What to Do When Succulent Leaves Wither and Turn Black? Take the Right Measures to Restore Health
Black rot and decay are among the most common diseases in succulents, usually caused by fungal infections resulting from overwatering or an overly humid growing environment. Most succulents grow in desert climates and are adapted to extremely arid growing conditions, so you must never water too much, and the soil should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings. Another cause of rot is soil medium that is not breathable. Be sure to use a breathable, well-draining medium to ensure that water does not sit around the stem for more than a few minutes.
When it comes to soil mixes for succulents, you cannot use garden soil directly. Garden soil has relatively low nutrient content and tends to compact, making it impossible for water to penetrate. We can mix an appropriate amount of coal ash and turf ash into garden soil, and of course, the sunflower seed shells and peanut shells we crack open in daily life can also be added to help with aeration. Finally, you can place some maifan stone on the surface of the pot, which not only improves the ornamental appeal of the potted plant but also helps with watering by allowing slow percolation.
When the seasons change, if we suddenly move succulents from indoors to outdoors for direct sun exposure, they become very prone to sunburn and black rot. Even succulents that have just been sprayed with fungicides such as carbendazim are very susceptible to chemical burn, black rot, and turning to mush. Black rot manifests in many forms, and by the time you notice it, it is often already too late. You must always be on the alert for discolored areas on the plant, as well as stems and leaves that have become soft and mushy.
Mealybugs chewing wounds can also cause black rot in succulents. The center of a succulent is itself very tender, so mealybugs tend to gather in this area, and these fresh tender leaves easily retain mealybug secretions, leading to sooty mold, and then the growing point also becomes susceptible to black rot infection. Therefore, we must regularly check succulents for signs of insect bites.
Once a succulent is infected with black rot, it may lose just a few leaves in mild cases, or the entire plant may die in severe cases, so doing preventive work in advance is very important. Do not bruise the succulent, otherwise the stem will slowly rot the entire plant, leading to death. Especially when the succulent's color turns slightly white or even develops spots, we need to take corresponding measures, using a solution to clean the affected areas of the plant.
For those that have already developed black rot but are not completely rotten, you can use a sterilized blade to scoop out as much of the rotten part as possible. It is best to remove some of the non-rotten part as well, because you may not be able to tell whether it is infected with the fungus or not. When beheading for black rot, you must cut down to a position on the stem that is not infected, otherwise it will continue to spread upward. After beheading, apply some carbendazim to the cut surface, let it dry for two days, and then propagate by cutting.
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