Severe dehydration. The other classic sign is the strong longitudinal curving of the leaves–the edges curl so much that they’re actually overlapping to form a tubular shape. In most species, this is not normal (T. bulbosa is an exception). This leaf curling is a reaction to insufficient atmospheric moisture, to attempt to reduce moisture loss through transpiration by trapping it in the channel.
This plant is so dry it’s either already dead, or almost dead. Even if you try to rehydrate it, there is a strong possibility it will not survive. You might look at the green on the leaves and think it might still have a chance, but the central part of the plant is where the growth occurs, and that’s buried deep inside. If that’s dead, the plant will not grow new leaves, and the existing ones will drop off over a span of weeks to months.
A common mistake is to overwater them (e.g., soak overnight) to try to compensate for the dehydration. This is liable to cause rot, because the dehydration may have killed off mature growth, and the dead material becomes a breeding ground for mold. It’s better to provide consistent moisture levels over several days–high humidity airflow 24/7 with frequent misting that is allowed to evaporate.
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Severe dehydration. The other classic sign is the strong longitudinal curving of the leaves–the edges curl so much that they’re actually overlapping to form a tubular shape. In most species, this is not normal (T. bulbosa is an exception). This leaf curling is a reaction to insufficient atmospheric moisture, to attempt to reduce moisture loss through transpiration by trapping it in the channel.
This plant is so dry it’s either already dead, or almost dead. Even if you try to rehydrate it, there is a strong possibility it will not survive. You might look at the green on the leaves and think it might still have a chance, but the central part of the plant is where the growth occurs, and that’s buried deep inside. If that’s dead, the plant will not grow new leaves, and the existing ones will drop off over a span of weeks to months.
A common mistake is to overwater them (e.g., soak overnight) to try to compensate for the dehydration. This is liable to cause rot, because the dehydration may have killed off mature growth, and the dead material becomes a breeding ground for mold. It’s better to provide consistent moisture levels over several days–high humidity airflow 24/7 with frequent misting that is allowed to evaporate.