Don't rush to throw away leggy or damaged succulents - a little fanning and a few snips will plump them up again

What should you do if a succulent gets sunburned?

Succulent sunburn generally happens in 2 situations. First, during prolonged high temperatures, succulents grown outdoors without shade easily get sunburned, flattened and wilted; the other is that after spraying water, the moisture left on the leaves does not evaporate in time, and once the sun hits it, it scorches the leaves!

After sunburn, it will not show on the same day. If it is mild sunburn, after three to five days various spots or scars will appear on the leaf centers and leaf tips of the succulent.

Solutions

1. After sunburn, move the succulent to a spot with bright indirect light for care, or provide shade, and wait for it to recover on its own, keeping up normal care and ventilation during this period.

2. During routine care, do not suddenly move a succulent from a low-light spot into strong light.

3. Reduce watering, and it is best to water after evening, avoiding watering on hot sunny days, because right after watering, as moisture evaporates, the soil temperature in the pot rises quickly and the roots will be smothered and rot directly.

What should you do about dead leaves on succulents?

When leaves lack water or the weather is hot, they will gradually dry up and fall off. This is a normal metabolic phenomenon. When you find dead leaves, clean them up promptly, otherwise they pile up at the bottom, becoming damp and stuffy, which easily breeds bacteria and invites pest infestation, and in severe cases causes the roots and stems to rot!

Solutions

1. Hold the succulent with your hand and carefully clean away the dead and fallen leaves. If the dead leaves have not fallen yet, you can clean them up a few days later.

2. After cleaning, spread a layer of small pebbles underneath to avoid sunburn or black rot from overwatering.

What should you do if a succulent grows leggy?

Other people's succulents are short, plump and cute, while mine always stretch out like crazy? Huahua has found that if there is not enough light and watering is also heavy, succulents will quickly grow leggy.

Solutions

Once leggy, they can only stay leggy and cannot go back. But you need to adjust your care method: first increase light, then reduce watering, and be sure to do it gradually. When light is sufficient, even with more watering, they will not stretch out much.

For a newly acquired succulent, remember this lighting mantra before caring for it:

Weak light with long duration makes the stem nodes grow leggy;

Weak light with short duration makes the leaves thin with a large surface area;

Strong light with long duration makes the leaves the thickest and plumpest;

Strong light with short duration keeps the plant the shortest.

What should you do if a succulent gets moldy?

Compacted soil, poor ventilation, too much watering, damp and stuffy conditions... all of these can cause succulents to become moldy, with mold spots on the leaves and moldy, rotting roots!

Solutions

1. Remove the moldy leaves. If there are a great many moldy leaves, pick off the healthier leaves, disinfect them, and propagate them by leaf cuttings to grow new plants.

2. When the roots are moldy, take the whole plant out, rinse it clean with water, cut off the moldy, rotten parts, disinfect it, then replace the soil and resume care.

3. In summer, control water appropriately and be sure to increase ventilation. Placing it on a windowsill or using a fan, etc., all work.

What should you do if a succulent gets black rot?

Summer is the peak season for succulent black rot. The stems and leaves soften, and the roots turn black and rot, generally caused by fungal infection or soil that is too dense and airless.

Solutions

1. Beheading

Black rot usually starts blackening from the root and stem area. Cut away all the black rotted parts, soak the remaining plant in a 500-600 times dilution of carbendazim for disinfection, let it dry, then replace the soil and replant.

2. Leaf cuttings

If the black rot is very severe and beheading is no longer possible, then pick a few healthy leaves and propagate them by cuttings.

3. Key to prevention

The key to preventing succulent black rot comes down to 4 words: shade, ventilation, water control, stop fertilizing. Do these few things, and your succulents can get through summer safely.

That's all Huahua is sharing today

Flower friends, how are your succulents growing?

What other problems have you encountered during care?

Remember to leave a message and ask Huahua~