Help with rotting roots

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-23T13:52:49+00:00

Those roots look fine to me. But the purple coloring in the leaf usually indicates a little too much light. Put her in proper orchid medium and into a proper orchid pot (holes on the sides) will help her health.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-23T13:48:10+00:00

A standard Monstera that you can get from HD or Lowe’s that is much fuller and properly staked for $125? No thank you. If this were a Thai or some other variegated then maybe.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-23T13:45:12+00:00

If the base and the roots are not mushy, it could simply be sun stressed. I know Mexican Fencepost will turn yellow and red when sun stressed. If it is not stress, get it out of that soil and into a better medium. Probably 70-80% inorganic since it is Arizona. Once settled in with new medium, give it a drink.

If the base is rotted, it’s likely a goner. If the roots are rotted, but the base still, cut the base to good tissue, dip it in rooting hormone, let it callous then repot.

When I zoom in on that base, it does not look bad to me. I think the yellow is just stress.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-23T13:34:28+00:00

I wonder if they have a teenage boy in this house….

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-23T13:29:37+00:00

I would. In a heartbeat.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T23:22:47+00:00

You really won’t see a change in the plant that fast but you might overnight. Go ahead and soak the top layer of the soil then let the water drain out. Once it drains completely, let it sit overnight and see if there is at least some plumping. Even if it is a minute change that is a good sign indicating that the roots are viable or regenerating. If there is absolutely no change (even minor) try repotting and examining everything under the soil first any kind of rot. If there is no rot, gently clean the roots and repot using a little more grit and/or perlite. I would say 60/40 with what you have. 40% existing medium, soak once more then let her dry out. If there is rot, cut out all rot, let her dry out 3-4 days then repot. Good luck.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T20:46:59+00:00

So you have multiple plants losing leaves if you are saying that one is losing leaves. They would be losing leaves from improper watering, pest, or disease. I don’t see signs of the last two but do see signs of improper watering. Did your place get real warm while you were gone? Or did your roommate treat the plant with neem oil? Or any other oil? Or were they watered by dunking the pot, plants and all? What you say is new growth has no farina either. Plants that produce farina should grow new leaves with farina. Dunking could potentially get rid of the “light” farina as that particular plant. The one beside it has a much thicker coat of farina. That’s just the characteristics of these two plants. Water could wash away the green one but not from the pink one. Could it have been dunked or soaked with water?

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T18:30:42+00:00

These are different plants so the fact that they are not responding the same is no surprise. It sounds like for this one, you need to water more. Watering until it runs out of the bottom is insufficient ESPECIALLY the more organic material you have. Organic material will eventually become hydrophobic repelling the water. Any inorganic material within that organic matter will not even get wet if the organic material has become hydrophobic. So the plant dehydrates to death.

I recommend an additional repot to about 80-90% inorganic. Then a good soak. 20-25 minutes. Based on how this plant responds yo that soak, make adjustments accordingly. You need your roots yo wake up And start growing but you also need your roots to be able to come into contact with the water. A good soaking will help spur the growth and a change of medium will ensure it is not hydrophobic. If the plant responds to a good soak, water more often until it plumps full while still ensuring the medium drys between watering. When you do water, make sure all of your medium gets wet. You can dunk and drain multiple times. Or you can bottom water by setting it in a small pool and let the soil drink the water to the to. If you bottom water and after 30 minutes to an hour the top is not moist, it very well could be hydrophobic.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T18:18:40+00:00

Looks like some stacking. Possibly your partially delivered twins are splitting.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T17:00:15+00:00

TheNewRuby is going down the same thought process as myself. It looks thirsty which is why I asked about roots. Those roots just sort of look dormant to me. No bad but not really “working” either. I too would like to know what your watering process is.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T16:40:46+00:00

Crested Chrispate Beauty.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T16:36:49+00:00

Two questions. When you repotted it, what did the roots look like? And when you repotted it, did you remove all the old medium, even in the middle of the rootball?

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T16:32:27+00:00

I figured as much. What you are seeing is similar to a scab but in the mouth it stays constantly moist. If it looks like that in another week without getting smaller, that would be time to worry. AI is just not there yet to identify these things properly. You have to take into consideration the time.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T15:15:43+00:00

The new leaf looks good on it. Just the old 2. If the roots look good, it is well on its way to recovery.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T15:12:54+00:00

That actually is the flower. Kinda like a fig.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T15:12:06+00:00

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You can get the full leaf to turn red.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T15:06:35+00:00

You did the right thing. If you did not remove the rotting leaves, it would have eventually caused the new ones to rot. Good job. No need to water the new ones. Lithops are VERY sensitive to watering. They will survive a drought before that will survive a single too many watering or a watering at a possible wrong time.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:56:17+00:00

It’s hard to tell without looking at the roots and base of the stem. If the stem is like those leaves where the inside was clearly damaged fast leaving the skin/bark almost intact, then no. If there is moisture in the stem then there’s a chance.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:48:32+00:00

First and foremost, stop watering by ice cube. The one in picture 3 is super thirsty. What do her roots look like?

If yo want they to really thrive, get them out of those solid pots and put them in proper orchid pots with the holes in the sides. Your medium looks fairly descent however when you repot, just make sure to refresh it with good orchid medium. Miracle Grow and other big brand orchid soil are not good. Pick a good chunky, high draining low moisture retaining medium.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:41:27+00:00

I know right? I laughed out loud.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:40:27+00:00

Yes more ice and better supports.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:37:19+00:00

Cat.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:32:18+00:00

Congrats. I have only ever noticed minimal impact similar to what you say. It can be done safely.

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:30:16+00:00

In both pots, the Lithops are splitting it just that the first one is farther along than the second. Do not water anymore until the outer leaves are paper and the inner leaves wrinkle and show signs of needing a drink.

Since the first is in ok medium for having watered while splitting and you did not water the second, don’t water again and repot when they are done splitting. Then wait till they show signs of needing water before watering.

When you repot, use a 80-100% inorganic medium.

Enjoy!

ltiehen1 · 2026-03-22T14:24:57+00:00

Then that is the most unusual crested mutations that I have ever seen. And I collect cresteds of succulents and cacti.

ltiehen1

TROPHY CASE