply rot. Our nights don't get as cool as they used to, here in the concrete jungle, and I have lost a bunch of Senecio, and am on my way to losing a large Aeonium and some Kalanchoes.

Well, I don't like nights in the 90's, either!

I think it's the threshold of the heat that they can handle. From what I have seen with my succulents, since all of them are in containers, once the temps start hitting high 90's to a 100F, they would really like to get some watering..beyond the 100's the plants just slow down to grow, conserving their resources..I see them dropping leaves, closing up their rosettes, stems buckling. And I guess that leads to the rotting..if we tend to suddenly overwater at that point. My plants get shade in the afternoon, but even then ambient temps are at just hot..settles at the very high 90's to 100 on very hot days..especially during the heat wave.

What I usually do is slowly acclimate the plants to accept watering a couple of days ahead, by stepping up watering, doing it early in the day, so by the time the forecast says 100's++, the roots are still ready to take in water. If not, they seem to drown and rot. I also try to water just at the root zone, not the leaves.

Yeah.... I think you're right, and I think some of my soil needed checking long before they rotted - grrrr....

We had an Aeonium specialist in Phoenix come to the CACSS and she said that she puts hers under a tree in total shade and only gives a little water in the summer. Some of hers (she had many varieties) don't even stand that because of the night heat. She brings them inside and lets them rest there for the summer with even less water. They don't look very good, but as soon as the weather changes from hot nights she moves them back out and they come right back. Here's mine that I brought in in June and watered once in July. The window is under a patio so no direct sun gets to the plant.

Oh man, Nancy - I wish *any* of mine looked that good!

Do you know what she meant by only a "little" water? Dry + a few days? Once a month? And does that change once you bring them inside?

When I had mine outside in summer under a citrus tree, I just watered it maybe every couple weeks. This summer I'm trying in the house where it is cooler. I brought it in in June and watered lightly then. I watered it once the end of July and probably will again once in August. I'm hoping I can get it back outside in late September when I'll water it again. The plain green ones do the best. I have a purple one in that pot too and it has lost more leaves, but it is still alive!

Aeoniums do go semi-dormant in summer, so it will only require just a little watering, after all the plant is still alive, just slowing down to conserve its energy during the hottest days. The rosettes drop their leaves keeping it small and tighter form, a natural haircut. It is funny we had a week long sudden cool down last week, and the plant seems to wake up from slumber. But now we are going back to mid 90's...it must be confusing for the plants. Trying to sleep then waking up then sleep again. I like the color change from burgundy green color during cool weather to all green in summer.

Thanks for that information, I had wondered why my Aeonium was looking so puny!