Succulent problems guide

Anything relating to Succulents that doesn't fit in another category should be posted under General.
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ElieEstephane
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Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Succulent problems guide

Post by ElieEstephane »

Gotta love the internet. Was browsing something totally unrelated and i found this because of a photo. It is very detailed guide of most problems that can occur with succulents (and cacti). It's a must see
https://debraleebaldwin.com/uh-oh-succulent-sick/
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
kuni1234567
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Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by kuni1234567 »

I know that there are many plant diseases and plant pests that attack succulents as well as other plants. I know that it is very easy to damage cactus and this damage usually never goes away. I talked a well known cycad grower and he said that coffee grounds can be mixed into the soil and the chemicals in the coffee grounds is a good insecticide. There are many alkaloids in coffee grounds that prevent insects from eating the coffee bean seeds.
emeuller0204
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Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2018 6:16 am

EUPHORBIA AMMAK PROBLEM ;/

Post by emeuller0204 »

I have a lovely EA and I just noticed this eve it’s getting what I think is rot at the base.... I have a couple of pics attached.

Things I thought I was doing correctly..
-Replanted it in cactus/succulent mix soil
-Placed it in S facing light.. doesn't have a lot of direct sun though..
-And I’ve only watered it twice in 2-3 months..

I immediately took it out of the pot to let it dry as it was moist to the touch in the dark areas at the bottom..

Your help/time is much appreciated as this ruined my night 😥

Hopefully it can be saved as it seems old and was $$!

Thanks!


-Eric
Savnisha579
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Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by Savnisha579 »

That was a great information.
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mikethecactusguy
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Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by mikethecactusguy »

Thanks Elle.
Nice site.
Mike The Cactus Guy
Enjoying the Spines
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Shane
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Location: Los Angeles, CA (zone 10b)

Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by Shane »

What a great find! I think this should be a pinned post in the Succulent Growing Help subforum
Los Angeles, California (USA)
Zone 10b (yearly minimum temperature 1-5° C)

Fishhook cacti are like cats, they only like to be petted in one direction
victoryboxer
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Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by victoryboxer »

Really cool and helpful!!!!
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Jayniel
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Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by Jayniel »

Great find! This is absolutely helpful indeed.
:wink: Succulent Blogger at https://SucculentAlley.com
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Edwindwianto
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Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by Edwindwianto »

Have just read it
It was well spent 10mnt
Thanks for sharing
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WayneByerly
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Location: In the north end of the Sequachee Valley, 65 miles north of Chattanooga Tennessee USA. Zone 7a

Re: EUPHORBIA AMMAK PROBLEM ;/

Post by WayneByerly »

emeuller0204 wrote: Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:00 pm I have a lovely EA and I just noticed this eve it’s getting what I think is rot at the base.... I have a couple of pics attached.
Things I thought I was doing correctly..
-And I’ve only watered it twice in 2-3 months..
I immediately took it out of the pot to let it dry as it was moist to the touch in the dark areas at the bottom..
First, there were NO pix attached. Not callin' you out on this, or fussing at you, or trying to be rude to ANY extent, but being able to see it MIGHT have been useful in helping to determine what kind of advice anyone would give you.

I've got a pair of E. ammak of which I am inordinately proud of and love like my breath, so i'll post a couple of pictures here along with some history, HOPING that it will help.

I bought these in Dec of 2015 and they were already fairly good sized.
A 043 2015-12-05  Euphorbia ammak - taken on the date of purchase (577x1024) 2.jpg
A 043 2015-12-05 Euphorbia ammak - taken on the date of purchase (577x1024) 2.jpg (66.25 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
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They didn't put on much growth by Oct of 2016 ... only about 2-2.5" ...
B 043 2016-10-05 Euphorbia ammak DSCF6746 (1024x577) 3.jpg
B 043 2016-10-05 Euphorbia ammak DSCF6746 (1024x577) 3.jpg (110.34 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
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I took these two pictures today, brushing away dirt so that you could see the damage MINE had received when I noticed it in April of 2018. Keep in mind however that this picture is from today and the damage has been "repairing" for two years. I noticed that one of the pair was rotting at the base, and immediately came here for advice. And boy, let me tell you, the advice I got was GOOD advice (you seeing this greenknight?)! You say that you've only watered yours a couple of times in 3 months ... but that it was wet to the touch. That has a tendency to tell me that your soil mixture is staying wet too long ... maybe you should mix a good bit more pumice in it.
C 043 2020-10-07 100_0002 (1024x768) 10.jpg
C 043 2020-10-07 100_0002 (1024x768) 10.jpg (119.78 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
D 043 2020-10-07 100_0003 (1024x768) 1.jpg
D 043 2020-10-07 100_0003 (1024x768) 1.jpg (121.17 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
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It was suggested that I separate the two plants (despite the fact that the roots were as big as my pinky finger and circled the pot they were in 2 or 3 times) and put them in their own pots. Also that I go to a grittier soil mixture. I did so, and you can see by the above pics how much of my soil is PURE GRIT. But in the process of separating the two stalks by SAWING through the roots (they lost about 50% of their roots in this process), I crushed the top of the tallest of the pair by dropping the waterhose on it. The damage was MUCH worse than the following picture suggests. After cutting the top off and "rounding" the ribs (so that it would look more natural ... I thought I was going to cry ) I put them in their own pots with a mixture that was about 80-85% inorganic and 15-20% organic because of something that I had read that talked about how they liked a little more organic material than cacti do while STILL wanting a quick draining soil.
E 043 2018-04-21 Euphorbia ammak DSCF5170--Damage from waterhose while lying on ground after washing roots 094731 (1024x768) 5.jpg
E 043 2018-04-21 Euphorbia ammak DSCF5170--Damage from waterhose while lying on ground after washing roots 094731 (1024x768) 5.jpg (49.39 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
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The stalk with the damaged top didn't do much of anything in 2018, but by July of 2019, each of the five ribs were making SUBSTANTIAL growth on a set of arms ... ONE for EACH rib.
F 043 2019-07-23 Euphorbia ammak - Closeup of each of 5 ribs growing an arm - DSCF7128 (1024x768) 6.jpg
F 043 2019-07-23 Euphorbia ammak - Closeup of each of 5 ribs growing an arm - DSCF7128 (1024x768) 6.jpg (69.24 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
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In November of 2019 the arms were substantially larger. In fact, by the end of they growing season the stalk was 21" tall and the longest arm is 8.75" long for a total of almost 30" of height.
H 043 2019-11-30 210249 (1024x768) 8.jpg
H 043 2019-11-30 210249 (1024x768) 8.jpg (66.5 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
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Unfortunately, the 2020 season only gave me about 3" of growth as is evidenced by this picture.
I 043 2020-09-29 100_0159 (1024x768) 9.jpg
I 043 2020-09-29 100_0159 (1024x768) 9.jpg (69.24 KiB) Viewed 22850 times
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The storal of the morey is ... Your ammak CAN survive serious damage ... as is evidenced by these pictures . Make your soil mixture grittier, and let the soil go almost completely dry between waterings. PAY ATTENTION to the state of your soil. In transplanting the rotting stalk, I cut off dead roots. You may be able to see that that stalk has developed a new set of roots. If your "rot" is too bad ... CUT IT COMPLETELY OFF just above the rot and go through the re-root process that is so popular with xeric plants. It WILL survive such a drastic trim job... and probably be better off for having grown a completely new set of roots.

It is true ... this is a xeric plant, and can withstand a fairly high degree of drought ... it will SURVIVE ... but it won't THRIVE ... it's a plant for goodness sake, and it NEEDS it's water ... just don't let it STAY wet.

Lastly ... and I am VERY reticent to offer this, but I know how much I love mine and how I would feel if it dies ... if NOTHING you do helps, and yours dies ... send me a PM and I'll cut off one of the smaller arms of MY ammak, root it and send it to you. The people here at this forum have been VERY good to me ... I think it only just and condign that I return the favor where its needed and where I CAN do something.
Make the moral choice & always do what's right. Be a good example. Be part of the solution & make a contribution to society, or be part of the problem & end your life with nothing but regrets. Live a life you can be proud of! Zone 7a
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greenknight
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Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by greenknight »

Thanks for the shout out, Wayne. Glad to see that project turned out so well - and I know it was a big project sawing through that mass of roots.

Totally agree with your conclusion about emeuller0204's problem.
Spence :mrgreen:
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WayneByerly
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Location: In the north end of the Sequachee Valley, 65 miles north of Chattanooga Tennessee USA. Zone 7a

Re: Succulent problems guide

Post by WayneByerly »

greenknight wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:45 pm Glad to see that project turned out so well
Turned out tbe some of THE best advice i ever got... as I LOVE my ammak! Thanks again for your input... Thanks to you i've one of the most beautiful plants in my entire collection!

greenknight wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:45 pm Totally agree with your conclusion about emeuller0204's problem.
i just wish that i had seen his post earlier
Make the moral choice & always do what's right. Be a good example. Be part of the solution & make a contribution to society, or be part of the problem & end your life with nothing but regrets. Live a life you can be proud of! Zone 7a
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