3 causes of dead leaves on succulents; the 2nd type must be cleaned up decisively, the 3rd type must never be cleaned off

Some beginner friends who are new to succulents may feel at a loss when they first see succulent leaves drying up, unsure what exactly has happened to their beloved plant. Below, Xiao Jingzhi Life will learn together with everyone about several causes of dead leaf formation in succulents and how to handle them.

I. Causes of dead leaves

1. Normal metabolism

During the growth process of succulents, the lowest leaves will gradually dry up; this is a normal phenomenon. With thick-leaved genera such as Pachyphytum and Sedum, the dried leaves will fall off on their own; whereas the dead leaves of Echeveria generally cling firmly to the stem and will not fall off.

Most friends clean up dead leaves promptly when they see them, but some friends will not clean them up for one reason or another.

If dead leaves are not cleaned up in time, especially in the muggy, humid summer, the dead leaves piled up after watering may create a muggy, humid environment and may even become a breeding ground for mealybugs, ultimately leading to black rot and death of the succulent. Therefore, dead leaves produced by normal metabolism must be cleaned up promptly.

2. Leaf rot (turning to water)

In the muggy, humid summer environment, leaves can turn to water, and leaf rot can also make the succulent's leaves look dried up. Once leaf rot occurs, you must resolutely and decisively remove the rotted leaves, check the health of the whole plant, and take measures, otherwise you will be in for a hard time. Not to mention whether the rotted leaves carry infectious pathogens; the rotted leaves themselves are a damp micro-environment. Therefore, when encountering this situation, you absolutely must not hesitate.

3. Dormancy period

For succulents such as the mountain rose (Greenovia), the outermost leaves also wither during the dormancy period. At this time, the dead leaves are a form of protection for the dormant succulent, so never clean them off. Also pay attention to water control; when watering, try to water along the edge of the pot, and never let water touch the dead leaves.

II. Cleaning up dead leaves

For dead leaves from normal metabolism of succulents, if you have always cleaned them up promptly, that is best; if they have not been cleaned for a long time and a lot have accumulated, you can clean them all at once according to the following method:

When cleaning dead leaves, be careful to hold the succulent steady, so that the root system is not damaged by wobbling from the pulling force;

After cleaning the dead leaves, if the succulent becomes top-heavy and cannot stand steadily, you can first find something to prop up the plant; once the root system has grown firm, it will be fine;

If you find mealybugs during cleaning, it is recommended to spray with a 1000-fold diluted solution of Huhuashen plus drench the roots as early as possible. Note: after applying the treatment, place it in a cool, ventilated environment, and never expose it to direct sunlight.

After a one-time cleanup, develop the habit of cleaning up at any time; do not wait until a lot has accumulated again next time and then do another one-time cleanup.

The above was compiled and published by Xiao Jingzhi Life; we hope it is helpful to you.