You hear it all the time “succulents are impossible to kill!” … but you have definitely had some succulents turn brown, mushy and die on you. Don’t worry you are not cursed: you are probably just overwatering your plant, causing succulent root rot.
One of the biggest problems plant owners can face is succulent root rot. Succulents are desert plants and can hold onto water for a long time, which is why they have such chubby leaves. Therefore, they do not need as much water as normal houseplants.
One of the most common mistakes people make with succulents is overwatering them, which causes root rot. Luckily, once you know succulents do not need as much water as other houseplants, you can water them appropriately and avoid this problem completely.
What is succulent root rot?
Root rot is includes a range of diseases that affect plant roots. As the rot spreads, more and more roots get infected and die, eventually killing the entire plant. Root rot can be caused by fungus, bacteria or by overwatering.
One of the most common causes of root rot is overwatering. If the soil stays wet for a long time from watering too frequently, or the plant is not in a well-draining mix, this can start the root rot process because your plant’s roots are “drowning” in the extra water.
While some root rot can be caused by a fungus or bacteria, this is not common in succulents grown indoors. Chances are, you keep a succulent in your house, it’s root rot is due to overwatering.
How does overwatering succulents cause root rot?
Your plant’s roots have tiny hairs that help absorb water. They need oxygen to live. Normally, the soil has enough oxygen in between the particles for the hairs.
When you water your plant, water temporarily fills the space. Then, gravity pulls the water down and air returns. However, if your soil is too moisture retentive or you water too often, the space is unable to drain the water adequately and there is not enough air for the roots. Roots begin to die and harmful bacteria to proliferate. The rot spreads throughout the roots and eventually you will begin seeing signs above ground.
How to identify root rot
The bad news is, root rot is a sneaky illness. Often by the time you notice the signs, the damage is already done.
When you are repotting your plants, take time to check the roots. Healthy roots will be white or yellow with a light fuzz on the surface, which is mycorrhizal fungi- a very beneficial symbiotic fungus that helps with nutrient uptake. Light brown roots indicate that the roots are dry- it is not a sign of rot.
Signs of root rot:
However, if you notice black and brown roots that are slimy and smell bad, this is a strong indication for rotting roots. If you notice these, remove the extra soil off the roots so that you can get a good look. Carefully cut the black and rotting roots off the plant, cutting an inch above the rotting area with a pair of clean garden shears. You want to cut above the rot you can see, since rot is present inside the center before it becomes visible on the outside.
It is important to cut of all the signs of rot you see. Do not worry about cutting off too many roots: the most important thing is to remove all signs of rot so that it does not progress further. Throw away the old soil and wash the container it was in with soap and water. Allow the succulent to dry out for several days and then repot in new, well-draining soil mix. Do not water again until a week after repotting to allow the plant time to heal.
If you find rot during repotting and are able to save your succulent, great! However, it is difficult to catch root rot this early since you are probably not going to be repotting and checking up on your plants roots that frequently.
Succulent root rot on the stems or leaves
If you notice the stems and lower leaves of your plant are changing color, it could be a sign of rot. Yellow, translucent leaves that fall off easily are a sign of too much water. The leaves turn translucent and mushy because the extra water is bursting out of the water storage cells in the plant.
Examine the stems as well- if you notice brown or black spots, it is a sign of succulent stem rot.
If your plant feels mushy when you touch it, the damage is extensive. Take your succulent out of it’s pot and carefully examine the roots.
So how do you fix root rot?
There is a chance that you can salvage the plant even if the stems and leaves are damaged. Find the rotted area and cut well above it (at least an inch or two above) so that you can separate the healthy tissue. You want to cut above the area because rot can be present inside without signs being seen on the outside.
Look inside the stem opening for signs of rot, and continue cutting above the stem until you do not see any signs of rot on the inside.
Throw away the old soil and wash the container the plant was in. Now, this cutting can be treated just like any other succulent cutting you propagate:
- Allow the cutting to dry out for 2 to 3 days
- Once the bottom has calloused, put it in a new pot of well-draining soil
- Water it after a week. Do not water right after planting
- Make sure it gets plenty of filtered sunlight
You can also remove any of the healthy leaves from the plant and try and propagate those too, by placing them on top of well draining soil. However, do not try to propagate any of the leaves that are showing signs of rot: it will not be successful.
If you notice that one plant in a pot with multiple plants is rotting, like above, remove the plant with root rot immediately. This is because one plant with root rot can spread to the other, healthy plants in the pot. Inspect the healthy plants for signs of root rot, then plant them in a new pot with fresh soil. Treat the plant with root rot using the same steps from before.
How to prevent root rot
The best way to treat succulent root rot is by preventing it in the first place.
The most important step: do not overwater your succulents. In general, you should be watering your succulents about once every three to four weeks in the winter and once a week in the summer (depending on your climate and how much sun they are getting). Most succulents are dormant during the winter and will therefore require much less water during that time.
Avoid placing succulents in areas with a lot of humidity, such as bathrooms, since that can add extra moisture and expedite rotting.
Use a well-draining, porous soil mix. Regular potting soil for houseplants can be too dense and hold onto moisture for a long period of time. Using a 70:30 mix of succulent potting soil to perlite will give you a good, porous soil mix.
Plant succulents in containers with a drainage hole. This will help the extra water seep out through the bottom. Plain terracotta pots work best because they do not retain extra water and help the soil dry out faster. Do not plant your succulents in terrariums or glass containers since these do not aerate well and can retain moisture, promoting rot.
And that is how you identify signs of succulent root rot!
Do not get discouraged if you lose a plant or too to succulent root rot. Overwatering succulents is a common mistake that almost everyone makes. Continuing to water properly and planting in a well-draining soil will greatly reduce succulent root rot!
Have you had a plant suffer from rot? Were you able to save it? Let me know down below!
For more information on how often you should be watering succulents and cacti, check out this article:
