If you are looking for a fun and unique addition to your indoor landscape, you will absolutely love the frizzle sizzle! With its thick, spiraled leaves, this bulb succulent will be the focal point of your living space.
One benefit of owning a frizzle sizzle is that it is super easy to care for – no mess, no fuss! Give this plant the basic care it needs, and it will reward you with bright green curls and beautiful blooms.
But, if your frizzle sizzle suddenly looks dry and unhealthy, it might be cause for serious concern! Why is your frizzle sizzle dying? Let us discuss the possible reasons below.
Frizzle sizzle plant – Care requirements
Frizzle sizzles have a unique beauty that brings joy to any indoor space. They are fun to look at, thanks to their green, spiraling foliage that looks like little curls. Many plant enthusiasts love growing these spiral-tipped plants, not only for their distinctive leaves but also for their simple care requirements.
Also known as Albuca spiralis or corkscrew albuca, the frizzle sizzle is a bulb succulent native to the Western and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. What makes these plants highly sought-after by gardening aficionados is their long, narrow, corkscrewed leaves. They also have glandular hairs that feel sticky to the touch. Under the right growing conditions, the frizzle sizzle plant can reach eight inches tall and grow flower stalks of 12 to 24 inches.
You might be surprised to know that caring for a frizzle sizzle plant does not require very much expertise! In fact, this succulent is one of the many houseplants you can start growing if you are new to gardening.
Keep in mind, though, that this succulent can be a bit fussy when it comes to watering and drainage requirements. To give it the best care possible, make sure to do a bit of research about its basic needs. If you get everything right, you should be rewarded with dangling, vanilla-scented flowers come springtime.
With the proper care, a frizzle sizzle only needs about 12 weeks to grow fully. Most of its care requirements are similar to those of other common houseplants, so if you are an experienced grower, then caring for a frizzle sizzle should not be very challenging for you. Some of its needs include:
- Proper watering once every two or three weeks from summer to fall, and once a week during the winter months.
- Well-aerated soil with enough water retention to keep the plant hydrated.
- A bit of balanced and diluted succulent fertilizer to give it a boost during the growing season.
- A perfect spot with access to filtered sunlight and away from harsh temperatures.
Is my frizzle sizzle dying?
First and foremost, is your frizzle sizzle really dying? Seeing a houseplant drying up and shedding a few leaves can send us all into panic mode, but this panic is not always necessary. Your frizzle sizzle might simply be dormant, which is quite normal for almost any plant. Aside from its tips turning brown, you might also notice slower growth at this time.
Now, you might expect that the frizzle sizzle would be dormant during the winter, but it is not! When this succulent reaches full maturity, it begins to produce flowers during the spring and summer months. At this stage, it stops producing new leaves and focuses all its energy on its blooms – and this is when the frizzle sizzle enters its dormancy period.
Dormancy is also a unique way for the plant to survive the hot climate in its native environment, and is the reason your frizzle sizzle actually requires less – not more – water during the summer season. At this time, the plant might look like it is dying, but do not worry – it is just taking a rest! As long as its bulbs are healthy, it should start growing again when the weather starts to cool down.
However, if your frizzle sizzle looks unhealthy overall, it may be time to investigate some other possible culprits.
Frizzle sizzle dying – common causes
Despite it being a low-maintenance plant, growing and caring for a frizzle sizzle is not an entirely problem-free journey. Every now and then, you might notice the plant looking droopy or sad, and its leaves turning yellow or brown. If you think your frizzle sizzle is not growing well, it may be affected by one or a combination of the following:
1. Improper watering
Both underwatering and overwatering can have detrimental effects on your plant. Without adequate water, the frizzle sizzle will begin to develop brown or yellow leaves, dried-out stalks, and a drooping appearance. It will also lose its overall vigor and beauty.
How often should you water your frizzle sizzle?
As mentioned before, frizzle sizzles should only be watered once every two or three weeks during their dormancy period. This means you should give them less water in the spring and summer. Increase your watering to once a week when the winter months arrive, since this is the season when your corkscrew albuca is actively growing.
2. Poor soil
So, you are confident that your plant is receiving the right amount of water, but it still looks sad and unhealthy. Then investigate the condition of the soil.
Soil quality can make or break those little green curls! Ideally, the soil must be moist enough but never too saturated for your frizzle sizzle. We recommend using a potting medium formulated for cacti and succulents, as this provides good aeration while still keeping your plant hydrated.
You can also make your own potting mix by following this recipe:
- One part perlite
- One part coarse sand
- Two parts potting soil
3. Repotting
Repotting can be very stressful for your plants, especially when not done correctly. The resulting condition is known as transplant shock. When plants go through this period, they might wilt, drop a few leaves, and develop yellow or brown leaves. All of these symptoms are normal under these circumstances, and the best thing you can do at this time is to give your plant the best care as it recovers.
Remember that your frizzle sizzle will need to be repotted when it starts to outgrow its container. On average, that means repotting it every two to three years. To reduce transplant stress, make sure that you cause minimal damage to the roots during the process.
It is also worth mentioning that repotting is the ideal time to check the health of the roots and look for signs of root rot. If you notice any dark and mushy roots, prune them off with a clean pair of scissors. Carefully rinse the remaining healthy roots before planting your frizzle sizzle in its new pot.
4. Too much fertilizer
Over-fertilizing is another common mistake that is often overlooked by novice gardeners. Remember that more fertilizer does not always mean better growth! If you apply fertilizer in excessive amounts, the plant will not be able to use it all, and the extra dosage will accumulate as salts in the soil and cause root burn.
To give your frizzle sizzle that extra boost, use a liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Feed your plant during the cold months, and avoid using any fertilizer during the summer when it is dormant.
5. Light
A lack of light could be another reason your frizzle sizzle looks dry and droopy. This aspect can be very challenging for growers living in tight apartments where indoor light is limited.
Remember that frizzle sizzles thrive in areas with filtered sunlight. Thus, for the best growth, the ideal spot for your plant should be near a south-facing window. That said, it can also do well in other areas of your home where it can enjoy full, bright sunlight.
If you cannot find the perfect spot for your plant, you can use LED grow lights instead. These affordable alternatives help your plant get enough light in any season. Grow lights can also be the perfect solution during the winter months when daylight hours are fewer.
Should I let my frizzle sizzle flower?
Whether to allow your frizzle sizzle to produce flowers is a personal preference. If you want to preserve its corkscrew foliage for the entire season, then you might need to cut off the blooms as they grow. If, on the other hand, you do not mind the plant’s natural growth cycle, then just allow it to bloom and wait for the new curls to grow in the next growing season.
Conclusion
While it can be worrisome to see the beautiful foliage of your frizzle sizzle turning brown, this is often simply due to dormancy. This is a normal part of the growth cycle for most plants, and the best thing you can do is wait for your plant’s green curls to recover in the next growing season.
However, if dormancy is not the cause of your plant’s unhealthy appearance, you might need to review your plant care routine to ensure that your frizzle sizzle is receiving adequate water, sunlight, and nutrition. Once you have diagnosed the issue, you should be able to return your Albuca spiralis to full health in no time!
Image: istockphoto.com / Queserasera99