Potential problems related to succulents and how to save your succulents
1. My succulents have yellow, translucent and squishy leaves
Succulents store water in their leaves, when there is excess moisture in the soil for extended periods, they can absorb water until the cells in the leaves explode. This results in leaves that turn yellow and transparent, falling off easily upon being touched lightly.
Photo credit: gardaholic.net
How to save overwatered succulents
● Remove the succulent from the pot by tilting the pot and easing the root ball out of the pot. Place the root ball on a paper towel or tissue to absorb the excess moisture.
Succulent root ball
Photo credits: thesucculentalley
● Allow the root ball to dry under a fan until it is thoroughly dry and no longer damp or soggy.
● Use a tweezer to pick off all the rotted or yellowing leaves from the stem.
● Repot the succulent into a porous terracotta pot with a drainage hole, add additional growing media or soil to stabilise the roots. Avoid watering for the next week after repotting as the roots are tender.
Terracotta pots
Photo credit: Sara’s Garden
● When watering, make sure the soil is entirely dry before watering. Check for soil moisture by inserting a bamboo skewer, if it is wet, the skewer will turn into a darker colour.
● Watering frequency depends on your environment and the type of succulents.
2. My succulent lower leaves are drying up
This could be a sign of underwatering, the leaves will turn soft, rubbery and shrivelled. Eventually becoming entirely brown and “crispy”. Succulents reabsorb the nutrients and water from their lower leaves, thus this can be normal in newly bought succulents that have not acclimated to their new environment and the roots are not established.
Underwatered succulent
Photo credits: Succulents Box
How to save underwatered succulents
● Water the succulent until water flows out of the drainage hole.
● Make sure the water dries up within 2-3 days, if not the excessive moisture will cause root and stem rot.
● If you use peat moss in the soil, it can be hard to absorb moisture after a long time without water. Fill a dish with water and let the pot sit in the dish of water for 10-15 minutes until the soil is moist, then remove the pot and let it drain. Bottom watering is great for succulents as it encourages the roots to grow downwards instead of laterally.
Bottom watering for succulents
Photo credits: Succulents Box
3. My succulents leaf edges are turning black
Light is essential for the growth of every plant as in the process of photosynthesis. However, plants can also get sunburn from exposure to too much sunlight. Although succulents originate from arid places, they are vulnerable to sunburn. Avoid placing succulents under direct intense afternoon sunlight as it is too scorching and will tend to burn the leaves.
Overexposure of succulents to sunlight causes succulent sunburn and in the process, the plant’s leaves develop irreversible blackish, brown or dark red patches. Succulent sunburn happens when leaf tissues burn after being exposed to UV rays or high-intensity light. There is no need to remove sunburnt leaves as it is only a cosmetic defect and will not harm the plant.
Sunburnt agave
Photo credits: Succulents Network
How to avoid sunburnt succulents
● Expose them to sunlight from 7-11 am and 5-7 pm.
● Shade nets are designed to filter out the light or UV rays that pass through them, preventing overheating as they allow only a certain amount of sunlight. Use a shade cloth to protect your succulents to filter out excess sunlight if you are growing them outdoors.
Photo credits: gardeningsupplies4u.com
● If you move your succulents from a shady to a sunny location, they will suffer from shock as a result of an adaptation problem caused by the intense lighting, resulting in succulent sunburn. This might cause sunburn on your succulents, resulting in brown or pale spots. When you acquire succulents from the nursery, always look at them to see how they were grown. Make sure your succulent is dry and then place it in indirect sunlight for up to a week before gradually exposing it to direct sunlight for 20 to 30 minutes each day. Week after week, gradually increase the amount of time the succulent is exposed to sunlight. For example, in week 1, go from 30 minutes to 1 hour. In week 2, go from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
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