What is crop root rot? A comprehensive guide to root rot knowledge

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Images: Zhijiansha

1. Signs of root rot

Obvious wrinkles on the leaves

When a succulent's roots rot, the leaves show obvious signs of water shortage. If you watered it recently, be careful that it may be root rot from too much water.

Leaves fall off at a touch

Succulent leaves drop very badly; some very plump leaves fall off at a light touch. At this point, be careful that root rot may have appeared.

The leaf base turns to mush and does not improve

While the roots are re-establishing, a few leaves at the base of the succulent may dry up or turn to mush and rot. This is normal at this stage, because a newly planted succulent has no good root system to absorb water, so the base leaves are consumed to provide water and nutrients for the whole plant. However, if the mushiness still shows no improvement after a week, you need to determine whether the plant has already developed root rot.

The succulent leaves feel dry to the touch

When you notice the leaf color of the succulent is abnormal, you can gently stroke the leaves with your hand and judge by feel: in a plant whose leaves have lost their vitality because the roots have rotted, your fingertips feel dryness and warmth, without the moist, cool feel of normal leaves.

2. Causes of root rot

1. Fungal infection: Rot is one of the most common diseases of succulents, usually a fungal infection caused by overwatering or an overly humid growing environment.

2. Overwatering: Most succulents grow in desert climates and are adapted to an extremely dry growing environment, so they must never be watered too much, and the soil should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings.

3. Non-breathable soil medium: Water in the soil cannot drain away, so the roots stay soaked, which easily leads to root rot.

4. Pest infestation: Some insects can also cause rot, such as mealybugs, especially root mealybugs. The wounds these pests create when sucking plant sap can lead to fungal infection.

3. How to deal with root rot

1. Pull the succulent out and wash the roots, and cut off all the moldy parts

2. Apply carbendazim to the wounds and moldy areas, then let them dry. After about three days, re-root the treated succulent; you can let it sit at the mouth of a bottle with water below but not touching the roots to encourage rooting; you can also replant it in granular soil, such as akadama and kanuma.

3. Place the planted succulent, or the one at the bottle mouth, indoors in a place with plenty of light, but not in direct blazing sun, and make sure there is ventilation. Right after planting, do not water immediately; wait until it has rooted and gradually stabilized before watering.

4. Next comes careful observation. If nothing goes wrong, it will re-root and grow in about one to three weeks.

4. Tips for preventing root rot

To care for succulents, you must first grow the roots well. Besides choosing breathable potting soil and changing the potting soil once a year, you can also water the succulents with organic nutrient solution. This not only promotes root growth, but also improves the soil environment and prevents the soil from compacting. A seasoned succulent grower also offered a clever trick: add a little charcoal to each pot of succulents. Crush the charcoal and mix it with garden soil at a ratio of 1:4. If you really cannot find charcoal, you can also mix some river sand with garden soil in the same ratio and stir it evenly. If you are worried that river sand has no nutrients, it is recommended to use ecologically safe organic fertilizer, diluted 500 times, and water once a week.

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