Why is My Frizzle Sizzle Dying? 7 Reasons Your Albuca Spiralis is Dying Off
Is your Frizzle Sizzle dying? Have you noticed your plant starting to come down with brown tips, brown roots, or even seeing mold at the base of the plant? The good news is that most of the reasons this plant fails can be easily corrected. In this article, we look at the 6 most common reasons that the Alubuca Spiralis dies off due to gardener error.
Finding the right houseplant can be a challenge. There’s Tillisandia, Epiphytes, Pothos varieties, succulents, and more. The Frizzle Sizzle is a succulent and extremely popular indoor plant for many homes and apartments. But what happens when this plant starts to die unexpectedly?
The Albuca Spiralis, also known as the Corkscrew Albuca, is a picky plant. There are many different conditions that can impact how this plant grows or fails, once planted. Often, these plants are planted in pots inside your home, so there are some critical factors you’ll need to consider in keeping your plant both healthy and alive.
While there are a number of different reasons your Frizzle Sizzle may be dying, we will take a look at some of the most commonly overlooked and easily fixed reasons for this plant’s failure to survive. Let’s jump in and take a look at the seven most common reasons your Albuca Spiralis may be dying off!
Contents
Is Your Plant Actually Dying?
The first question to ask yourself is if your succulent is actually dying or not. This plant goes dormant after it blooms, which is in the spring and summer. After it’s produced a flower, the tips will start to brown, and this isn’t something to be concerned about. This happens because the Albuca Spiralis focuses all its energy on producing flowers.
Over and underwatering (which we will talk about next) can also cause browning. If your plant has had the right amount of water, then just make sure that this isn’t part of its natural life cycle.
7 Reasons Frizzle Sizzles Die
As with most plants, finding the cause of death and decay can be from a variety of different reasons. The good news is that with the Albuca Spiralis, most times it’s due to user error and can be easily corrected. Because this plant is a favorite of many novice succulent owners, they typically start to die from simple issues like overwatering, underwatering or not enough sunlight. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons your Frizzle Sizzle could be dying.
Overwatering
Frizzle Sizzles are overwatered when the soil becomes soaked on a regular basis. This will lead to root rot and decay of the plant. They are not drought-tolerant plants, so they need moist soil, but too much water can be fatal.
Water thoroughly when you water your plant until the excess water comes out of the bottom (leaving any left in the tray). You can also check to make sure you’re checking for signs of overwatering; dark green leaves indicate that it’s getting too much water, while light yellow leaves show that it needs more!
Underwatering
Frizzle Sizzles are underwatered when the soil is allowed to dry out. They need an evenly moist soil but will die if the water is not added frequently enough for this plant.
This plant doesn’t like too much or too little water; it thrives when its water needs are regulated correctly. Check the soil by sticking your finger in about 1/2 inch deep and feeling how moist it is. If it feels dry, add water; if damp, wait a day before watering again.
Root Rot
Frizzle Sizzles can be prone to root rot. When this happens, you’ll see yellow leaves, and mold in the soil. You may notice your plant doesn’t grow as well, and the base of the plant will start to collapse.
These are all telltale signs of root rot. When this happens, you’ll need to de-pot your plant. Plants that have root rot will display browning at the roots. Healthy, yellow roots mean that this is not a problem for your plant, and you should consider other factors while troubleshooting.
Excessive Heat
Frizzle Sizzles don’t like excessive heat, typically above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They are native to South Africa, so they don’t like the heat of an Arizona summer very much!
This is not a cactus or desert plant, its natural environment is wet and humid which means it doesn’t do well in hot places. Make sure that you keep your plant away from any direct sunlight or heat sources to ensure their health and longevity!
Excessive Cold
They also don’t like excessive cold and will wilt and die if they’re exposed to cold temperatures for too long. They don’t like frost, and typically only survive down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
This plant is from the African countries of Cameroon and Nigeria, so they don’t do well in cooler climates or extreme weather situations! If you keep your plant outdoors, try to bring it inside during the winter if possible. They also prefer humidity above 40 percent, so make sure you give them a humid environment to keep them healthy and alive!
Sunlight
Frizzle Sizzles like indirect sunlight, preferably the morning sun. About 4-6 hours per day is best for optimal growing results. These plants are typically found inside nurseries, and not outside, due to their relatively low-sunlight needs. While these plants will adapt to more sunshine over time, it’s best to stick to only 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight at first, while the plant matures.
More sunlight than required can cause this plant to burn, brown, and die. This can often be a primary cause of death in this plant for new owners, so make sure your sunlight ratios are in-line while considering their watering and nutritional needs.
Flowering
Plant flowering is another one of the reasons that many plant owners think their plant is “dying.” While this is true in a sense, it’s actually part of this plant’s life cycle. When the plant flowers, the tips will turn bown. Once that happens, they will lose their corkscrew shape.
To stop this, you’ll need to trim back the flowers before they start. This should prevent your corkscrews from turning straight, or browning. Don’t mistake this for “dying” though, as there’s nothing outside of pruning or pinching that can stop this from happening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my plant not curling?
If the leaves of your plant aren’t curling, this is quite common. This typically happens when your plant is overwatered, or has had a lack of sunlight. It can also occur when you’ve allowed the plant to flower, and the leaves need to make way for flower stalks.
The only fix for this is to allow the plant to die in the areas that have not curled, and trim the plant back. During the next growing season, the curls should return provided the plant isn’t overwatered, or there’s a lack of sunlight.
Why is my Fizzle Sizzle turning brown?
There are a few reasons for this, but the most common reasons your plant may be turning brown are:
- Plant Flowering
- Root rot
- Underwatering
None of these 3 reasons necessarily indicate that your plant is dying. In fact, their flowering is a natural part of their growth. You just need to decide if you prefer to not let them flower.
Should I let it bloom?
This is personal preference. Many plant owners don’t mind the growth cycle, and just pinch away the brown tips, expecting new coils to appear during the next growing season. Other owners prefer their corkscrew shape, and to keep this, you’ll need to prevent your plant from blooming, and trim back the blooms as they appear.
Why is my Fizzle Sizzle drooping?
The primary reason for a drooping plant is underwatering. These plants are picky when it comes to their watering schedule. While they are a succulent, they need more water than other succulents, so plan your watering schedule accordingly.
Should I fertilize my Albuca Spiralis?
Yes, but only once per year. They should be fertilized early in the spring season, using an all purpose fertilizer. Regular plant food is usually best during the growing season. Keep in mind that over fertilizing your plant can also be a cause for it to turn brown, wilt, and potentially die, so make sure to follow the fertilizer’s instructions for proper feeding.
Final Thoughts
While there are several reasons your Frizzle Sizzle may be dying, the most common reasons are usually easy to fix. It’s typically not that you’ve inherited a bad or diseased plant, and pests generally aren’t the issue if the plant isn’t being kept outdoors. Troubleshoot using the steps above to ensure that your plant isn’t dying from “owner error” before looking at other items that will help your plant’s growth get back on track.
