Senecio Haworthii poorly ...

[curlyemily]

Hello everyone ,

If anybody could help me it would be deeply deeply appreciated.

I received this lovely friend at Christmas, and if I remember rightly, the soil was moist, so I did not water it. It was bought from the garden centre the day before I received it. I have not watered it until this week.

Last week it was fine.
Two days ago I noticed some of the leaves had shrivelled dramatically. The soil was completely dry at the bottom of the pot so I gave it a good water. This morning, the little friend had tipped over in its pot. The soil still seemed extremely moist so I removed it immediately.
Initially I would say the compost does not seem draining at all compared to my other cacti and succulents bedding… I can not feel any sand in the compost and it’s still soaking wet from two days ago. My general cacti mix is not like this at all.

The main stem looks slightly discoloured under all its hair and It’s just very limp at the base of the plant.
I have just felt the roots and they seem firm and sturdy. I have just placed it by the window over a radiator on absorbent tissue to try and dry off the compost that’s stuck to its roots.

Initially I want to cut it right away where it has gone limp, but the roots seem healthy so I wanted to check trusty advice from here first.
I’ve already cut the soft bits of the little baby offshoots as they didn’t have roots anyway.

It’s been in my brightest window although as it’s winter here the days are short and not as sunny as normal.
I am just really sad as it was given to me as a gift and I don’t want it to die.

Thanks
Emily

[7george]

Hi, Emily!
It can be quite cold at windowsills this time so I don't water my succulents situated close to cold window. Most succulents need dry and moist periods alternating. Your plant has lost its roots so better do not expose it to direct sun. Bring it inside a warm room and change the soil as well. Make you mix more porous with coarse inorganic components like perlite or whatever is available around you, less organic stuff and moist it moderately. Be patient and maybe till spring it will root and start to show signs of revival and growth. Only then bring the plant to sunny place again.

P.S. Clean first the old soil and rotted tissues of the stem. Use those detached leaves and stems to get new plants as well.

[curlyemily]

Hi thank you so much for your help,

A clarification of my wording, the plant has been on a table next to my brightest window, so it’s not right next to the window pane, there is also a radiator under the window which is generally warm.

Would this change any of the advice given?

I have moved the plant into a dark spot.
And I do not need to cut the plant before reporting?

Thanks again

[ashti]

Hi thank you so much for your help,

A clarification of my wording, the plant has been on a table next to my brightest window, so it’s not right next to the window pane, there is also a radiator under the window which is generally warm.

Would this change any of the advice given?

I have moved the plant into a dark spot.
And I do not need to cut the plant before reporting?

Thanks again

Definitely remove any rotting or gross bits before repotting