Return to the Cacti in Oz Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
Posted by djfor NSW Australia (My Page) on Wed, Feb 5, 03 at 20:35
| Hi Everyone
I am at a bit of a loss at what has caused the demise of my Faucaria tigrina. I recently gave it a good watering as it had not been watered for a while and I am sure everyone knows what stinking hot weather we have had in Sydney and other areas of late. Slowly but surely, the leaves have turned to mush and my Faucaria is no more. I do not understand why. The whole process took only about three days. Does anyone have any clues as to what has gone wrong?
thanks and regards
David |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
- Posted by ezza vic Aust (My Page) on
Thu, Feb 6, 03 at 1:23
| to much water all at once maybe. |
RE: What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
- Posted by djfor NSW Australia (My Page) on
Thu, Feb 6, 03 at 3:51
| Hey Ezza! Yeah! Could have been, but I did make sure to empty out the excess....although in hindsight that does seem to be the most likely explanation. I'll know for next time then! Cheers
David |
RE: What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
| Hi David, Faucaria can take a lot of water - my guess is that your plant was too dry for too long, then, when you watered it in this weakened state it got attacked by a fungus. We are also having an unusually hot dry summer, and the same thing just happened to a part of one of my Faucarias. This particular plant is growing in a very dry hot spot in the rockery. The others which are in shadier places and are therefore not in danger of getting so dessicated and the watering is more even, are doing very well.
The water is not the problem - when it rains they are also getting soaked. This sudden melt-down has actually happened to several other succulents of mine, but invariably it is a sickly, weak plant (or part of a plant) which croaks.
I know they are succulents and supposed to be able to cope with heat and drought, but this does not mean they all have to look half dead - I spend almost every evening watering in some corner or the other. Especially the plants in pots are very vulnerable to this heat.
Now I remeber why I hate plants in pots... Maddy |
RE: What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
- Posted by jancc westaus (My Page) on
Thu, Mar 13, 03 at 9:49
Hi David
I purchased one of these from Lake Nurseries last year. When it arrived it was a soggy mess in the bottom of the bag. I wrote to them and they said that they had been affected by frost and replaced it. The second one is rather 'funny' also. It seems to be shrinking on one side. It's in a shade house and gets watered once a week.
Maybe there is some sort of virus getting into them? We have been having some extreme heat of late (45deg)and most of the succulents are standing up to it.
cheers Jan |
RE: What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
| Maddy lives on the South African high veldt so she 'speaks' with experience. One little point that I may add however is that in our hottest summer weather and especially in regions with hot nights, most 'summer-season-growing' mesembs will tend to rest. Due to the heat they will need a certain amount of water but do not soak them. Give enough to keep the plant turgid and most importantly to keep the root system healthy. As soon as the nights become cool enough they will grow more strongly. Best growth in our hot regions will be in spring and autumn. Here in Brisbane with nights now a little cooler (March) my Faucaria are well into flower. In regions with mild dry sunny winters you may choose to water them from autumn to spring inclusive with a calendar summer rest period (but not too harsh). One must not dehydrate the root system, that will allow rot when watering is recommenced. In other words Faucaria may be watered (say once per week) all year but the amount given will depend on the current climatic conditions and the current activity or not of your plants. The same amount of water as that given to keep root systems healthy in very hot dry summer weather would allow full growth in (sufficiently warm for growth) winter weather. Of course if ones local winter weather is too cold one would only water on the odd warm sunny morning. It is all a matter of experience,know your plants,observe their reactions to your horticultural regimes and adjust accordingly. |
RE: What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
- Posted by djfor NSW Australia (My Page) on
Mon, Apr 7, 03 at 22:40
| Thanks everyone! Sorry the reply is so long in coming..... From you suggestions, I am still quite surprised at the fate of my Faucaria...However, I have got another one now which, while not as pleasing in appearance, seems to be going OK. regards
david |
RE: What went wrong? - Faucaria tigrina
| | |
I have to agree with Didge after the same experience .Just had the same happen with a Faucaria tigrina my Father gave me it WAS a very large spreading plant .I think because of me moving it to a much warmer climate I tended to over water it(once a week) .I have saved (I think ) whats left of it by using a fungicide called "Previcure" and watering it in. The stems were soft and spongey and the "leaves" were going clear and soggy. The plant is about only one third the size it was but the rot has seemed to have halted .The stems are much firmer and the soggy "leaves" have advanced no more.
Hopefully in time it will re-shoot and get back to its former self. |
|
|
|
|
