So got this plant a few weeks ago. It was slightly wrinkly and had that small indentation caused by a stone during shipping.
Potted up in a 7cm / 2.8 inches plastic square pot with 70% mineral soil mix and Akadama as top dressing. After adjustment period I gave it a good soak. It plumped up slightly after that but in a few days it was wrinkly again. Next watering, the same happened. I checked the roots being afraid they were unable to take moisture but they look fine and the plant is firmly attached to the soil. I noticed that a few roots started to come out of the drainage holes so I’m in a quest to get a deeper pot.
Also my plants are growing indoors under grow lights. I have the Mars Hydro VG80, full spectrum, two per shelf. The lights sit 15 cm / 6 inches aprox from the plants and run about 15 hours a day accompanied by a fan per shelf to keep a good airflow. Due to having a majority of Echeverias in my collection I need a lot of light to prevent etiolation. My few cacti and mesembs are taking the same amount of light due to reduced space. I know it’s not the ideal but it’s what I have. I wonder if light is too strong for my mesembs, in particular my Lithops and Gibbaeum.
Thanks for the help 🙏
by irycente93
5 Comments
I have some similar ones that just can’t tolerate my indoor grow lights. They do the same thing when they’re inside, but I put them outside under full sun or shade, and they’re fine.
My conophytum bilobum do this too! I wish I had an answer for you.
Make sure you have enough air movement – these plants are accustomed to being outside. They can take a lot of light.
Not sure if this will help you but I use 100% bonsai jack soil for my mesembs, sometimes the substrate is too big for the root. I have to sift it to get it to smaller size and add some pumice to help the root take water.
Assuming you’re in the northern hemisphere, 15 hours of light a day in winter may be a lot for some plants. do your lights have an adjustable timer? some succulents love extra light and some are more picky and bake in the extra amount. I try to mimic the seasons with mine and have the lights plugged into a programmable timer. I just it turned down to the lowest point of the year for winter with 10 hours on, 14 off. I gradually increase the light time after the start of the new year. Works for me but I’m using a hefty viparspectra light with a dimmer knob. Intensity is down as well right now for winter.