Stuck in succulent phase?

[Katie_1375]

I have a few ping on this rock and some of them are doing great and my ping cyclosecta (bottom L corner) seems to be stuck in a succulent phase. I have had it for almost 8-9mo now and it has been in the succulent phase the whole time. I checked it with a light meter and they are getting ~200ppf under Sansi grow lights. They are indoors and stay around 71 degrees F. Any suggestions on how to get it out??

 

[adnedarn]

How long do you have the lights on? Have you changed this at all over the 8-9 months? Do you only water by what the rock sits in?

 

[jeff 2]

Check if the rock is conducive to capillary action?The best light for pings is natural light; avoid direct sunlight.

 

[Katie_1375]

Lights are on for 13 hours a day. And yea they only get the water from what it sits in, should I start to top water them??

I dont really have any way to put them outside nor do I really want to. I love having my little indoor ping rock behind my desk so I dont really plan to put it outside

 

[adnedarn]

Do you have any indication the rock is sucking water up (capillary action as Jeff 2 mentioned above). It could surely be that it's too dry, keeping the plant in succulent mode. Interesting though that this is a lower plant while higher plants have not had that issue...

 

[Katie_1375]

Hmm not 100% sure how to test if it is getting enough water. My best indication would be like you said, that the other ones higher up are doing well. Is there a way to test that it gets enough water?

 

[adnedarn]

I have not made any pingrocks, @Pochi plant any input on this?

 

[Acro]

If you touch the rock . . . it should feel moist.
Placing a piece of paper towel on the rock should also show moisture.

 

[Pochi plant]

what kind of ping is it? If it’s one of the more tentacle ones like gypsicola, it’s will get out of its succulent phase when it wants to. I’ve never changed my watering schedule to induce pings to go in or out of their phases in any way.

Another reason it may be in succulent phase is due to the moisture. For the ping rock, as long as the media is moist under the ping then it’s getting adequate water through capillary action. If not, you can artificially do that by drilling holes and filling it with something that can wick. I do this for lava rock that have air pockets that are too big for capillary action like black lava rocks.

 

[Katie_1375]

It is a cyclosecta. Which I all bought at the same time from a local grower and none of them are acting happy. The few that have come out of succulent phase are still very very green.

As for water the medium is wet so I do think they are getting enough water

 

[jeff 2]

Water must reach the roots of your plant.If your stone doesn't lift the water, your plants will have a problem.