Help! I think I overwatered my succulent!

So you got your new Potted Pals that you bought online. You try to be the best plant parent you can, watering them and giving them all your attention. But after a few weeks, you notice that some of the leaves are falling off of your succulents and your pals feel squishy. You have most likely overwatered your potted house plant leading to root rot.

Don’t feel bad; things happen and you are trying your best. With proper care, many plants will be able to bounce back to health. 

Diagnosis

Rot occurs when the water-storage cells can’t handle all the excess water and burst. The water inside your potted plant will no longer be stored in their specialized cells and will run through the leaves. 

If you think that you may have overwatered your new potted succulents, they will likely have some of these signs:

1. Leaves change color and begin to be a bit translucent. 
2. Leaves are squishy 
3. Leaves fall off at the slightest touch
4. Bottom leaves appear with the above symptoms first
5. Leaves appear black (have advanced to rotting)

An underwatered succulent will have shriveled and wrinkled leaves in comparison to the swelled leaves described above. If you think you may be underwatering your succulents, please check the symptoms here.  

Treatment

1. If you have caught overwatering early-on, you may be able to leave the succulent in the soil and just wait a few more weeks before watering again. If you think you have more severe symptoms, advance to step 2. 
2. Check the roots for rot- Lift the succulent up and pluck it out of the soil. Don’t be afraid; succulents are durable and will tolerate being transferred. 
3. Cut back any rot, if noticeable. 
4. Remove the damp soil from the pot and replace it with a well-draining potting mix. 
5. Leave the succulent and its root ball out to dry for about three days.
6. Replant your succulent in the newly prepared soil. Wait about a week before watering again. 

Prevention

1. Only water when the soil is bone-dry! 
2. Keep your Potted Pals in our nursery pots and soil that they arrive in. The pots and soil are designed to help the water drain to avoid root rot. If you decide to transfer your houseplants to a new pot, make sure there are adequate drainage holes. You will also need to buy soil that drains well. 
3. Write down the dates that you water your succulents, but don’t stick to a strict regime. You will need to adjust to your plant’s needs. The amount of watering needed will change with the weather and time of year (from 7-10 days to up to 2 weeks). Read this article for all the specific care tips.
4. When in doubt, water less rather than more.

By Brenna Morecraft