4 common causes of death in succulents and how to remedy them

Many people say succulents are delicate and hard to keep alive, but I think that is too one-sided.

Many people simply grow them outdoors, and succulents grown this way actually look more beautiful. Now let me walk you through the reasons your succulents die, and some remedies you can use!

1. Black rot

Summer is the season when black rot occurs most often. The cause is infection by fungi, professionally known as Fusarium wilt. The main symptoms are root rot, stem rot, basal stem rot, flower rot and so on.

The main causes of the disease are:

1. Weather that is too hot weakens the plant's own immunity, giving bacteria an opening

2. The plant is bitten by parasites, and the wounds are easily infected by fungi

Prevention methods:

1. In summer, do not let the plant be exposed to direct strong light, especially succulents that have just been watered at the roots, because water has a very high specific heat capacity, so once the water temperature rises, it is hard to cool down quickly in such a temperature environment.

This easily leads to the succulent being in poor condition with lowered immunity. Suggestion: succulents in poor condition in summer can be kept in an air-conditioned room

2. For all soil, try to choose carbendazim for root drenching. New soil can be mixed directly with carbendazim, which helps prevent insects. At the same time, promptly spot parasites on the plant and kill them in time.

Suggestion:In summer, they must not be rained on; keep the pot in a dry-hot or damp-cold environment so as not to create opportunities for fungi to reproduce. As for treatment, there is only one answer: none, because once part of the succulent is found to have black rot, the only suggestion is to cut off the black rot part, and the earlier the better; once it has necrotized, it cannot recover.

Note:Before and after cutting, wash and disinfect your hands, and disinfect the tools used as well, to prevent contagion!

2. Translucent rot (turning to water)

Turning to water is a phenomenon common in both winter and summer. As the name suggests, when the leaves or fleshy stems of a succulent have tissue necrosis for some reason, they first become translucent and shiny, as if turning into water, hence the name.

After a succulent turns to water, in mild cases some leaves or tissues rot and dry up, and in severe cases the whole plant dies.

Main causes:

1. Too much water

2. The environment is too cold; it cannot tolerate severe cold

Prevention methods:

1. With succulents, you must pay attention to water control, that is, controlling how much water is given, especially in summer. In fact, many succulent growers know that too much water makes them leggy, but in serious cases it easily makes the leaves turn to water, and in the worst case it can cause the whole plant to die.

2. Most succulents cannot survive in very cold environments, especially below 0 degrees; this is already very dangerous for succulents!

For winter there is a saying: below 10 degrees, water less; below 5 degrees, control water; below 0 degrees, stop watering, and then hope for the best.

Note:Leaves that have turned to water should be removed as soon as possible. After removing them, apply a carbendazim-type medicine to the wounds to prevent later fungal infection that could lead to black rot.

3. Mealybugs

First, let's talk about mealybugs. Mealybugs, also known as scale insects, are the most common pests on flowers and fruit trees. They often gather on branches, leaves and fruit, feeding on plant sap, and in severe cases cause branches to wither or the whole plant to die.

It can be said that mealybugs are one of the most common insects for all succulent growers. Here is how to deal with mealybugs (prevention is almost very difficult)

The first method:Gently and repeatedly wipe the affected plant with alcohol, and you can remove the mealybugs, and remove them very cleanly and thoroughly.

For example, when wiping diseased orchid leaves with alcohol, not only can the mealybugs be removed, but even the larvae that are invisible to the naked eye are thoroughly killed. The following year, mealybug damage is rarely found. This method is simple, safe and effective.

The second method:Because they are visible insects, they are much easier to clean up. Just use a manual toothpick, needle and so on, and after doing this several times they will be gone.

The third method:This is actually the easiest way: use "Huhuashen" diluted with water at a 1:200 ratio according to the instructions and spray it on. Spray once more a week later, and basically you will no longer see those disgusting insects.

Note: After spraying, be sure not to expose the plant to sunlight. Keep it in a cool place for 4-5 days before moving it to a place with sunlight, because putting it in the sun right after spraying will speed up water evaporation, which makes the medicine concentration higher and can easily burn the plant.

If there are children or pregnant women at home, or if you do not want to use medicine, you can take the plant under running water to wash it, or use a magnifying glass plus a needle to poke and burst them one by one! Just check, find and remove them repeatedly.

4. Sooty mold

Sooty mold, also called sooty blotch, is common on flowers and trees. It affects photosynthesis, lowers ornamental and economic value, and can even cause death. Its symptoms are small black mold spots forming on the leaf surface and branch tips, which then expand and merge into patches, covering the entire leaf surface and tender shoots with a black mold layer.

Symptoms of sooty mold:It mostly occurs on the surface layer of plant leaves, appearing as small brown, gray or black mold spots.

Pathogen of sooty mold:It is mostly caused by epiphytic fungi (multiple kinds). Causes of sooty mold: besides infection from stuffy, hot and humid soil and water in summer, it comes more from infections carried by various insects.

Aphids, scale insects, ants and others, besides chewing and sucking sap from plant leaves and roots, also secrete honeydew and excrete frass. These secretions carry various kinds of fungi, and after being bitten by these pests, infection worsens.

Control methods:Usually you must strengthen pest control. Most pests break out in summer, and since most sedums are dormant in summer, high temperature and high humidity are even more favorable for the spread of fungi and outbreaks of insects. Pests and pathogens act together, and it is very easy for your little succulents to be harmed.

Handling sooty mold:When sooty mold is discovered, the first thing is to isolate the plant and spray a fungicide, because sooty mold is highly contagious, so after touching an affected succulent you must wash your hands~

Finally, to sum up for everyone: what do we need in summer? First, I suggest choosing relatively inexpensive succulents, or starting with some inexpensive leaves.