Frustrated because your Aeonium isn’t growing? Worry not! Here is how to wake up a dormant Black Rose succulent with easy ways!
Everybody loves the gothic-colored rosettes of the black rose succulent! What people don’t love is when a plant goes dormant and just stops growing altogether. But just like us, plants need a little nudge now and then to bounce back. So let’s look at how to bring your black rose succulent back to life!
Best Ways to Wake Up a Dormant Black Rose Succulent
1. Sunlight is Key
Just like every other plant, sunlight plays a vital role in waking up and boosting the growth of your black rose succulent. Since it is a sun-loving plant, you’ll need to move it to a place where it can receive at least 6 hours of bright indirect sunlight.
If your plant has been in a shady spot for too long, introduce it gradually to brighter light to avoid sun stress. Sudden exposure can shock the plant.
Note: Harsh afternoon sun rays can scorch the plant, so it needs some protection.
2. Acclimate to the Environment
This point is related to the last one, but specifically for outdoor conditions. If you choose to transplant your succulent outdoors in late spring, you must slowly acclimate it to withstand the bright sunlight as opposed to the gentle, indirect sunlight found indoors.
For this, move the pot to a bright outdoor location for a few hours before bringing it back indoors. Gradually increase the sunlight exposure time, and once the plant is stable, you can transplant it directly outdoors.
Note: Avoid moving the plant around too often once it’s settled. Aeoniums prefer consistency, especially during their growing season.
3. Increase Watering Frequency
If your plant has slowed down due to seasonal dormancy, get ready with your watering cans by autumn! It’s a good idea to slowly increase the watering frequency just before the plant’s active growing season.
Aeoniums grow in fall and spring, and that is when they need more water to carry on biological functions and increase in size. Tweaking the watering rate and quantity from season to season will keep your plant healthy and help revitalize it after a period of dormancy.
4. Upgrade its Home
A commonly overlooked reason for your black rose plant going dormant or not responding to stimuli is an overcrowded pot. The roots might not have enough space to function optimally, and hence, your plant may lack nutrition and overall growth.
Once you see that your plant has outgrown its container, it’s time for a new and larger one. Fill it up with the right potting mix (2 parts cactus soil and 1 part perlite or pumice), and repot your succulent.
Avoid fertilizing right after repotting. Give the roots a few weeks to settle in before feeding.
Note: Ensure the pot has drainage holes; a terracotta pot is the best option.
5. Pest Prevention
Pests can suck the life out of your plant, literally! If you think you’re providing the best possible growing conditions but your plant still remains asleep, inspect it for pests and infections such as mealybugs or aphids.
If there is an infestation, use the necessary steps to get rid of it which may include completely removing a damaged portion and using pesticides or traps.
Neem oil spray works great for regular pest prevention and is safe for succulents when used in moderation.
6. Pruning and Maintaining
Sometimes you have to let go of the old to get something new! That is why you must prune away dead, dying, or spent parts of your black rose. The senile or dying portions of your plant hinder the emergence of new and healthy growth, as a significant amount of energy is wasted trying to maintain the old ones.
By removing the undesirable parts, the nutrition and energy are redirected toward new growth, thus waking up a sleeping plant.
Always use clean, sharp scissors for pruning to avoid infection or plant stress.
7. External Nutrition Boost
Just like humans need coffee, sometimes your plant needs a kick of nutrition to wake up! In many cases, regular potting mix or soil lacks the right amount of nutrition to sustain healthy growth. That is where fertilizers come in!
Using a fertilizer diluted to half or quarter its strength right before the active growing season will help kickstart the plant’s growing process. You can also use natural, homemade fertilizers like seaweed extract or banana peels to improve the soil nutritional content.
Look for a low-nitrogen fertilizer (like 2-7-7) to promote strong roots and compact growth without leggy stems.
Note: Do not feed your plant in the seasonal dormant period, as this can lead to chemical burns or accumulation in the soil.
8. Do Not Panic
Lastly, it is necessary to keep in mind that your black rose succulent also needs a break. It is natural for it to slow down and go dormant about twice a year (summer and winter).
Forcing it to grow in this period will put unnecessary stress on the plant and lead to undesirable growth patterns or even the death of your succulent.
While dormant, reduce watering to once every 3–4 weeks and avoid moving the plant around. Less stress = better recovery later!
So now that you know how to wake your black rose succulent, get to work and tell us how amazed you were at the results in the comment section!
