Hi there, I'm new to this forum and new to caring for succulents. I'm used to growing Amaryllis, but recently fell in love with several exotic looking succulents our small town grocery stores got in. Been doing a lot of internet research to learn how to care for them, and it's mostly been going well.

I brought home what I believe is a cocoon plant (wooly senecio) a few weeks ago (the only information with it said "succulent"). It wasn't particularly healthy looking when I bought it, but I'd hoped it would perk up. I have it on a shelf by a west facing window with several other plants and a small grow light attached to the underside of the top of the shelf. All other plants (flowers, succulents, and cacti) in the same area are doing well, but not this little guy.

I was watering it about once a week or so. I noticed its leaves were beginning to shrivel up and tried researching the problem, and thought maybe it was a sign of underwatering. So I watered it a little more often, but no change. Then I noticed the soil wasn't drying out, so I feared maybe root rot or it was root bound. I removed it from the tiny pot it came in. No sign of root rot, but it was definitely root bound. Not surprising considering they had three stems crammed into a cramped little pot. I replanted it in a new, larger clay pot with cactus soil expecting it to bounce back. A lot of leaves broke off in the process because they were so delicate in their shriveled state. I put them in the soil hoping they might develop roots.

That was nearly a week ago, and the shriveling has only gotten worse. It is taking up water because the soil is drying out, bu it is not getting any better. I'm out of ideas. Any advice or ideas on what may be wrong and how I can help it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I suggest that you repot it into a larger pot. Use fresh media. After repotting, care for it normally. The Shriveling is savable as long as the stems stay firm. The plant will eventually put on new growth.

Its not a Wooly Senecio. I'm not sure what it is, maybe Blue Chalkstick plant.

Don't repot again and don't water. After succulents and cactus are repotted, they shouldn't be watered for at least a week to give the broken roots a chance to heal. The soil is drying quickly because of the terracotta - drying takes place all the way around the pot, not just on the soil surface. But when you do water, make sure the soil has absorbed the water by sticking your finger in an inch or so or using a bamboo skewer.

It may look much worse before it looks better but as long as its not rotting, its rooting. Water only when the soil is completely dry. The pot is very deep so use a bamboo skewer to see what's going on at the bottom of the pot. Shove it all the way to the bottom, let is sit for a couple minutes and pull it out. You will be able to see/feel where the moisture is in the pot and how much moisture there is.

Hi & welcome! Removing the plastic outer container should help the clay pot do its job of breathing, allowing roots to access more oxygen and the soil to dry quickly. Maybe put a lid or some other protection under the bottom.

When the soil is dry, water thoroughly so that all of it gets moist, then repeat when almost all the way dry, but not so dry that your plant shrivels.

DaisyI said:

Its not a Wooly Senecio. I'm not sure what it is, maybe Blue Chalkstick plant.

Don't repot again and don't water. After succulents and cactus are repotted, they shouldn't be watered for at least a week to give the broken roots a chance to heal. The soil is drying quickly because of the terracotta - drying takes place all the way around the pot, not just on the soil surface. But when you do water, make sure the soil has absorbed the water by sticking your finger in an inch or so or using a bamboo skewer.

It may look much worse before it looks better but as long as its not rotting, its rooting. Water only when the soil is completely dry. The pot is very deep so use a bamboo skewer to see what's going on at the bottom of the pot. Shove it all the way to the bottom, let is sit for a couple minutes and pull it out. You will be able to see/feel where the moisture is in the pot and how much moisture there is.

Thank you, I didn't realize I shouldn't water it again for a while. I've been using toothpicks to test the soil, but I don't leave them in for very long. I'll look for bamboo skewers, and let the poor thing rest for a while, whatever it is.

Edit: I tried leaving the toothpicks in the soil for several minutes today as you suggested, instead of just sticking them in and pulling them back out. What a difference! All my plants were more moist than I though. Thank you, your advise saved my plants from potential overwatering. =)

purpleinopp said: Hi & welcome! Removing the plastic outer container should help the clay pot do its job of breathing, allowing roots to access more oxygen and the soil to dry quickly. Maybe put a lid or some other protection under the bottom.

When the soil is dry, water thoroughly so that all of it gets moist, then repeat when almost all the way dry, but not so dry that your plant shrivels.

That's an old tuperware container as a spill tray. Thank you, I didn't realize it could be hindering it. I'll find something more shallow to set it on.

Hello @Birony, to me the media looks too heavy and dense. It needs to be grittier than that. Though I would normally not suggest a repot, you may have to do so, just to improve the media mix a bit more, need to add some more perlite or pumice. Then leave it alone for a week to acclimate once more.

When your weather permits it, this plant will thrive much better outdoors. It loves the cool air flow and bright light outdoors.

I'm happy to suggest. Best luck! : )

tarev said: Hello @Birony, to me the media looks too heavy and dense. It needs to be grittier than that. Though I would normally not suggest a repot, you may have to do so, just to improve the media mix a bit more, need to add some more perlite or pumice. Then leave it alone for a week to acclimate once more.

When your weather permits it, this plant will thrive much better outdoors. It loves the cool air flow and bright light outdoors.

Thank you for your input. I thought it looked a bit dense too actually, glad for a second opinion. It's Miracle Grow Cactus and Succulent Mix, but it doesn't seem to have a lot of perlite in it. I did mix in a little Bonsai mix that is grittier, just for better drainage (there's no soil in that mix, just pumice, bark, and the like). I'd planned on buying some perlite as soon as our stores get it in. The drawback of living in a small town: limited products, and ordering online takes forever to get here. If it survives until then, I'll try improving the soil.

Thank you all! It's great to have people to talk to about these things.

This plant is Senecio haworthiodies. The lower leaves do normally shrivel up and dry out. Repot it when you get the pearlite which you need for better drainage. Like Daisy said one does not water for a week after repoting.
When spring comes and the plant is happier with good growth on the top you can consider cutting off the good top to restart the plant. These plants always get leggy for me and I find myself beheading them almost every year. They do like bright light to full sun. Most other Haworthias prefer shade.

OrchidBob said: This plant is Senecio haworthiodies. The lower leaves do normally shrivel up and dry out. Repot it when you get the pearlite which you need for better drainage. Like Daisy said one does not water for a week after repoting.
When spring comes and the plant is happier with good growth on the top you can consider cutting off the good top to restart the plant. These plants always get leggy for me and I find myself beheading them almost every year. They do like bright light to full sun. Most other Haworthias prefer shade.

Thank you! That's what I thought it looked most like. Maybe it just looks odd because it's so sick. Hopefully it will recover and plump up again. I can't wait for spring to come so I can take plants outside.

OrchidBob said: This plant is Senecio haworthiodies. The lower leaves do normally shrivel up and dry out. Repot it when you get the pearlite which you need for better drainage. Like Daisy said one does not water for a week after repoting.
When spring comes and the plant is happier with good growth on the top you can consider cutting off the good top to restart the plant. These plants always get leggy for me and I find myself beheading them almost every year. They do like bright light to full sun. Most other Haworthias prefer shade.

How is this listed in the database here. Under an older alias? I can't find it.

I sure don't see Senecio haworthii. Birony's plant is not fuzzy and has grooved leaves.

DaisyI said: I sure don't see Senecio haworthii. Birony's plant is not fuzzy and has grooved leaves.

Actually it is fuzzy. It's covered in soft white hair, almost like fur. The grooves are what I was referring to as shriveling. The leaves were originally plump and firm and smooth.

needrain said: How is this listed in the database here. Under an older alias? I can't find it.

Wooly Senecio (Caputia tomentosa)

Compare your plant to this:

Blue Chalksticks (Curio repens)

DaisyI said: Compare your plant to this:

Blue Chalksticks (Curio repens)

The photo in the database that I just clicked on is of the open seed pods with the white fuz that caries the seeds on the winds just like a daisy flower.

People decided to like my photo of seeds the most. You'll have to scroll down.

WAY down. It is a cool exploding seed pod.

Bob, have you not been using the plant database on this site?