I bought a sedum mix from IKEA two months ago, and it's sitting on a south-facing window. Recently I noticed that the lower leaves have turned brownish and soft, and the base of the stem is darkening. I water it roughly once every two weeks. Is this rot? How do I save the plant?
It looks like genuine rot, but not entirely because of watering. Sedums are succulents and need minimal moisture - watering once every two weeks might actually be too frequent, especially if the soil doesn't dry out well. But here's the main thing: it's often the soil from IKEA. They usually sell these plants in regular universal substrate, which is completely wrong for succulents: it retains moisture, which is basically deadly for them. Dark, soft base means the rot is already pretty advanced.
You can save it, but you need to act fast. Take the plant out of the pot and check the roots and base of the stem. If the rot is only on the surface, remove all affected parts with a sharp knife or blade down to healthy tissue. Pinch off the healthy leaves (you can propagate them), and let the stem dry out for a day or two in a dry place. Then plant it either in proper succulent soil (or a mix of soil + sand + perlite in equal parts), or even just plain sand - the sedum will root in that too.
The pot needs drainage holes and shouldn't be too big. Water only when the soil is completely dry, or better yet, wait a couple more days after that. Over the two months it was at IKEA, the plant probably already suffered while sitting on the shelf, so this isn't entirely your fault - you just have a chance now to save it by repotting it into proper conditions.
Log into answer.
