Chestnut friar
Succulents, that is, cacti, succulents, and caudex plants, are generally very chilly. They do not like low temperatures, and less those in which the mercury drops below zero degrees. However, sometimes it is not easy to know if they are having a bad time.
In order to act as soon as possible, I'm going to tell you how to know if my succulent has been cold and what measures to take to avoid losing it.
Brown leaves
Succulents that have leaves, such as Aeonium or Fockea, if they get cold we will know it immediately: they will turn brown, almost overnight, and if the conditions do not improve they will end up being "peeled". To avoid it, It is important to protect them either inside the house, in a greenhouse, or with anti-frost fabric..
Fall of leaves
There are some more sensitive species, such as those of the genus Adenium, which will directly lose their leaves as soon as the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius. If we want to prevent this from happening or from getting worse, it will be necessary to protect them from the cold.
Redness or color change
There are many plants, like the Echeveria, that get really pretty when they get a little cold. There are some that acquire a spectacular reddish tone, others become more pink. But yes, there are others that, on the contrary, will get a bit ugly, with rusty iron color stains. In any case, prevention is always better than cure, and therefore they must be kept protected from low temperatures.
Soft or rotten plant
Both ice and snow destroy the cells of our favorite plants, so it is common that after registering any of these phenomena we begin to notice that they are becoming soft or rotten. In these cases, sometimes you can try to cut clean, let it dry for a week and plant it in a new pot, but they do not always recover.
Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'
If you have doubts, do not leave them in the inkwell. Question. 🙂
Good afternoon, they have endured quite well several winters in the street but the other day with a frost, one that I have with branches collapsed, and I have a pity ... I do not know what to do with the branches that have been flabby. What can I do to get it back ???
Hello Maria Angeles.
I recommend you cut those branches that have softened, treat the plant with fungicide and, above all, protect it from the cold.
Cheer up.
Hello, I received some succulents as a gift and their change of place seems to me to be treating them badly, they were in common soil, so I made them a substrate with vermiculite, soil with compost, river sand, etc. Change the containers, I was evaluating the location, since I live in front of the sea, they are located in the rear garden. Only in one did he observe that it changed its appearance, it is still green and only has a millimeter darker in all its leaves and I notice that they are more fallen, not open as when it arrived. It is in the sun, from noon to 18 pm, I am from Mar del Plata Argentina, we are entering autumn. I hope you tell me if it is necessary to modify exposure to the sun or hope that it adjusts to this new home. Thank you.
Hello, Marina.
Yes, I recommend you put them in a very bright place but without direct sun, since from what you think they are having a bit of a bad time.
A greeting.
Thank you so much for teaching us so much.
I would like to know if there is a list of names of cacti or succulents, where those that only need the least appear, and those that only need the most. I think like you said before, location is everything.
and again, thank you.
Hi Moon.
Thanks for your words.
No, there is no list. But in general, most succulents (cacti, succulents and plants with caudex) have to be in the sun, yes, you have to get used to them little by little.
But the Haworthia, Gasteria, Sempervivum ... these are semi-shadow 🙂
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Regards!