How To Know When A Succulent Is Overwatered

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How To Know When Your Succulent Plant Is Overwatered?

How does one know when his or her succulent plant is overwatered?

Sometimes it can be really hard to tell when succulents are overwatered until the damage is already done. Then, you will see it.

Yes, it happens regularly to most people…

The symptoms of overwatered succulents are the same as those of underwatering, and the reasons are worse.

The plump leaves of a succulent plant will get crinkly over time, dry out, and fall off.

This is one of the main signs of underwatering or overwatering, and that will happen regardless; the leaves will get old and die as well.

However, when a whole bunch of leaves on the succulent go at once, there is a problem!

Eventually, you will know if you have underwatered the plant because you know the last time you watered it.

You will also notice the crinkly leaves before they dry out completely, which is an indicator to water them.

Nevertheless, if you somehow notice these symptoms and you know for a fact that you have been watering your succulents regularly, you should stop!

How To Know When A Succulent Plant Is Overwatered?

How Do You Know When a Succulent Plant Is Overwatered?

What Happens to a Succulent Plant When Overwatered?

Succulent plant roots rot when overwatered, and sometimes it’s an honest mistake. There are very few house plants out there that can literally just sit in water.

If the plant isn’t too far gone (meaning half dead), it will grow new roots eventually as you let the soil dry out a bit.

Nevertheless, if the succulent plant stem has started to rot or if the plant accidentally fell over and broke at ground level,.

I would recommend that you cut the base and roots off. Then, dispose of the soil and bleach the pot thoroughly.

Afterward, cut the stem up until there are no brown markings notable in the stem.

Finally, let it dry for a few days. Then pot up in moist sandy soil. Over time, the succulent plant will root again. Replant the plant in well-draining soil to let it grow out once more.

How much water can a succulent plant take?

Most succulent plants can stand in moist soil for a while; plants such as the ‘Crown of Thorns flowers’ will leaf out and flower prodigiously in moist soil.

Most, if not all, other succulents can’t. They need well-draining soil, such as sandy or stone, and drainage holes in their pots.

It is not recommended to use the regular planting soil you use on vegetables because it is too moisture-retentive.

Succulents love sandy soil, especially plants such as cacti. They will not look the same all season, so respect their growth and dormancy.

Cactus succulents are drier during dormancy, pretty much like all houseplants.

Some succulent plants can be grown from a leaf, much like the African violet. Oftentimes, new plants will sprout from the base of the plant.

Try to transplant and grow a few separately, just in case of replacement value if the plant mother plant dies.

How to Cake for a Succulent Plant?

Succulent plants need lots of direct sunlight, which helps to dry out the soil. Plants that are kept in shaded areas often dry very slowly.

They might even have started to rot. Their roots will die from a lack of air, which prevents the plant leaves from getting any moisture.

When this happens, the leaves begin to drop off, wither, collapse, and turn to mush.

If you notice these symptoms affecting your succulent plant, take the plant out of the pot and check the soil and the root system.

If there are no healthy plant roots and the stem of the succulent has shrunk, the plant is dead.

You might be able to root some of the leaves or a stem if they aren’t already dead or too far gone.

Know When Your Succulent Plant Is Overwatered

Know When Your Succulent Plant Is Overwatered

How much sunlight do succulent plants need?

Give succulent plants lots of direct sunlight, whether they are at home or at work. They need at least 3–4 hours of sun per day, and more for plants such as echeveria, living stones, and spiny cacti.

When it comes down to succulent plants as a whole, water only when the soil is dry.

If they are outside and the weather seems cloudy, like it’s going to rain, take them inside. Always check the weather forecast if you have them outside.

Always keep succulent plants potbound, especially from fall through early spring. They don’t mind staying in tight pots for a long period of time.

Do Not overfertilize succulents.

Do not overfertilize your succulent plants. When they are in warm temperatures, it will help dry their soil.

Nevertheless, if they are in a cold room, raise them up onto a table; doing this will help keep the plant roots a few degrees warmer.

When Should You Water Succulent Plants?

Succulent plants should only be watered if the soil is dry enough to poke your finger, ideally an inch deep. If you somehow feel any moisture down there, don’t water it yet.

The results of overwatering and underwatering look much the same every time, as mentioned earlier.

Noticeable yellowing or crinkly leaves eventually dry up and detach from the stem. Most succulents can recover from watering; however, overwatering and root rot are often fatal to the most succulent plants.

Nevertheless, If in doubt, don’t be too hasty to water your succulent yet. Use well-draining soil in a pot with proper drainage holes, and don’t water them very often.

In General, water them less than once per week unless it is extremely hot.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Sometimes it is hard to tell and sometimes it’s easy to identify an overwatered succulent by its puffy-looking stems or leaves.

If you overwater your succulent plants such as aloe plants, the bottom leaves will start to rot and fall off the plant rapidly instead of drying out naturally.

Remember to keep in mind that succulent plants do need water, some more than others, however, most if not all, need well-draining soil to thrive.

So, I hope this post has helped you How To Know When A Succulent Plant Is Overwatered and ways in which you can care and prevent them from dying so they can thrive beautifully and healthy.

Related: Why Rocks Should Not Be At The Bottom Of A Potted Plant