Throughout the summer, generous watering of succulents is advised. Between waterings, their potting mix should be let to dry out; do not submerge. Reduce watering to once every two months in the winter, when plants go dormant.
The most frequent reason why succulents fail is overwatering (and the potential plant rot it can bring about). An overwatered succulent may initially swell up and appear to be in excellent health, but the cause of death may already have begun to take hold underground, with rot rising from the plant’s root system.
Succulents that have received excessive water have softer, discolored leaves that may turn yellow or white and lose their color. Even though a plant in this state may be beyond saving, you can still take it out of its pot to look at the roots. Cut out the dead roots and repot the plant in drier potting soil if the roots are brown and rotting. Alternatively, you can take a healthy cutting and propagate the parent plant.
Similar to how a plant that isn’t getting enough water will first cease growing before losing leaves. On the other hand, the plant could get brown blotches on its leaves.
It has been overwatered.
Root rot, which occurs when the roots “drown from soaking in too much moisture, might result from overwatering a succulent. Because they also require oxygen to survive, succulents require breathable soil with excellent drainage. A succulent can turn soft and discolored if it is overwatered.
The leaves of the plant will turn yellow or white. The plant can usually no longer be saved once the leaves start to turn brown since the rot has spread throughout the majority of the plant. It’s still possible to take it out of the pot and look at the roots. Root rot in succulents causes dark brown or black roots that have a rotting vegetable odor.
It has become home to pests.
Your succulent may have a mealybug infestation if it starts to look white and fuzzy. Scale bugs may be at blame if the leaves of the succulent have white spots or dots on them. Spider mites will cover the succulent in their white webs.
These pests all decrease the nutrients in your succulent and can result in a variety of issues. Your plant will eventually develop damaged or parched leaves as well as black mold. Since the insect can easily spread to your other plants, it is crucial that you capture it while it is still on the first plant.
Use neem oil spray to get rid of these pests. Neem oil spray is an effective fungicide in addition to killing bugs. If you don’t have neem oil, you can kill the insects one at a time with a cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol until all of them are gone. As far away from your other plants as possible, keep the infected plant.
It is infected with powdery mildew.
Your succulent may also turn white if it has powdery mildew. If the conditions are right, a fungus can grow on your plant and create powdery mildew. It is simple to mistake the mildew for farina, a natural coating that plants develop to shield themselves from the sun.
Reading up on the kind of succulent you have to find out if it produces farina is the best approach to determine if it is farina. If it doesn’t generate farina, the white substance probably represents powdery mildew.
Starting on the underside of leaves, powdery mildew can move to the stems and branches. The good news is that powdery mildew cannot kill your succulents, but it can still do harm by causing the leaves to fall off and robbing the plant of nutrition.
Powdery mildew can be treated with neem oil as well. Neem oil should be sprayed on the plant until the mildew goes away. Even when the mildew has vanished, you can spray once a week as a prophylactic fungicide. Neem oil should only be sprayed at night because sunshine can cause the plant to burn readily when oil is present.
It is sunburned.
You would be correct if you assumed that a succulent with sunburn would turn brown. However, the plant will turn white in the early stages of sun damage.
Succulents are still prone to sunburn even though they may survive in the driest regions of the earth. They can withstand six hours of sunshine, but any more will start to harm them.
Place your succulent in a shaded area if it has been exposed to the sun for an extended amount of time and has started to turn white. Bring the plant inside if it’s tiny enough and in a container so you can regulate the amount of light it receives.
The hue of a sun-damaged succulent, like in the situation where the leaves have turned brown, probably won’t return to its vibrant original state. As long as the plant is still healthy, these damaged leaves will ultimately fall off and be replaced by new leaves, so do not worry too much about them.
It is not getting enough sunlight.
It’s interesting to note that while succulents can get pale from too much sunlight, they can also turn white from inadequate sunlight.
You may need to relocate your plant so that it may receive enough sunshine if the leaves on your plant start to seem washed out and pale. Your plant can be undergoing etiolation if it has started to grow longer in a certain direction. A plant will begin to reach for the closest light source when it is so light-starved.
This can be easily fixed. Put the plant in a location where it receives some daily sunshine if the weather is nice and not too chilly. Consider utilizing a grow light if the weather is too chilly. The color on your plant’s leaves will return in due time.
Why is the color fading in my succulent?
Succulents that receive the ideal amount of water will nearly always lose their color and turn a dull green. Consider reducing the frequency of watering if you want more color. Try watering it every two weeks if you water once a week and the leaves and foliage are green. A succulent that you know has the potential to be colorful will typically develop a brilliant margin, tip, or foliage if you don’t water it.
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.
What are the signs that your succulent is receiving too much sun?
Succulents quickly begin to display signs of stress from excessive heat or intense sunlight.
Succulents frequently “blush” or change color when they are receiving enough sunlight. What a lovely transformation to witness!
However, if they begin to receive excessive sunlight, the leaves will actually burn. The succulent leaves may start to show white or pale areas. This harm cannot be undone.
As an alternative, make an effort to relocate your plant to a location with less intense sunlight and wait for new leaves to emerge. It is optional to remove damaged leaves if there are just one or two of them.
The leaves may truly turn dry and black in rare circumstances. The margins of the leaves will first turn black, and it will be dry and crispy (in contrast to blackening from rot which starts in the middle of the plant and is wet and mushy).
Once more, this injury won’t go away until the leaf totally withers and new leaves emerge.
A succulent in the shade may start to turn a golden or yellow tint if it is still quite hot outside. Instead of turning entirely white, as would happen with sunburn, the succulent instead appears warmer or more yellow than usual.
If the succulent is transferred to a colder setting, this usually disappears or the succulent returns to its normal hue.
I can keep succulents alive very well sometimes, but not always.
I recently relocated to Arizona from Utah. Growing succulents can be challenging for a variety of reasons, including relocation. You must pay close attention to how much heat and sunlight each area of your garden receives.
Although it’s a little humiliating, I’m going to show you what my garden looked like when it received excessive sunlight and heat in the video below.
Hopefully, this example will show you what to watch out for so that your garden doesn’t turn out like mine did.
What can I do to turn my succulent green?
Succulents may lose their bright hues in addition to stretching out due to inadequate light. Bright sunlight is necessary for succulents like Sedum nussbaumerianum to keep their vibrant hues throughout the day.
They gradually turn green when grown in the shadow or in places that don’t receive bright light all day, like indoors. But that does not imply that they are unwell. They will carry on expanding and multiplying, but until they receive more sunshine, they will remain green.
This is the same “Jade plant” as the one below, but one side of it is shaded by a tree while the other receives bright sunlight all day. The coloration is quite unique! On the side of the plant that receives direct sunlight, the red tips are considerably brighter and thicker.
The plant in full sun will also have more variegation and a dash of yellow. These colors can still be seen on the shaded side, but they are less pronounced.
Are succulents sun-loving creatures?
Succulents enjoy direct sunlight, but if yours is always in the same position, only one side is probably receiving enough of it. Langton and Ray advise often rotating the plant. Rotating succulents will help them stand up straight because they like to slant toward the sun. (Leaning may also be a sign that they need to be in a sunnier spot.)
How can I add color to my succulents?
Succulents have attracted a lot of attention recently due to their resilience, seeming immortality, and ability to make almost any garden look more attractive. However, there is a way to vary the color of your succulents, so why limit yourself to having only green ones?
You must alter the environment that succulents are growing in and “stress” them in order to color them. They can alter their color in response to factors including fewer or more water, less or more sunlight, and hotter or colder temperatures. But you may also use food coloring if you want to create some wilder hues.
How does a succulent look as it ages?
The leaves on your succulent may appear yellow, translucent, or wet. Your succulent is starting to die as a result of overwatering. A more serious condition is indicated by leaves that are brown or black and appear to be rotting. Therefore, you must begin saving your withering succulents!
How frequently should succulents be watered indoors?
Indoor succulent plants probably need to be watered once a week. They require ample time for the soil to dry out in between waterings so that the water may be stored in the leaves. Use the following methods and advice while watering succulent plants inside.
- Use an irrigation system with a little pour spout.
- Fill the succulent plant’s center with water until it is completely submerged.
- Allow water to completely drain out of the pot through the perforations. Make careful to empty any water that seeps through the soil if there is a saucer underneath the plant.
- Since there won’t be enough heat and fresh airflow for the leaves to dry when planted indoors, avoid soaking the leaves to prevent rot from the top down.
- Dry the soil completely in between waterings.
How frequently should a succulent be watered?
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.
What kind of succulents exhibit poor health?
Succulents are fashionable and trendy plants to have about your house or place of business, but they can be difficult to maintain. We are here to assist you in maintaining the health and vitality of your planted bundles of delight. This blog post will teach you how to correctly water your succulents, where to keep them, and how to recognize the telltale indications of a succulent in trouble.
Starting Off On The Right Foot
You must begin with a succulent that is in good shape if you want to give your plants the best chance of surviving. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be a concern if you get your succulents from Succulent Bar! We purchase our succulents from nearby plant nurseries, and we carefully choose each succulent we offer to our clients. Our succulents are handled with the utmost care and are guaranteed to be in excellent condition when received, whether they are shipped or purchased in person.
Succulents with brilliant colors, firm leaves, and sluggish growth are healthy. Succulents are not designed to expand rapidly. So, despite the fact that this would appear to be a bad indication, it actually is. Additionally, you could occasionally discover dried leaves at the base of your succulent, but this is also a positive sign. Succulents actually grow by losing their old leaves. Dried leaves indicate healthy growth in your succulent.
Light
In general, succulents need a lot of indirect light, and the majority of species will burn in hot light. Sunlight that filters through objects like window coverings, tree leaves, or bounces off of walls is referred to as indirect sunlight (think a covered patio). Usually, 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day are ideal. The optimum location for a succulent indoors is on a sunny window sill that faces south or west.
Water
Compared to most plants, succulents need far less water and less frequent irrigation. The majority of succulents usually die from overwatering. Check the soil of your succulent as a general rule. Every time you water, your soil should be completely dry. Following that, you’re welcome to water with 1-2 teaspoons of water and make adjustments. A little water goes a long way because the majority of succulents have very shallow root systems. Succulents dislike having their roots wet for an extended period of time, or having “wet feet.”
How to Water
Succulents tend to easily rot if water sits on their leaves too long. It is advisable to lift your succulent’s leaves and water the plant’s base as opposed to sprinkling or drenching the top of the plant because these plants absorb water through their roots. Tools like a spoon, straw, watering can, or mister can be used for this. Native to regions that receive a lot of water before going through a drought, succulents (think desserts). What does that imply then? It implies that they favor the soak-and-dry approach. After giving them a nice sip of water, wait until they are COMPLETELY dry before watering them once more. Water your succulents on average once every two to three weeks, and avoid letting their soil remain wet for more than a few days at a time.
Containers
In pots with adequate drainage, plants grow the best. Therefore, the best choice is to use pots with holes in the bottom. You can buy containers with holes already drilled into them or you can drill or poke holes yourself into your container. However, just because the majority of containers—especially the really adorable ones—don’t have drainage holes doesn’t mean you can’t use them. It DOES mean, however, that you should water your succulents properly, taking care to avoid soaking the soil for extended periods of time. See the How to Water section above.
Soil
Cactus soil that has been aerated is ideal for succulent growth. After watering, cactus soil tends to dry out quickly, protecting your succulent against root rot and too much water. Most plant nurseries and department shops with garden centers, such Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Walmart, carry this kind of soil. Your soil must be formed of substances like sand, moss, perlite, bark, and pumice and have a grittier texture.
Soggy or yellowed leaves
Typically, mushy, yellow leaves indicate that you have overwatered your succulent. Transferring your succulent to completely dry cactus soil is the best approach to preserve one that has been overwatered. After that, consider reducing the amount of water you give your succulent by only watering it with 1-2 tablespoons when the soil is fully dry. Depending on the habitat, this normally occurs every two to four weeks.
Rot
Your succulent may be rotting if you overwatered it or provided it with insufficient drainage. Without drainage, excess water will build up inside your container and cannot leave, rotting your succulent. Make sure your container has the right drainage holes by checking. If not, make holes in your container with a drill or a pin or transfer to a different container. See the information under “Containers” above if your container does not have a drainage hole.
Wilted Leaves
A plant that has underwatered will have wilted, rubbery leaves. Water your succulent with 1-2 tablespoons of water to start fixing this issue. After then, don’t water again until the earth is completely dry. If this occurs more quickly than 3–4 weeks, it might be time to increase your water intake. Over the coming weeks and months, test the watering frequency once more to determine the ideal amount for your succulent.
Stretching
Your succulent requires more light if you notice that it is getting taller and has wider spaces between its leaves. Although it can look fantastic that your succulent is expanding, succulents actually grow very slowly. Your succulent is enlarging as a result of its search for more light. If you experience this issue, relocate your succulent as soon as possible to a sunny window sill. Sadly, stretching cannot be undone. After that, your succulent will continue to grow and prosper, but its stem will still be stretched.
Scorching
The presence of dark patches on your succulent’s leaves indicates overexposure to sunshine and burnt foliage. These “burns” won’t go away, but as your succulent grows, it will ultimately slough off these leaves. Simply move your succulent to a less bright area to solve this problem.