Black spots on succulent leaves may be a disease; learn to tell them apart correctly

In the rainy autumn season, many regions see continuous rain for months. Some growers may notice their succulents are not doing well: black spots and dark marks appear on the leaves, then the leaves drop and turn to mush, spreading slowly from one leaf to the whole plant, and from one or two succulents to many. This is actually black spot disease, which is very common on many plants, though it may be less common relative to the native habitats of succulents, because black spot disease is a serious disease widely distributed worldwide outside arid regions, and it mostly occurs in humid seasons.

When you find that some leaves of a succulent have turned yellow, faded, or even blackened, with mold spots and softening, you need to beware of black rot, which is mostly caused by overwatering and excessive humidity, so good ventilation is important in normal care. Black spot disease, on the other hand, starts from the leaves, usually as black dots or round black spots, and then slowly infects other parts of the plant, in severe cases causing the whole succulent to die.

The symptoms of black spot disease in succulents are generally black spots on the leaves, usually round, after which the leaves wither or turn to mush and fall off at the slightest touch. Gradually all the leaves begin to develop black spots, extending to the growth point, and then the whole plant dies. This process is usually very slow, and before it dies it often infects other succulents, so once discovered, isolate and treat it early.

The difference between black spot disease and sooty mold: the biggest difference between black spot disease and sooty mold, I think, is that black spot disease basically shows only a few black dots (dot-like), while sooty mold basically shows many black dots, in short (patch-like). Beginners just need to remember this main difference and that is enough.

The difference between black spot disease and black rot: it is very simple. Black rot means the entire plant is affected, and the leaves along with the roots and stems will slowly blacken and rot. Black spot disease, by contrast, shows black spots in some areas, which slowly turn to mush and rot away. Remember this point and you will surely be able to distinguish them well. Black rot is a common disease of succulents, mainly starting on the stem and slowly extending from the lower part of the plant to the upper part. Its form of rotting is generally quite hidden, especially in places with high humidity, frequent rain and poor ventilation, where you need to observe even more.

The main physical means of preventing black spot disease are: do not use soil that has not been disinfected and sterilized, pay attention to ventilation in the growing environment, absolutely avoid letting plants get rained on at will during the rainy season (this point is very important), and absolutely avoid the potting soil staying moist for long periods. If a succulent gets black spot disease, it basically needs some fungicide spray to be cured completely, and when the overall growing environment improves, the disease symptoms will slow down slightly.

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