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Hi! I got this rock plant around 3 weeks ago and it’s turned very brown and one of the leaves looks eaten almost. How do I revive it from here? Is it too far gone? I have it sitting in indirect sunlight.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @kristinaalala. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about rock plants.
It looks like the plant is under a fair bit of stress, and most of the foliage and the stem appear to have already died back. The first thing I would suggest is trimming off all the brown and dead leaves, leaving only the one green leaf if it still feels firm and healthy. This will help the plant focus whatever energy it has left on surviving rather than supporting dead material.
Since it’s already in indirect light with some ambient outdoor light, the most likely issue is watering. Rock plants are very sensitive to both too much and too little water. Can you recall whether you’ve been keeping that tray topped up? They generally like consistent moisture via the tray rather than water being poured directly over the plant, but constant saturation can also cause rot. If the tray has been kept full the entire time and you’ve only had the plant for three weeks, there’s a good chance it may have already been struggling when you bought it.
Unfortunately, with the stem also turning brown, it does suggest the plant may be too far gone to recover. Sometimes these plants simply don’t take well to the rock they’re attached to, even when care is correct, and they can decline quite quickly. You can certainly try cutting it back, emptying the tray for a short period, then reintroducing a small amount of water and seeing if the remaining green leaf holds, but I’d set expectations that it may not bounce back. If it doesn’t, don’t be too hard on yourself; these plants can be surprisingly finicky even for experienced plant owners.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
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