Good Morning!

I have had good luck growing the few succulents I have with passive - if not plain neglectful - ownership. I really love the hens & chicks that took off like gangbusters when I planted them outside on the East side of my home in Ga 7b.

So, i ordered a 5 plant sempervivum collection from Brecks who I have not had any issues with over the years. I received one each of: "Rita Jane," "Emerald Empress," "Green Wheels," "Red Rubin," & "Spumante."

I planted them right away into a large, draining pot with fresh potting medium recommended by them. It's a soil-less cactus mix of perlite, sand and small bark chip. I watered them lightly and let them be. Not long after that they developed what turned out to be fungus gnats that destroyed 2 of the plants. Following some online instructions Instructions I disposed of the soil and replanted the 3 that were left. Breck's was kind enough to replace the 2 that died. I also placed sticky traps around the plants to catch any future generations or attempts by the gnats to take over.

Being so worried about the gnats, I actually haven't watered them at all now. That worked for 2 of them (Rita Jane & Emerald Empress - pics attached) But yhe traps picked up more gnats and now 3 are dead and gone. No other succulents in my sunroom have gnats, they are all thriving. So I am lost as to what I should do. I know this can't be complicated because the others are growing well. Can someone tell me the basic rules of planting medium and watering cycle? Is this maybe a problem that developed at the nursery or did I do something specifically wrong to invite gnats?

I apologize for this being so long but I want to to be specific in order to help solve the problem. Thank you so much! Everyone here is always so very helpful.

Sempervivums are an outside-only plant. In a nutshell, they hate it inside, from what i could gather from your post. No greenhouse, no windowsill. Outdoors, mostly unsheltered.

Hi Terri, it does sound like the gnats were in the plants from the nursery... Sorry about that

Good luck with treating and getting rid of them!

gg5 said:Hi Terri, it does sound like the gnats were in the plants from the nursery... Sorry about that

Good luck with treating and getting rid of them!

Thank you. Can you or anyone else share their preferred method of exterminating the gnats before I lose the two that are left?

Thanks again.

When the leaves are turning on the outside so to speak, basically the opposite of how they should be, that means they have way too little light. If the soil is moist constantly that can be accelerated, but even without lots of water that still will happen.
Those leaves that have their tips facing the soil or parallel with the soil will die once the plant has a good light source, you should not be worried about that when it happens, it is normal for the plant to want to have a close type shape and whatever leaves are bent the opposite way, will never bend back into an upward bell.
Leaves on certain cultivars will not even grow that long if the hours of light are plenty enough.
I'd say to water based on temperature (very hot-water often, very cold-water very rarely) but always aim for long hours exposure to full sun. If your environment is very humid, might not have to water that much anyway only rarely, maybe someone with good sempervivum results from your area would share some experiences.

Not a sure fire remedy for gnat capture but I still use it once in a while...once I had to leave the house for a few days and I forgot to drain the dishwater after having washed the dishes in the sink. I came home to find approx. 200 gnats floating in the water. I have since, whenever needed, run a small amount of water into dish -soap and put a small amount of the soapy water into small bowl and place the bowl near the plants. I do catch gnats in it and change the water regularly.

Yes! The dish soap gnat trap works really well. I add a splash of apple cider vinegar too as the sweet smell draws them in.

Good thing to know Bev and Annie.

Thank you all for the suggestions. It was particularly interesting to read about the leaves turning down because I see that happening since I moved them outside yesterday. I put them in a dappled shady spot so that I can get them used to the outdoor light. It is very humid where I live in Georgia so I understand that I will not need to water them much if at all. As far as the gnats are concerned, I guess I can say I'm guilty of using the "leftover-wine-from-the-night-before" trap.

Thank you all!!

Terri

Keep us updated please Terri!

Yes, do keep us updated Terri.