Succulent Death Bloom [3 Most Common Monocarpic Plants]
Many people like to grow large gorgeous cacti in their gardens. It is always a pleasure to watch your succulents bloom. A cactus with a pink top or tall red succulents might become a beautiful addition to your garden.
Nevertheless, some of the flowering succulents die right after the plant flowers. In many cases, the reason is over-watering or slow-draining soil, but more frequently than not, it is because the plant is Monocarpic.
Monocarpic succulents are commonly distinguished by their stunning, large flower displays. They can help to attract pollinators, guarantee successful reproduction, and produce seeds that will be viable before the succulent dies.
In this article, you will learn about Monocarpic succulents and why they die shortly after blooming.
What is a Monocarpic succulent?
The term monocarpic is derived from two words, mono and caprice. The first word means single, and the second means flowering or fruit. Monocarpic succulents flower only a single time, which is why they are also called death bloom succulents.
Such plants blossom to produce seeds. After monocarpic succulents do this, their major purpose in life is ended.
Interestingly enough, pretty many cacti are Monocarpic. One of the typical characteristics of this type is that the plant will die on its own after it produces the flowers.
Monocarpic is not, nevertheless, limited to succulent species. Some plants from various families die after a single blooming.
This doesn’t imply that monocarpic plants have incredibly brief lifespans. Many live for years or even decades before blooming and dying.
3 widespread Monocarpic plants
Below you can find some of the most typical Monocarpic plants:
Sempervivum
All Sempervivums are Monocarpic. But it mustn’t discourage you from purchasing such a plant due to the fact it will require not such a short time for it to bloom. And when it does, the bloom produces more than enough pups that will become its legacy.
All kinds of Sempervivum bloom. These plants are mostly grown in gardens, but some varieties are grown in pots or containers. They are fairly frequently called hens and chicks.
In case you compare it to Agave, Sempervivum does not need much time for the bloom – around 3 and 4 years. These plants can grow exceptionally well in containers of any kind.
It is not complicated to spot a blooming Sempervivum in case you know what you searching for. Parent rosette leaves, or the hen, close in on themselves before it blossoms. Then the rosette will grow, creating a scaly flower stalk that can reach 10 inches tall.
Interestingly the base rosette will frequently start to tilt to one side. It’s an unusual sight. If offsets are needed they can be taken at the base of the mother plant. This way of propagation is not very reliable compared to the transplantation of rooted offsets, but it might be a success.
These plants tend to grow rapidly. But Hen and chick plants dying is very typical almost instantly after the plant flowers.
Agave
Agave (century plant) is a kind of succulent type, sometimes mistaken for the cactus. It might be useful to be aware that all succulents are succulent plants. Nonetheless, not all succulents are cacti.
Some Agave are monocarpic. During the blooming, the plant puts all of its strength into growing dance stems from the center of the rosette, which can reach up to 8 feet in height, as its final effort.
You can propagate it if you detach and transplant the well-rooted pups from the base.
The blooming of agave succulents is sometimes a bittersweet event. Agave succulents don’t blossom as frequently as others, as some might bloom every year.
There are fairly many varieties that have various blooming periods. Some branches grow swifter, while others need more time for development.
The life span of your agave succulent might depend on its variety of species. These succulents might have a lifespan between 10 and 30 years.
In general, Agave plants are quite attractive and able to become a wonderful addition to any home. These succulents dislike very cold weather, so it is recommended to grow them in containers in greenhouses. Outside, they can be utilized in summer bedding schemes.
Aeonium
These succulent species are often might be called ‘Tree houseleeks.’ Some of the varieties are quite common in horticulture.
It has unusual, glossy, waxy leaves. Also, the succulent has fairly dense, spreading rosettes. The rossets have almost immaculate rounded structures, and some individuals might assume that plants are artificial.
The unique-looking rosettes are solid or multicolored in yellow, white, green, and red.
Fairly many people grow these succulent plants in their gardens or homes because they look gorgeous. Aeonium might become a wonderful plant for your house. It can be utilized as bedding plants or grown in containers. It is not a high-maintenance succulent. Also, it is growing fairly slowly.
It dies after it blooms, but creates multiple pups that thrive after its death.
Aeoniums are some of the most famous and stunning plants, that can be monocarpic. An important fact is that not all Aeoniums cease to exist after finished blooming.
For instance, the Aeonium arboreum is a kind of tall succulent plant, one of the examples that is not monocarpic.
How to know if a succulent is death-blooming
You will be able to recognize a death bloom in monocarpic succulents by a few crucial elements:
Single flower stalk
The most obvious indication of a succulent death bloom is the existence of a single flower stalk developing from the center of the plant, which does not have any leaves or baby plants. This vertical growth helps to determine the death bloom from typical flowering.
The length of the flowering stalk can vary fairly seriously. It might depend on the species of succulent.
Budding and flowering
Shortly after the death bloom stage is started, buds will commence to form on the flower stalk. These flower buds slowly open up into flowers no less than in a few weeks. Once the flowers bloom and start to wither, there is starting development of seed pods in their place.
Wilting succulent
With the progress of the death bloom, the succulent will begin to wilt because the energy of the plant will be directed toward the flowering and seed production process.
Flowering stalk length variation
The length of the flower stalks may vary pretty significantly. Bloom stalk ranges from a few inches to a fairly impressive height of 30 to 40 feet.
By recognizing the elements above, you can determine the death blooms from ordinary flowers.
Why does succulent death bloom occur
The reasons for a succulent’s death bloom can be mostly attributed to stress. Some main characteristics that may initiate a succulent’s death bloom are:
Inadequate watering
In case you overwater or underwater a succulent it can stress it and might initiate the beginning of a death bloom. Overwatering can provoke root rot while underwatering can induce the succulent to choose reproduction as a way to survive.
Insufficient amount of light
Insufficient growth light can be unhealthy for the succulent, provoking energy to be redirected toward flowering and seed development. Lack of adequate sunlight may become a sign to the plant that its survival is in danger.
Insect infestations
Stress on the succulent can be induced by pest infestations as pests feed on its tissues, provoking the plant to begin the death bloom phase as a reaction to the risk.
Imbalance of nutrients
Because of insufficiency of necessary nutrients or imbalances in the soil, the succulent can be stressed, which can trigger the creation of flowers and seeds to reproduce before its end.
Environmental changes
Significant environmental changes, such as unexpected temperature fluctuations or shifts in humidity, can provoke stress in the succulent, which can lead to the growth of death blooms.
What to do after the bloom
Now you learned that a Monocarpic succulent does not necessarily certainly have a short life, and its single bloom feature must not be a concern. In any event, it is fairly crucial to know what to do after bloom.
As you notice the bloom, I suggest you harvest the pups and keep the plant life cycle that method. Also, the seeds can be kept and grown in different pots, as an alternative.
When the monocarpic succulent begins to bloom, I recommend you keep up the routine care so that it won’t become unhealthy and avoid any stress. Once the parent plant entirely dries out and becomes brittle you can harvest the seeds and pups. Pups just ought to be detached and put into the soil.
Frequently asked questions
What is a death bloom on a succulent?
A succulent death bloom is the last flowering act of a Monocarpic succulent, which inevitably ends with the plant’s demise.
Monocarpic is actually an approach of many plants to create progeny. Most Monocarpic succulents create many new babies before they bloom. So when the time for them to bloom is coming, they’ve already developed enough plants for replacement.
Can you save a succulent with a death bloom?
No, the succulent death bloom is a natural and unavoidable phase in the natural life cycle of a succulent.
Unluckily, if death bloom is already occurring, your succulent is certainly to die regardless of your actions.
Nonetheless, I advise you to collect seeds if you wish to receive new plant growth.
Are succulents dying when they bloom?
It depends on if it is Monocarpic succulent or Polycarpic. A succulent death bloom is the final flowering affair of a Monocarpic succulent, which inevitably leads to the plant’s death. Alas, preventing a Monocarpic succulent from dying after it blooms is not feasible.
Polycarpic succulents, on the other hand, don’t die after they create the flowers.
Should I cut off dead succulent flowers?
I advise you to simply pluck off dead flowers. It will help the plant to look tidy. Just be careful and avoid harming the mother plant.
What is the difference between a death bloom and a regular bloom?
Monocarpic succulents and polycarpic succulents are not same. Monocarpic succulents die after flowers are produced. Polycarpic succulents can bloom multiple times during their lives and won’t die.
The primary indication of a death bloom is that the flower stalk is always coming from the center of the parent plant, without any leaves or babies. In case if flower is growing from the side of the plant then it is not a death bloom.
Does Echeveria die after blossoming?
The short answer is no. Primarily, echeveria is not Monocarpic. Although there are a few exceptions, such as Echeveria Afterglow and E. Blue Sky. They have terminal inflorescence.
Conclusion
The succulent death bloom is a significant occurrence that symbolizes the culmination of a plant’s life cycle.
This is the natural process of life and death in the plant world that can remind you all living organisms are interconnected.
So, don’t be sad, try to enjoy watching your Monocarpic succulents bloom, and don’t stop caring for these wonderful plants in your home or garden.
You might also like to check:
Succulents That Like Full Sun and Heat
Greetings, dear succulent lovers! I’m Jennifer West and I’m happy to share with you practical tips and guides on growing and caring for succulents, as well as all the magical facts about these unique plants. Grateful to have you on this green journey with me! Check out more about our team here.
