Hi I live in New Zealand and we are in the middle of summer here now. We bought a house about 6 months ago and it had 3 beautiful schwarzkopf plants. Now all three have all their petals shrivelling up and falling off. I have attached a photo of one of them at its best and then a "now" photo. Can anyone tell me what is happening to these plants? Two of them are in the ground at opposite ends of the same garden and one is in a pot around the other side of the house. The ones in the garden are shaded by the house in the morning but get full sun from about 11am until the sun sets. Can anyone help with what is wrong with them all? Thanks very much Raewyn
Aeoniums go through dormancy just like other succulents. What has your watering schedule been like? They need very little water when dormant, and need to be watered carefully when growing. Just to confuse things, they grow during the winter for us here in Canada, and are dormant during the summer. Sometimes they can switch over however and be dormant through the winter. One has to watch carefully to see if they are growing, before actively watering and fertilizing. As such, watering can cause some rot if done when dormant. Sound possible?
Thanks Chester. They are pretty much only getting the rain water that we get over summer. We have used the hose on them only a couple of times through summer - just really letting them survive on what mother nature provides. They are in a garden of succulents and all the other ones are doing fine, I would have thought that if they were getting too much water that the other succulents would show some signs too??? Also the one in the pot is under shelter all the time and I always forget to water it and so it is not getting too much water there. I think I will work on the dormant over summer theory and just watch them and wait and see what happens when the weather cools down in a few months time. All fingers crossed that they will bloom again as they are very beautiful plants. Raewyn
I've have had a similar experience with my Aeonium scharzkopf. The tops of mine, looked just like yours. My young plants are still just single stalks, but I lost one of my three last summer. I believe it was some root rot because we had a wet summer. When I pulled the stalk out (wind had actually blown the plant over onto it's side) the roots were almost non-existent. The remaining two stalks were showing signs of damage, but the plants were able to be saved by changing the soil and treating the roots with a root stimulator/anti-fungal powder. My Aeonium's seem to go in and out of dormancy a few times a year. Currently, (February) it is bitter cold outside, but I have the plant indoors in a southern exposure. The plants are in the middle of an active growth period and I am able to water them. It seems, every 2-3 months, they flip from dormancy to an active growth period, and back again...I'm still trying to sort it out.
What you're experiencing is normal for the summer months. Aeoniums are winter growers (with a few exceptions). If you'd like to see your plants more full, you can cut off the heads, let them callous over & replant them. They will still grow pups from the stems you have, whether or not you cut off the rosettes. Your Fall (I'm not familiar with which months that covers) would be a good time to do this. BTW, the correct name for your plant is Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'. I water mine throughout the year, but all my succulents are on a Sink or Swim (SOS) regimen...being neglected most times. :D We have winter rainfall...when they are doing most of their growing.
Say raewyn64, I haven't read the posts in a while, but I couldn't help noticing that you said you hoped "they would bloom again". The stems that bloom on Aeoniums will die after they bloom. Perhaps that plant bloomed prolifically, and is trying to pack it in?
About 6 months ago I bought an aeonium schwarzkopf in southern California and kept it in its pot on the balcony. Early May I drove back to my home in south Florida. The poor plant lived in the car for 10 days. I've never seen this plant growing in Florida though it is certainly warm enough here. Since arriving in Florida, the aeonium has been in the front of the house where it gets afternoon sun. It's still in the pot since I'm afraid the generous summer rainfall and humidity will kill it in the ground. For a few days, I had a saucer under it which collected water and found mealy bugs on the stem! In short, this lovely plant may not grow in Florida due to the humidity and resulting bugs. But since purchasing it, it has neither grown nor died. It's just there like a fake plant. I think I'm seeing a little growth come out on the stem and will keep an eye on it. Has anyone in Florida grown this plant outdoors successfully? Any information will be greatly appreciated.
