I purchased my AechmeaFasciata about 5 yrs ago. The original plant has since died but left behind pups, which had granpups and great granpups. I gave a granpup (about 12" tall) and a greatgran pup (about 5" tall) to a neighbor a few weeks ago. They were in the same pot, not repotted since they were removed from mom plant. She had it outside today and I was shocked at how bad it looked. The main plant has big black spots in the middle of a couple leaves. The great granpup, so sad, is beyond help. The center was all brown and mushy, only 1 outer leaf had some green left but was going limp. She thought it was over watered as she had watered it and then her caretaker watered it, one watered center plant and the other the soil. Hoping to save it, I took it out of the pot (mix wasn't waterlogged just damp), removed the dying ggranpup, rinsed off the roots, applied some cinnamon ( read that works as fungacide), and repotted with fresh mix (equal parts cactus soil, perilite, and bark chips). I suggested she water the center just a little and then no more for a week or 2 and keep out of direct sun. Now my question, she is a heavy smoker, could that be or contribute to the plants failure? None of the plants had been subject to smoke enviroment before. The soil mix was the same as the mother plant that I still have, which is flowering. If smoke is a possible problem, what can be done to help the plant survive? Wiping the leaves? How often and with what-dry cloth or wet with water? I hope my "treatment" was the right thing to do, suggestions appreciated. Thank you!
The photo is of the great granpup. I didn't have access to the main plant at this time.
