Beginner Gardening: is this normal Sempervivum Old Copper Hen & Chicks Houseleek, 1 by tapla

tapla wrote:
OK - What's wrong is you're using a water retentive soil AND over-watering. Ideally, you would come to understand the importance of aeration/drainage, and the issues that can arise from over-watering. I can give you directions, but the chance for ME making an error is increased if you don't know why I offer the instructions, and the probability that you'll follow the instructions is likely diminished if you don't understand why they're given. Please, don't take my words as a lecture. They're soft encouragement to continue trying to understand WHY you need to look closely at your soil and watering habits. You can always ask any questions you'd like on those threads, and I (or someone else) will answer.

The Hoffman's succulent soil is too water-retentive for succulents - especially since you're heavy-handed on the watering can. My suggestion would be that you mix 1 part of perlite with 2 parts of the Hoffman's, and resist watering until the soil is nearly dry. Plants don't drink or sip water - they absorb it a molecule at a time, so your soil only needs to be damp, not wet. Use a wood dowel (sharpened in a pencil sharpener) stuck into the soil to test for the need to water. Water/moisture meters don't work, so forget that approach. Only water when the dowel comes out cool/clean/dry. Touch it on your wrist or cheek to test for dampness.

I would suggest a 3:1:2 ratio fertilizer, like Miracle-Gro 24-8-16 granular soluble, miracle-Gro 12-4-8 liquid, or (best) Dyna-Gro's Foliage Pro 9-3-6 (probably need to order from online source). If you decide you'd like to follow my advice, I'll help you work out a fertilizer program.

Al