While succulents are some of the easiest plants to care for and maintain, you can still run into issues.
Whether because of too much love or a bit of bad luck, there are a handful of reasons why you might end up with a dying succulent. On the bright side, your plant will give you signs when it is in bad health. You just need to know how to react.
This comprehensive list covers the common reasons why your succulent may be dying, what signs to look out for and ways in which to save it!
Table of contents
Overwatering
It is so easy to overwater your succulents but remember, succulents are plants from dry, arid climates. This means they do better with less water than you may think.
As a matter of fact, most of the time when people ask “Why is my succulent dying?”, they have severely overwatered succulents.
Overwatered succulents will have leaves that feel soggy or mushy. The leaves will also appear more pale in color or look translucent. This is because it is water-logged and the cells have burst. The succulent’s leaves will also fall off very easily, even with the slightest of nudges.
Dark spots on the leaves and stem indicate that your succulent has been overwatered to the point that root rot is beginning to develop. Keep a close eye on the symptoms listed above to avoid getting to this point because, now, your plant will be difficult to save.
But too much water doesn’t have to be the end of a much loved succulent! It’s possible to save a dying succulent that has been overwatered! Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again then adopt a less frequent watering schedule.
Two helpful tips!
- Use a chopstick or a knife to estimate the amount of moisture in your soil before watering. Stick the utensil ¾ of the way, straight down, to the bottom of the pot. When you remove it look to see if soil sticks. If there is soil attached to the utensil, especially if damp, hold off on watering. Wait a few more days and try again. If there is a very small amount of dirt dusted on the utensil surface, go ahead and water.
- The amount of water a succulent needs differs depending on the climate you live in, the current season, and your plant’s natural yearly growth spurt!
Underwatering
Underwatering can also be a reason why your succulent is dying. While less common than overwatering, keep an eye out for the signs of underwatering.
Leaves throughout the plant will appear shriveled, pruney, deflated or limp. At this stage, your problem is easily remedied. Give this plant a complete drenching to fully soak the soil. I place my succulent pots in the sink to do this. Pour a generous amount of water into the soil at the base of the plant and continue until water runs out of the drainage holes. Keep the pot in the sink for 30 minutes to allow excess water to drain.
Going forward, water your plants a bit more frequently and ensure you completely drench the soil every time. But don’t get