by Nicole White
(Studio City CA )
What kind of plant is this? It looks like it is dying! I would really appreciate your help to ID and how to care for it. I tried to look up with terms like small round succulent, tear drop shaped leaves, triangle shaped leaves, but no luck. I bought it at the LA County Arboretum gift store on December 13 and it was so small and cute – little round plant with pale green leaves with lavender tips. I watered it when I got it home. I watered it once a month on or around the 13th of the month. Then about two months later (February 13?) it began to sprout the stalk out of the top. Now the bottom leaves look dark purple and shriveling, the stalk is keeling over, and I hope with your help, I can save it!
Thank you.
Nicole
Comments for Nicole White
Apr 15, 2021
Problem
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist
The reason this isn’t doing well is that it’s an outdoor plant. This is a Sempervivum, which absolutely hate being indoors, especially in low light conditions. That’s why it’s stretching, in protest!
There may be no way to save it, sorry to say.
If your weather is consistently above freezing, you may be able to salvage it by putting it outdoors (not in full sun at first, gradually increase until it’s in full sun). The salvage part of this process will involve waiting to see if it puts out chicks, which you can leave outdoors to be happy.
Here is more on the genus; https://smart-plants.com/sempervivum
And how to grow them; https://smart-plants.com/how-to-grow-sempervivum
