Anyone knowledgeable about succulents?

[PocketsAndSedition]

I'm not much of an indoors plant person but because I like gardening outdoors, people kindly tend to give me houseplants! So I've ended up with this little succulent, I have no idea what it is but it doesn't seem happy.

It started out almost like a tiny tree with a central stem and leaves at the top, but as you'll see when the pictures load it seems to have collapsed in the middle and the leaves fall off with minimal provocation. Does anyone have any ideas or tips?

Can't see the picture yet but common problems for succulents are being too wet and/cold so they rot. Could this be it?

I don't know how long it takes for MN to approve pictures but if they don't appear soon I'll try again!

I have watered very sparingly so I doubt too wet is the issue but too cold very possible. A different type of succulent in another pot right next to it is happy as can be though, which is why I was hoping to post a picture for ID in case there's something specific this one needs.

Trying again with the pictures...

I never have any luck with these plants whatever I try. I think they like constant temperatures, good drainage, just enough water but not too much especially in winter and to not be in direct sunlight.

In my experience they exist purely to find new and interesting ways of rotting and dying. Sorry to be no help. I'll be watching this thread for advice.

I would chop each stem off and propagate in new fresh soil, they reroot really easily.

Each stem will re root individually, get fresh succulent soil and water once when you put each stem in then just ignore ignite it for ages, each one should regrow.

I would cut each stem just below the last healthy looking leaf, you can also propagate individual leaves too, just put them into the soil and they’ll root.

This is where I’d chop each one :)

Ignore ignore, lol not ignite!! Damn autocorrect 😆

I’ve got tons of these in the south facing patio. From my experience, they don’t do well indoors unless it’s a conservatory. The downside is that any frost does kill them off but ( I can’t bring them indoors)
catch 22 but I’ve has them for years

I don't have a plant like this but succulents often go leggy when they don't get enough light. If you can get a grow light it will make caring for this much easier.

Sounds like a combination of temperature and light then - I'm in Scotland so both can be challenging! I'll try repotting each limb and moving them to a warmer room but if I'm honest I don't care enough about indoor plants to get into grow lights etc so it may be that this particular plant isn't for me.

Thanks everyone for the advice and solidarity 😁

You should find if you figure out a spot where it’s happy it becomes quite low maintenance- good luck :) Come back & update how you get on!

Succulents are picky buggers. They change their minds on a whim. The ones I have like yours like a bit of benign neglect and not too much water. Agree with changing places re chopping and propagating. However, once I think I've understood them, they change again, constant mind games.

Yep! I do this with mine when they get too tall. I’m apparently too successful at growing succulents as my original two are giant now and I’m worried they’re going to be too big for my windowsill before long 🤦🏻‍♀️

My jade plant is a bit like that, I had to give it a big chop down, propagated all the bits I cut off and now I’ve got loads of them!

I have a few of those. It's partly the time of year. In ideal climate conditions they might look good all the time but here they tend to get leggy and sparse. The good news is they propogate very easily. I'd wait until about march to chop it and plant all the bits as cuttings.

If you’re repotting or propagating invest in succulent compost (usually cactus/succulent). They’re often sold in the wrong compost so they’re rotting before they even get in your house!

I love succulents as they're the only type of indoor plants I've not killed (shamefully didn't inherit my mum's green fingers).

I agree with snipping off and reporting the leggy stems. I have a couple on my windowsill now that went leggy, ended up outside and I brought them in last week to repot. Will see if they make it - still green at the ends! Failing that the individual leaves root really easily if you want 100s of baby plants?

@PocketsAndSedition If it's any help, succulents like as much light as you can possibly give them, and they are one of the few plants to like being on a windowsill with a radiator underneath. They don't need all that much water and are best kept on the dryish side in the winter, otherwise they rot. They also like free-draining gritty compost.