Help! The leaves of my Curio ficoides have been drying up for more than a month now, I'm watering it about once a week, what should I do?

What kind of soil is it potted in? How dry is the soil after a week?

Hello Daisyl, I will let you know what kind of soil it is shortly, and it doesn't look dry to me even after a week.

Sometime they just do that... And it stops at some point. They have bursts of growth, and then a section when they get really dry.

Probably you should repot them. They have a very large and fleshy roots, and like lots of space. Lots of space will result in more growth.

Aeonium2003 said:Sometime they just do that... And it stops at some point. They have bursts of growth, and then a section when they get really dry.

Probably you should repot them. They have a very large and fleshy roots, and like lots of space. Lots of space will result in more growth.

Hm got it, thank you Aeonium2003

Aeonium2003 said:Sometime they just do that... And it stops at some point. They have bursts of growth, and then a section when they get really dry.

Probably you should repot them. They have a very large and fleshy roots, and like lots of space. Lots of space will result in more growth.

Sorry but that makes no sense at all. Eugenex, I hope you go ahead and answer my questions.

@Daisyl

I realize I wasn't very specific on that post.

I noticed that Senecios seem to grow in growth spurts. They first put on lots of growth and then stop growing. Between the time they stop growing, and after they start having a growth spurt, the old leaves start browning. The browning leaves only happen maybe to 1/2 of the plant. The browning stops, and don't continue up the plant, or to the plant's stem

I hope that makes more sense! If not, just tell me which parts don't make sense.



As @Daisyl said, it would help to know the growing conditions of this plant. This drying up could be natural, or it might be something that might kill the plant. Therefore, if we know the growing conditions, we can find if this plant needs any treatment or anything


@eugenex You specify some things about how you are watering it, are you watering it from above or from below? Are you watering it with a saucer at the bottom, or overhead with a hose/ watering can?



As for the soil mix, it seems to be growing in a heavy peat mix. The peat may have dried out, and if the peat dries out it mat not rewet easily. If this is the case the plant needs to be put to soak in a bowl of water.

Personally I think that repotting would be a good idea. The soil mix looks to have too much organic material. I would add in more inorganic material like grit, sand, or perlite. If you add in more inorganic material, there will be better drainage, and it will be easier to re wet. If you are worried about spending too much money, buy regular potting soil, and chicken grit/sand. I find these items have the cheapest price.

Use a large pot when repotting. They like having space to spread.

I hope this helps, and clarifies some things up!

DaisyI said:

What kind of soil is it potted in? How dry is the soil after a week?

Hello Daisyl,

Thanks for waiting, the pictures of the soil mix are attached + another picture of the poor plant. And now when I've felt the soil, it actually feels very dry after watering it slightly (I've been fearing overwatering my succulents) two days ago, and the consistency feels powdery..

Does it always stay in that window? Does the window have any kind of UV blocking or tint on/in it? Senecios want direct hot sun at least 5 hours a day. It looks somewhat etiolated to me and that can contribute to the leaf loss. I think it needs more sun.

No! don't use that potting mix stuff. Mix in some sand/grit/perlite into it!
And repot to a larger pot! The soil is not absorbing water, the soil is too dry. Soak it in a tub of water, until the soil re hydrates.

eugenex, were are you located?

I think that's a plastic pot. Pick up the pot and gage its weight. Water thoroughly until water comes out the drain holes. Now pick up the pot again. Did it gain weight. Lots of weight or just a little. The soil you are using looks heavy on peat. Peat holds too much moisture but when it dries, it doesn't re-hydrate. Its best used for plants that should stay always damp.

I agree that it probably needs a repot into something much faster draining. If you can find some cactus soil or bonsai soil, that would be perfect. Adding some extra grit never hurts, especially if the soil is made for more than one purpose. Using soil without adding grit is fine if its says cactus soil only. Whatever you do, don't add sand. It sinks out of the soil and becomes a barrier at the bottom of the pot, impeding water flow.

The pot should give the plant roots about an inch all the way around. Don't try to get all the old soil off the roots - you will cause too much damage. You won't really know how well packed the old soil is until you get the plant out of the pot. Gently squeezing the rootball sometimes loosens enough soil to continue with the repot. If you have to manually take clumps off, you will damage a lot of roots. Let your plant sit out on a counter for a day or so before you repot. Then use soil that's barely damp and repot. Don't water for another week or so.

I think that Bonsai soil would be a little bit to gritty for Senecios. You could use it, but you would have to be prepared to water it more often. Maybe add in more organic matter. But it would also depend on what kind of bonsai soil it is. like the pumice and akadama and pine bark content.

CPPgardener said:Does it always stay in that window? Does the window have any kind of UV blocking or tint on/in it? Senecios want direct hot sun at least 5 hours a day. It looks somewhat etiolated to me and that can contribute to the leaf loss. I think it needs more sun.

Yes it always does, I'm not aware of any blocking/tint. At this time off year here in Toronto, Canada the sun is not hot but the window is big.. thanks!

DaisyI said:eugenex, were are you located?

I think that's a plastic pot. Pick up the pot and gage its weight. Water thoroughly until water comes out the drain holes. Now pick up the pot again. Did it gain weight. Lots of weight or just a little. The soil you are using looks heavy on peat. Peat holds too much moisture but when it dries, it doesn't re-hydrate. Its best used for plants that should stay always damp.

I agree that it probably needs a repot into something much faster draining. If you can find some cactus soil or bonsai soil, that would be perfect. Adding some extra grit never hurts, especially if the soil is made for more than one purpose. Using soil without adding grit is fine if its says cactus soil only. Whatever you do, don't add sand. It sinks out of the soil and becomes a barrier at the bottom of the pot, impeding water flow.

The pot should give the plant roots about an inch all the way around. Don't try to get all the old soil off the roots - you will cause too much damage. You won't really know how well packed the old soil is until you get the plant out of the pot. Gently squeezing the rootball sometimes loosens enough soil to continue with the repot. If you have to manually take clumps off, you will damage a lot of roots. Let your plant sit out on a counter for a day or so before you repot. Then use soil that's barely damp and repot. Don't water for another week or so.

Hello Daisyl,

Toronto, Canada. That pot is 'made of plant fibres originated from agricultural waste' and it doesn't have drain holes, I've repotted the plant yesterday to a plastic pot that has a small section at the bottom on the inside with holes where water would presumably accumulate but it's unclear if there are holes on the outside of the pot (picture attached), I will buy a pot with clear drain holes and hopefully do the weight measuring.

I will buy cactus/bonsai soil and add some grit. And will follow the instructions when repotting again.

Thanks a lot!

It would actually be cheaper to make your own Cactus soil.

eugenex said:

I can not confirm without closely inspection, but I think you can use a screwdriver to push through those 4 round holes, a lot of pots by design allow the owner to push and make the holes

Aeonium2003 said:It would actually be cheaper to make your own Cactus soil.

For one plant, no it won't. Beginning growers don't need complications like this. I use bagged soil exclusively, there's nothing wrong with it.

To eugenex, if you find cactus or bonsai soil, no need for added grit. If the bag says something like "cactus, palm, citrus soil" add some grit but only about 25%.

@Daisyl ive use that same kind of soil (cactus, palm, citrus soil). Its from home depot. Its also a good cheap premade option.

Kaktus said:
I can not confirm without closely inspection, but I think you can use a screwdriver to push through those 4 round holes, a lot of pots by design allow the owner to push and make the holes

Oh right got it, thanks!

DaisyI said:

For one plant, no it won't. Beginning growers don't need complications like this. I use bagged soil exclusively, there's nothing wrong with it.

To eugenex, if you find cactus or bonsai soil, no need for added grit. If the bag says something like "cactus, palm, citrus soil" add some grit but only about 25%.

Hello Daisyl,

I've repotted the plan to a 'cactus, palm, succulents' mix in a pot with holes, and watered it a lot the first time yesterday, now monitoring the condition.

Thanks