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ByAmanda CarlisleUpdated on
Give these 7 reasons your succulents are dying your consideration, make the changes needed, and enjoy the succulents you have always dreamed of.
Do you love the look of succulents but can’t seem to keep them alive? Do you typically have a green thumb (or not!) but succulents just don’t appear to be your thing? It sounds like you need a little Succulents 101!
There are several reasons why succulents just don’t make it, and by making a few tweaks, you can get some amazing results. Take a look below at 7 reasons your succulents are dying so you can give your succulents the care they need for success!
Overwatering or Underwatering
You are giving them too much water. Succulents don’t need to be watered like your ordinary or typical houseplant. They are a type of cacti after all, so they can get by with less water and enjoy well-drained soil. The soil should feel cool and damp to the touch, but never saturated or watered down and NEVER muddy. You might want to mist the ground instead of feeding directly for best results. If you have prolonged wet soil there could be a problem.
Just like overwatering can kill your succulents so can under-watering. Research the water needs of your plant and set up a watering schedule to keep the moisture level accurate for its needs.
Did you find a cute teacup or flower pot for your succulent? Sure it looks nice, but does it give the roots the room it needs to grow? Probably not. The depth of the container should be twice as deep as the roots of the plant, while the width should be at least three times as wide. Doing this gives the plant plenty of room to spread out! Use quality succulent soil, and give your plant room to grow.
Drainage
People love planting succulents in cute containers, cups, boots, and all sorts of other containers, but the truth is if they don’t have proper drainage they will never work. Your container should have several drainage holes where water can escape. A piece of netting or even pantyhose over the holes can help dirt from escaping and let the extra water drain. Without good drainage, the bottom of your succulent can suffer from root rot, dead leaves, and other symptoms.
Warmth
Succulents love warm weather. They don’t want to be near a drafty window or out in cold weather. Keep them in a space where they can be warm and stay warm. They won’t do well if the weather is always changing on them.
Sunlight
Having enough light (sun exposure) is crucial for any plant. Sunlight is their food and helps them grow through photosynthesis. If your succulent isn’t getting enough direct sunlight it will begin to stretch and eventually die. If you don’t have a window to put your plant near, you can find plant lights (aka grow lights and lightbulbs) on Amazon
Nutrients
Succulents love nutrient-rich soil. Stir in some organic matter or try a planting mix when planting succulents. This way they get the feed they need to be healthy and look beautiful. Check your local garden center for a soil mix specifically for cactus or succulents, or better yet, make your own succulent soil! These will have the right density and nutrients for your plants.
Pests
Sometimes the last thing you think of with indoor plants is pests. However, it is totally possible to get fungus gnats, spider mites, mealybugs, and other types of bugs in your indoor succulents. If you suspect an infestation you can purchase natural safe pesticides like neem oil to gently spray your plants. This will help control pests and help your plant stay healthy!
Too far gone?
If you feel like your plants are too far gone, it isn’t too late to save them. You can actually take pieces or cuttings and regrow succulents from a mother plant. This is also a great tip if your plant is too big or you are just looking for a way to multiply your garden.
Are you ready to enjoy more healthy, vibrant, and ALIVE succulents? Give these 7 reasons your succulents are dying your consideration, make the changes needed, and enjoy the succulents you have always dreamed of.
Dig the succulent out of the soil and remove excess soil stuck to the roots, cut off any brown/black roots as these are rotten already. Leave the plant on a mesh or any kind of strainer till the roots have air dried from anywhere two to three days. When the roots are dry completely, plant them back in the pot.
The leaves tend to drop at the slightest touch, and sometimes black or brown spots start appearing on them, as well as the trunk. These indicate that rotting might have started. REASON: Mushiness, rot, and fungal disease go hand in hand.
Succulents love light and need about six hours of sun per day, depending on the type of succulent. Though most varieties of succulents will not survive with full shade, they also don't need to be blasted with hot rays all day, so a sheer curtain can help ensure they get some shade too.
When overwatered, i.e., when these balloons are overfilled, they burst and the cell structures are severely damaged, resulting in rotting leaves and roots. The leaves would start to look translucent, discolor (yellow), feel soggy to the touch, and fall off easily.There will also be black spots on the leaves or stem.
If you see some dead, brown, or mushy roots, treat the plant with a fungicide labeled for use on succulents to help prevent the spread. Place your succulent in an area with a lot of bright light to help it recover. "The more light it gets, the more energy it will have to revive," says Hanco*ck.
Epsom salt works wonders as a fertilizer during the growing season and can help keep your succulents looking lush and beautiful for a long while. In addition, using an Epsom salt fertilizer is a great way to help encourage blooming in many succulents.
So here is the bottom line--don't worry about your tap water. If you really want to lower its pH, add a tablespoon or two of vinegar to it. You won't hurt anything and maybe you'll help your plant, though I doubt it. Don't use expensive ("organic") vinegars.
Wrinkled, shriveled leaves are a clear indication that your Succulent needs more water. As the cells release their stored moisture to the rest of the plant, they try to bring in more water to replace what they have lost.
Succulence is an adaptation to low water availability characterised by the presence of water-storage tissues that alleviate water stress under low water availability. The succulent syndrome has evolved convergently in over 80 plant families and is associated with anatomical, physiological and biochemical traits.
Compton Carousels and Silver Prince are drop-dead gorgeous succulents, but they are some of the most difficult plants to care for. Add a price tag of $20 - $60 for a 2-inch or 4-inch per succulent AND a novice succulent grower - that's a recipe for disaster.
Your succulents will benefit from a layer of pebbles or pea gravel spread on the soil around the plant. This is also very decorative. Soil: Succulents need good draining soil.
Throughout a succulent's life cycle, there will be times that leaves toward the bottom of the plant turn brown or die. This may seem like a cause for alarm, but it happens from time to time. When you see these dead leaves, be sure to remove them carefully from the base of the plant.
Lack of sunlight: Succulent plants require plenty of sunlight to thrive. If your plant is not getting enough sunlight, the leaves can start to turn brown and become weak. To solve this issue, move your plant to a sunnier location, or provide artificial light if necessary.
Saving an underwatered succulent is easy and can be done in 3 simple steps. Step 1: Give the plant a good, thorough soak of water (ensuring that the water will get to its roots). Step 2:Allow the water to be absorbed completely by the soil, then pour more water.
Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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