Succulents with black foliage frequently indicate overwatering. If the leaves are becoming black, the succulent is drowning in water and is decomposing from the root up. The leaves typically feel mushy and spongy as well.
It can also mean that the plant is in the incorrect potting soil. To avoid root rot, succulents require soil that drains efficiently.
Your plant may suffer if it is in the incorrect potting soil and receives excessive watering. If this occurs, you need to act quickly to rescue your plant.
Remove the dead plant from the ground as a solution. Most of the time, the plant is still salvageable. Examine the plant and remove as much of the mushy, dark sections as you can.
The top of the plant can generally be saved because the bottom and center rot first. Cut off all the rotting sections of the plant and save any part that is still clearly green and alive. Allow the cuttings to dry for a few days before replanting them in an appropriate, well-draining potting mix.
Within a few weeks, the plant will take root, giving you access to a new, healthy plant. It’s okay sometimes to just be able to save a few healthy leaves. I’ve done this with a dying plant, and I ended up with a few new plants made entirely from the dying plant’s leaves. Just place the leaves on the ground and wait for them to take root and sprout new plants.
How are black succulents preserved?
Making sure your soil is entirely dry before rewatering is the greatest approach to prevent overwatering. As I’ve mentioned in several of my prior posts, most succulents can survive three days—and perhaps even a week—without water, so if in doubt, wait.
Start by reducing your watering schedule as soon as you see signs of overwatering on one of your plants. Additionally, you might want to use a pot with a drainage hole and convert to a better soil mix.
You’ll need to perform some minor surgery on your succulent if it has a black stem or patches. It’s lot simpler than it seems to do this! Simply remove the top of the plant, remove any dark spots, and then propagate it in fresh soil after giving the cutting three to five days to dry out.
You can see how I removed every portion of the stem that was moist or discolored on the cuts below.
It’s worth waiting to see even though it’s unlikely that the original plant will survive! Leave the bottom area alone and wait till the soil is completely dry before watering it (all the way to the bottom of the pot). If you’re lucky, the plant may recover from the excessive watering after a few days of drying out and may even start to delay new growth.
You don’t want to risk harming the other succulents if the decaying succulent was part of a succulent arrangement. I advise pulling the rotting succulent out of the ground in this situation.
Can you revive a succulent that is rotting?
After that, clean the container and fill it with new dirt. A drop of antibacterial dish soap should be added to a bowl of water. Carefully clean the succulent’s roots with brand-new cotton swabs. The roots could also be submerged in a weak anti-fungal solution. Before repotting, allow the roots to totally dry out. For two weeks, let the plant remain dry, and keep a constant eye on it.
What causes succulents to get black rot?
It has gotten too much water if the areas are squishy. It is sinking. See, to survive the dry circumstances of their native desert, succulents store extra water in their leaves, roots, and stems. The water storage tissue of the plant bloats and explodes when it is overfilled with water. A fungus has grown in the plant tissue damage that is the cause of the black patches.
Solution: Your succulent might not be able to be saved. Remove the plant from its pot and examine the health of its roots. If so, remove all harmed stems and leaves before repotting the succulent in dry soil. This time, water a little less. If the roots are mushy, the plant is doomed to failure since they are lifeless. Any remaining viable plant parts can be cut into cuttings, which should then be rooted in fresh soil after the cut ends have healed. Yes, just create a new plant and start over. Both the mother plant and the soil it was in should be thrown out because they are likely fungus-infected due to plant rot.
What does succulent black rot look like?
Your plant has acquired infected roots if you unpot your succulents and see that the roots are dark brown or black. As a result, you must take action right away to address it or your plant may perish.
The stems and leaves will get paler and yellow if the rot gets to them. Your succulents’ leaves will deteriorate into mush over time. Overwatering is likely to be the cause of lower leaves turning pale. But if the upper leaves start to yellow, there may not be enough nutrients in the soil.
What does a succulent look like when it is overwatered?
How can you tell if your succulent is getting too much water? You can usually determine if a succulent is being overwatered or underwatered by looking for telltale indications. A plant that has received too much water will have soft, mushy leaves.
The leaves would either turn translucent in color or appear lighter than they would on a healthy plant. A succulent that had received too much water would frequently lose leaves readily, even when only lightly handled. Usually, the lowest leaves are the ones to suffer first.
The plant will look to be unhealthy overall. When this occurs, the plant is either being overwatered, sitting in the incorrect soil that does not dry out quickly enough, or both.
Your plants are being overwatered if you have been giving them regular waterings or if you have been following a watering schedule regardless of how the plant appears.
On the other hand, a succulent that has been submerged will have withered, wrinkled, and deflated-looking leaves. The leaves will appear thin and flat. The entire plant will appear withered and dry.
The leaves of a good succulent plant should be thick and solid, not mushy or desiccated.
To learn more about this subject, visit my post titled “How To Tell If Your Succulent is Over or Under Watered,” in which I go into great length about how you may determine whether your succulent plant is being over or under watered.
This String of Pearls ‘Senecio Rowleyanus’ plant leaf is one that has been overwatered. If a succulent’s water storage capacity has been exceeded, it may physically burst from overwatering.
Why is the middle of my succulent black?
Underwatering can also cause leaves to become brown. A plant that has been scorched and submerged will seem withered and have charred leaves. Since I frequently submerge my succulent plants and leave them outside all year, they frequently shrivel and turn brown when subjected to intense heat and humidity.
A plant that has submerged is rather simple to fix. Usually, following a thorough watering, the plant will instantly regain its energy. Give the plant a big drink and allow the water to get to the roots so the plant can absorb it.
It is healthier for the plant if you give it a nice drink of water and let it dry out in between waterings as opposed to misting it every few days. Although succulents enjoy a nice drink of water, they must dry off before being watered again. Checking the soil’s top inch is a decent rule of thumb.
Before you add any water, the area should feel dry. Compared to an overwatered plant, a succulent that has been underwatered is simpler to cure.
Do succulents require sunlight?
Depending on the type, succulents need six hours of sunlight each day because they are light-loving plants. You might need to gradually expose newly planted succulents to full sun exposure or give shade with a translucent screen because they can burn in direct sunshine.
Can succulents endure direct sunlight?
Due to their drought tolerance and water-storing properties, which enable them to tolerate high heat and very harsh sun exposure, succulents have become well-known. This is true for the majority of succulent plants, however some cannot survive direct sunlight without protection, and if exposed to excessive heat, they may suffer sun damage.  
The best 10 succulents and cacti that will thrive in full sun are listed below. Some of these plants can withstand full sun exposure better than others.
 
How come leaves turn black?
Plants with black leaves are a clear indication that something is wrong. These poor plants can occasionally be saved, but more often than not, the damage has been done and it is too late to reverse it. Finding out what went wrong can be a crucial step in ensuring that these issues don’t occur with your other plants, whether or not it is already too late.
Watering
Blackened leaves are a result of overwatering plants. Frequently, the plant has irreparable rot by this point and cannot be rescued. Avoid letting your plants sit in excessive amounts of water, and make sure the pot they are in has a hole at the bottom so any extra water can drain. Test the soil before watering by inserting a figure about an inch deep. It doesn’t necessarily follow that the soil isn’t wet underneath just because the top layer is dry. It’s also crucial to avoid letting your plants’ leaves become too wet. While a little bit is usually fine, too much might result in dangerous fungal infections that can spread illnesses and ultimately kill your plant. To try to solve these problems, if you see any standing water on your plants, wipe it out with a cloth or paper towel.
Salts
The development of white patches on the soil surface of your plant is typically an indication of salt buildup. Salts can be found in fertilizers, potting soils, and the water you use to hydrate your plants. Regularly flush-watering a plant helps remove any extra salts and minerals. Even after you start to notice black leaves, these harsh deposits may still be able to help you save your plant.
Temperature and Humidity
Tropical regions are where most indoor plants are native. They favor warm, muggy environments. Try keeping your plants in regions where the temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit to keep them comfy. Anything below 55 degrees won’t be conducive to growing plants. Additionally, make sure that your green space is sufficiently ventilated and damp.
Rotted Plants
Sadly, there are times when black leaves appear for reasons that are wholly uncontrollable. Bacterial infections can result in rot that turns leaves black and destroys plants swiftly. To prevent the rot from spreading to other plants in your yard, this terrifying scenario needs to be treated right now. Purchasing your plants and cuttings from a reputable source is one of the greatest ways to prevent this. Cheap, big-box retailers frequently get their plants from unhygienic growth environments. Make sure the place you buy your plants from is sourcing from an actual, high-quality nursery by doing your homework before you buy!
Although black leaves on your plants can be reversed, in certain situations they are an indication of bacterial, fungal, or disease issues. The best course of action is to remove the plant from your other plants as soon as you find it because of this risk. This move can avert a catastrophe in your collection. Insects like whiteflies should also be avoided because they can infect your plants with germs.
How are burnt succulents handled?
Succulents that get sunburned can’t use their leaves to absorb enough water and nutrients.
Replanting sunburned succulents in a shaded area and misting the plant with cool water to keep it hydrated are effective treatments for sunburn.
To assist your succulent maintain moisture, apply some mulch around the base if you see any wilting or drooping leaves.
You can put your succulent back outside in the sun as long as it is in a shady area and the sunburn has not resulted in any drooping or withering leaves.
Make sure your succulent receives enough water and is protected from direct sunlight by keeping an eye on it. You can put your plant back in a sunny location once all sunburn symptoms have vanished.
Additionally, check that your pot drains properly because a succulent’s sunburn may get worse if there is too much water left in the pot.
To make sure your succulent is getting all the nutrients it requires, you may also sprinkle an organic fertilizer once a month.
These plants must receive all the vitamins and minerals they require in order to start producing healthy new cells once more.
Basically, you want to do everything that can relieve this plant’s sunburn!
How frequently do I need to water my succulent?
During the months that are not winter, when the temperature is above 40 degrees, you should water your succulents every other week. You should only water your succulent once a month in the winter (when the temperature falls below 40 degrees), as it goes dormant at this period.
A few situations constitute an exception to this rule. Because their tiny leaves can’t hold as much water as other varieties with larger leaves, some varieties of succulents need to be watered more frequently. In the non-winter months, feel free to give these small leaf succulents a water if they appear to be thirsty. When they are thirsty, succulents generally exhibit a wrinkled appearance. But always keep in mind that being underwater is preferable to being overwater.
When its roots decay, can a succulent recover?
A succulent with a rotting root can be saved, but only if you can fix the problem right away. You can either let it dry naturally, cut the infected areas, or spread the healthy areas, depending on the severity of the rot. Otherwise, try not to overwater succulents because they can get by on very little water!