I have a 'Paddle Plant' that is dying. it is a succulent, and the leaves are shriveling up. what to do?

Question

The plant was bought from Trader Joe's two weeks ago. I have worked with the continuing care by cutting the top two leaves, and now its yellowing and shriveling up. I've watered it once a week, and i want it to live! help!

Answer 1

quote~

"The name "paddle plant" is usually applied to Kalanchoe luciae (oftentimes wrongly labeled as Kalanchoe thyrsiflora). This plant comes from the eastern part of South Africa, and it has large rounded gray-green leaves (these are coated with a whitish powder) with a bright red border.

It likes plenty of sun, but is vulnerable to damage by snails and slugs, and is sensitive to frost (happily, you have placed it in a protected location under the eaves). It needs very little water in winter, but likes periodic watering in summer during its natural period of growth.

The main plant dies after it flowers (it shoots up a stalk 2 or 3 feet tall bearing clusters of yellow flowers), but can be kept going through offsets or cuttings."

EEK!! maybe ur plant is dying a natural death. I might have to be applying to Mr. T.J for a replacement or refund.

images of Kalanchoe thyrsiflora:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Kalanch...

images of Kalanchoe luciae:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Kalanch...

but and i do not know how to grow paddle plants but cutting the top off repeatedly is not a way i have ever heard of caring for other plants.

~causes of yellowing in other plants:

~~overfertilization or fertilizing at wrong time/too late in cycle; this can be known if the age of plant, soil type and recent fertilizer amounts are known

~~underfertilization or lack of a certain nutrient; this can be seen from a pic sometimes

~~too much sun if splotchy

~~too little sun if a pale green/not actual yellow

~~bugs (look under leaves for these)



so that is all i know except of course that underwatering can make ur plant yellow up and die. yes u are watering once a week and that might be the right amount, i do not know but even if it is, maybe turn it over and take it out of the pot and try to see the rootball. maybe u can tell if it is getting soaked thoroughly. some soils like peat can have the water drain straight through and yet the soil will not hardly be wetted<that occurs when the soil is allowed to get thoroughly dry maybe like if it was shipped in hot weather and so then the re-wetting is hard to do. A soil like that might need to have a faucet dripped on them for a few hours; and then after it is thoroughly saturated you can resume the normal watering schedule.

here are texts about how to grow paddle plants:

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oG...

this is a forum for South African succulents, which the paddle plant is:

http://www.succulents.net/index.html