All the solutions to the 8 most common succulent problems are right here

Turning to mush, leggy growth, getting smaller the more you care for it... The targeted remedies for the 8 most common succulent problems are finally all gathered in one place!

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For many of you, succulents are more like our friends, or even our children. You care for them meticulously and watch them grow bit by bit, and every stage of their growth fills you with joy. Likewise, every ailment they suffer pains you deeply. Today, we have put together the 8 most common problems encountered when caring for succulents. Let's take a look at how to treat each one!

1. Substrate problems

Everyone knows that succulents like sandy and gritty soil, so many people use plenty of sand and grit when planting. This approach is wrong. Too much sand is not good for the succulents to put down roots, and they will soon die.

For newly planted succulents, it is best to use soft peat soil first to encourage root growth. Whether the root system grows strong is directly related to the condition of the succulents. Because peat soil is soft, add a small proportion of grit such as perlite, volcanic rock, honeycomb briquette, ceramsite, gravel, etc. For mature older plants (referring to succulents over 2 years old), the proportion of sand and grit can be increased a bit.

2. Pests and diseases

Home-grown succulents rarely suffer from pests and diseases. You can check regularly whether there are any bugs on your succulents. Common bugs on succulents include: red spider mites, scale insects, and whiteflies! These can all be removed by hand! If you find disease, remove the affected parts promptly and disinfect properly.

3. Rotting stems and leaves

What to do when stems and leaves rot? First, find the cause.

Overwatering, air that is too humid, and failure to remove pests can all cause succulents to rot. A rotting succulent looks faded and soft. If you find a rotting succulent, you need to cut it off as soon as possible. It is best to disinfect the tools you have used to avoid infecting other plants. Control the moisture, increase ventilation, and remove pests and diseases promptly.

Regarding water control, here are two little tips

The bamboo stick test: insert a bamboo stick (or toothpick) to two-thirds of the depth of the pot soil. When it is time to water, pull out the bamboo stick and check the dryness and moisture of the soil portion. This method is very helpful for watering plants that are dormant or semi-dormant, or about to enter dormancy or semi-dormancy.

The surface soil dryness and moisture test: generally speaking, when the surface soil turns pale, you can water. This is the principle of "don't water if not dry, water thoroughly when you do." So-called bone dry means the surface soil has turned pale, but if you scrape away the surface soil, you can still see moisture.

4. Leggy growth. Leggy growth in plants is mostly due to lack of light, too much water, or too much nitrogen fertilizer. When leggy growth appears, you need to give more sun, control water, or reduce fertilizing. In addition, you can also decapitate the succulent, which means cutting off the growth point of the succulent while leaving 2-3 leaves below. After decapitation, it will generally branch out. The cut-off top can usually be left for about 1 week and then replanted. Before planting, you can remove the leaves, pulling off the small, unhealthy, or asymmetrical ones, until it looks even and symmetrical from above. After planting, water only once roots have grown.

5. Newly emerged seedlings are thin and long

Actually, this situation also counts as leggy growth. Leggy growth is greatly related to light and humidity. To control leggy growth in seedlings, in general: first, control water; second, ventilate; third, give more sun. Severe leggy growth is often because the environment where the sowing box is placed is too dark or because of continuous cloudy and rainy days. Under such light, the sowing box's humidity is too high, and the seedlings are also prone to turning to mush.

If the leggy growth is not too severe, you only need to move the sowing box to a bright, diffused-light environment, and opening the lid for a period each day to let it breathe can also alleviate it. Another possibility may be a soil problem, perhaps because the soil is too fine and the soil below cakes after watering, so the roots cannot grow down. Therefore, the sowing soil should also be a relatively good-quality sowing soil, and then such problems definitely will not exist.

6. Leaf-propagated seedlings rot easily

When propagating by leaf, most flower lovers stick the leaves directly into the pot soil. If the pot soil is not dry enough, the leaves will soon rot. The correct way is to remove the leaves, let them dry for 3-5 days, and then lay them flat on the pot soil. The pot soil must be dry. After about 30-40 days, they can take root and produce small succulent plantlets. Remember not to water before rooting; only after rooting can you water a small amount.

7. Getting smaller the more you care for it

Getting thinner the more you care for it is really heartbreaking. In fact, this may be caused by the following reasons.

1. Insufficient fertilizing. For succulents to grow plump, fertilizing is essential, and fertilizing must match the nutrient needs of the succulents. Those that only grow green leaves and do not bloom need more nitrogen fertilizer; flowering and fruiting types need more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; for promoting root and stem growth as well as for succulent plants, choose fertilizer with a higher proportion of potassium.

2. Insufficient sunlight. Succulents are generally light-loving, and sufficient sunlight is a necessary condition for strong, healthy growth.

3. Dormancy in summer and winter generally also causes them to become thinner. If it is a succulent that goes dormant in summer, you can rest assured that it will become beautiful again in autumn~

8. Leaves becoming soft

In fact, succulent leaves becoming soft is a sign that the succulent is consuming its own nutrients and cannot replenish them in time. Generally, soft leaves occur mostly in newly planted succulents, though other situations may also cause succulent leaves to become soft.

1. Newly potted. This situation is generally because the newly potted plant has not yet grown roots, and the succulent is temporarily consuming its own nutrients. Don't worry, you can patiently wait for it to root, but be careful to check whether it has rooted and whether the leaves are turning to mush. If they are not turning to mush, it is not serious. If they are turning to mush, consider digging it out, cleaning it again, sterilizing it, drying it, and replanting.

2. Normal metabolism. Some flower lovers' succulents have soft leaves at the bottom; this is normal metabolism.

3. Plant rot. Sometimes, due to overwatering, water accumulation, and other conditions, the succulent rots and also shows softness.

4. Succulent dormancy. Leaf drop and leaves becoming soft: at this time, immediately stop watering and do a good job of ventilation. Good ventilation is the key to ensuring succulents get through the summer.

I hope this can help everyone, even just a little, and I sincerely hope that all of your succulents can keep living healthily~