Black rot and waterlogging in succulents are mostly caused by a poor care environment
The factors that cause succulents to turn to water include sunburn, pests and diseases, freezing damage from low temperatures, or mechanical injury, but in most cases it is because too much water was given during the dormant period, and at the same time the succulent's metabolism is very slow, making its internal water content excessively high; add to that sudden changes in outside temperature, expansion and contraction from heat and cold, and the water bursts the cell walls, causing the waterlogging phenomenon. Succulent leaves turning to water means the succulent feels normal, then suddenly and inexplicably turns to water, with the leaves not turning black (black leaves are more likely a sign of fungal disease); after the leaves drop, it may even continue growing as if nothing happened.
When the succulent plant is normal and the leaves inexplicably turn to water, there is basically only one cause, and it can appear under three circumstances. Normally the care is actually quite good, but the environment changes too much, such as sudden temperature swings in some seasons, for example during the period from winter to spring, with big temperature rises and drops. After controlling water for quite a long time in winter and summer, suddenly watering thoroughly may cause some succulent leaves to suddenly turn to water and drop. So in this season, for some succulents just brought out from indoors, do not give full light and watering all at once; take it slowly.
When succulents are in extreme environments, for example when summer is excessively hot and stuffy or winter is excessively cold, they may also show the waterlogging phenomenon (this actually cannot be counted as the situation in this article), and generally they cannot be saved either; this has little to do with watering too much, as being too cold or too hot means they are destined not to hold up, but if water is controlled, they can endure higher or lower temperatures. Enduring a non-succulent environment for a long time, with insufficient light, poor ventilation, and a humid climate, and then one day the leaves suddenly turn to water, this kind is also usually relatively hard to save. For example, after experiencing a long rainy season, some succulents with thick, fleshy leaves may also develop waterlogged, dropping leaves.
After succulents turn to water, in mild cases some leaves or tissues rot and dry up, and in severe cases the whole plant dies. This problem must be taken seriously. Treatment method: for plants that have already begun to turn to water, use clean tools to cut off the waterlogged parts, and you may cut off a bit more as appropriate, then apply antibacterial powder to the wounds, place them in a cool place to dry, and a small electric fan can also be used to slowly blow them dry. Usually pay attention not to water succulents too much, and maintain the good habit of watering thoroughly only after the soil dries out. During the dormant period, watering should be controlled, and the soil should be kept appropriately dry.
Succulents prone to dropping leaves after watering are generally those with relatively thick, fleshy leaves, such as the succulents Huangli (Sedum adolphi), Yinvxin (Sedum pachyphyllum), and Hongzhiyu (Sedum rubrotinctum); sometimes the leaves drop at a touch, which is often also related to the leaves containing too much water. In this case, consider controlling water appropriately and increasing light to make the plant healthier, and do not let the ambient temperature around the succulent rise and fall sharply; it is best to keep it in a ventilated environment for care, and personally I think this point is more important than watering.
If succulent plants are not cleared of dead leaves for a long time, it means you will have one more worry, especially in the rainy season, because in a humid environment dead leaves are particularly likely to accumulate moisture, creating a stuffy, humid, unventilated environment, and whether fungi or scale insects, they especially like this kind of environment. The withering of leaves also means death; withered and dead old leaves come in two situations. One is like those of the genera Pachyphytum and Sedum, because the leaves are thick and fleshy, after they shrivel completely they will fall off automatically; even if the care environment changes abruptly in summer, perfectly good leaves will drop right before your eyes.
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