Hi everyone!

I'm new to growing these lovely little succulents in pots and am wondering if anyone can tell me where I went wrong with this one? It was doing great and grew some new little shoots, but just yesterday I noticed that the main plant is starting to wilt and is a bit mushy. I'm assuming it was over watered, but I wanted to get the opinion of others as well. I usually only water when the soil is dry, but it's possible that someone else in the house has watered it and unknowingly harmed it. Also, is there anything I can do to save the newer little growths?

Hi Kaylene, and to ATP. So glad you found your way here.

It does look like it was over watered. It is also showing signs of etiolation. You can remove the plant from the soil, remove any parts that are showing signs of rotting.
Leave to dry for several days before replanting. Do not water right away. You can give a very light misting of the plant if it is very dry.
It also needs to be outdoors. Sempervivum do not do well indoors. They need the sun and fresh air to do well.
I hope I was able to help. Do you have any other questions?

with Lynn! As you remove the plant to dry out a bit, you can still add to the soil more perlite or pumice so it will not retain too much moisture.

That is a lovely container. I love its color and design But one question, does it have holes below? I hope it is not the type that is like self-watering type, not good for succulents, water needs to drain out fast.

And welcome to ATP Kaylene

Thank you so much for your help! Yes, both of my potted sempervivum are in containers with holes in the bottom. I'll let them dry out and add to the soil mixture. I have them both in the window, but maybe I will also try leaving them outside.

Thanks again!!

Outside would be the very best. Just don't place them in full sun while they are in a stressed condition. Bright light, filtered sun would be best, until they recover.

Tarev, thank you for adding the part about amending the soil.

I definitely agree with the opinions above. Clearly not enough light. Also, form the appearance of the parent rosette, I do not think it will survive.

Semps need to be outside. I think the lack of light probably weakened the plant so that the moisture triggered rot. Semps will tolerate a lot of moisture if they have a lot of light and good draining soil.

My semps seem to flourish in the poly-tunnel ,especially if they are showing signs of dying or if they are not established ...

maybe full sun under plastic ,it will either kill it or cure it...

ooops welcome...

Another great suggestion from Mick.

I was cleaning my semp bed this evening and noticed that a few of my larger semps have been falling over a bit. When I yank on them, some of them are firm and holding fast to the dirt but some release from the dirt easily. I see that the rosette's stem is eaten thru or hollow and the stem part remaining in the ground is hollow. While digging out the offsets to see if they are damaged I find bits of hollow stems in the dirt and a few pillbugs scambling away. In the past I have also found cutworms in the soil.
Don't know which ones cause the hollowed out stems but I will assume either one does. Does anyone have an opinion of whether pillbugs or cutworms do the stem damage?

Here are pics of the stem damage on one semp rosette that I pulled this evening:

First pic is the rosette turned over to look at stem and 2nd pic is the leftover stem in ground from where I pulled


Hollowed Stem propped up at 2 different angles


Another stem piece found in soil from another rosette?

The pill bugs only eat the decaying vegetation. Sounds like you have a Crane Fly problem. http://whatcom.wsu.edu/cranefl...

The article refers to grass and turf where the larvae can be found in the first 3 inches from above. My semp bed is just a raised bed of soil. And there's not a lawn on my property. I have seen what I think is cutworm larvae but not sure if it could be crane fly larvae. Are they real similar?

Yes, they are similar. It would be the cut worms doing the damage. Talk to your local extension agent for what they think would be the best treatment.

thanks much, Lynn!

Let me know what they say.

Good luck with eradicating the buggies Bev xx

Here is some interesting material: The thread "Bugs in my house plant" in Insect and Bug ID forum

Thanks for that link, Lynn. I do have DE in the garage but have been hesitant to use it because I get awfully close to my plants in the semp bed and would hate to come in contact with it. Besides, sounds like watering the plants would require re-application constantly? I'll think about it...
So far I have sprinkled Sluggo onto the bed...

I love that Sluggo. I get the one that is safe around children and pets.

Don't know which I have, but children and pets are not allowed near my semp bed except there's a cat from somewhere that doesn't know that...