Succulent Stem Dried Out | How To Treat Like A Boss |

Your succulent may rot mainly due to watering issues and due to excessive intense sunlight exposure. However, different succulents have different requirements in terms of sunlight and water. Having said that, there could be some aloes which thrive in full sunlight where there will be some succulents that prefer to have indirect sunlight. However generally if you expose them to intense sunlight for prolonged periods, it will make the succulent stem dried out.

Succulent Stem Dried Out

Why is my succulent stem dried out?

If you had grown them indoors for too long and brought them outdoors at once, it would also be unhealthy for the plants and make the plant’s stems dry out

Moreover, if you keep exposing the plants to intense sunlight, it would also be quite unhealthy for the plants and result in stems drying out.

Besides the intense sunlight, the faults you do in watering may also attribute the succulent stems to wither. Particularly if you keep under watering the plants, it will make the succulents’ stems wither.

If you ever spot your plants’ stems are dry, it is a sign they send out to indicate to you that the plants are lacking sufficient water. 

If you have been watering them less often, you need to water them more often and water them thoroughly. Keep in mind that succulents want more water during summer and during heatwaves.

So, I am going to explain to you in detail as to why your succulents may encounter these issues and the remedies you could use to revive them. 

Keep in mind that succulents are delicate plants. Further they prefer to have warmer climates in general. Hence, they conserve water in the stems for prolonged periods. Keep reading this article to find out more details on it and the ways how you can avoid this condition.

Can you revive a dried-out succulent?

Your succulents may die mainly due to water related issues. Furthermore, pests’ attacks may also result in the plant’s death. 

However, whenever you spot a dying succulent, you need to identify as to why they start drying out. On many occasions reviving a succulent is quite easy and simple. 

Succulents in general are used to grow in harsh conditions. However, as I said in the beginning you need to determine what has caused your precious succulents to dry out and then act accordingly.

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Ensure that you have grown them in a well-draining potting medium. Further your planter should also have sufficient drainage too. 

If your plants have started to rot, you need to repot them as that would be the best way you can revive the plants.

On the other hand, if under watering has caused the plants to wither, chances are that the soil medium would be bone dry. 

In that case, you need to water them and they will revive with one or two drinks of water. If there are insects who have attacked your plants and if they have dried out due to that, you can consider using an insecticide to treat them and revive the plants. 

If the plants have got intense sunlight and hence if they have withered, you need to relocate them to a shady place where they can wither.

Succulent Stem Dried Out

Five Ways to Keep Your Succulent Stems from Drying Out

Proper watering 

You need to water the succulents regularly. Even though their stems can conserve water in the stems, they can also dry out at some point of time as that is how they have organized naturally

However, to prevent this happening, you need to water them adequately. Keep in mind that succulent can dry out due to both  under watering and  over watering. 

However, it is critical that you know when exactly you need to water your plants too. Needless to say, it is crucial to grow the plants in a pot which has sufficient drainage too. 

It is important as by mistake if you over water them, excess moisture will drain away.

To ascertain whether your plants are over watered or under watered you can simply check the plants leaves. 

If you find out your succulents  are yellow and mushy , it could be due to over watering. On the other hand, if there are wrinkled and withered leaves it could be due to under watering. 

So, it is quite simple to identify whether your succulent stems have dried out due to under watering or due to over watering.

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Trimm the dried parts

Secondly consider trimming dried parts of the plants. You could do this step for the plants which are already dry. 

So, if you see your plant’s stems have dried out, you can simply trim them. When trimming, you can trim it at an angle. 

After that you can use the healthy parts for propagation. When you propagate it will give a fresh start for the plants in a fresh soil mix and in a fresh pot.

Adequate sunlight

Locate them in a spot where they can gain sufficient sunlight. Do not leave them in cooler temperatures and in less sun-exposed locations.  

As aforesaid, succulents are used to grow in warmer conditions where they can gain bright sunlight.

Fourthly, grow them in an adequate pot. It should ideally be a pot which has at least one draining hole. When you water them, the excess moisture can drain through those holes. 

Further your pot needs to be in the right size also. If you have used a deep container, the water will reach  the bottom all the way passing the roots of the succulent.  

Provide enough room for the succulents. Spacing is another reason as to why your succulents’ stems may wither. 

Hence , ensure that you give at least 2-3 inches space  between your plants so that they can grow well. It will be pleasing to watch so many succulents in a small spot, but it will make the plants grow in a cramped place. 

Hence you need to grow them adequately spaced. It will give enough space to grow.

How do you revive a succulent stem?

If you spot your succulent’s  stem has dried out, it is not something which you need to panic about. You could try out the following steps to revive a succulent stem which has dried out.

First you may snip off the dried-out stem part. To do that you can remove the plant from the pot and trim off the dried-out stem part and replant the healthy plant in a new pot. 

It will be quite effective to revive the succulent. However, to replant you need to leave it somewhere they can callous and then replant. 

Next you can consider beheading and propagating them too. To do this you need to select the healthy-looking plant parts and use them for propagation.

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Next, if exposure to intense sunlight has caused the succulent stem to dry out, you need to leave them under a shady place. Then, the sunlight would not be that intense and would be optimal for the plant’s growth.

Succulent stem turning brown at base

If you spot your succulent stem has become brown at the base, it is an indication to let you know that the plant is rotting

In addition to the stem becoming brown, you will see how their leaves also become discolored and tend to look in black. 

Over watering could be the root cause for this condition. To further elaborate on stem rot, you will feel disheartened in the first place. This is the worst thing a succulent enthusiast may experience. 

Root rot is characterized by its yellow mushy leaves along with black stem parts. This is a commonly spotted disease among the succulents which are particularly grown in warmer humid climates. 

It would start to occur around the stem. The roots will start to decay and if it spreads on a severe level, chances are that you may even lose the plants. 

That is why it is critical to identify it in advance so that you could remedy it and avoid further repercussions.

Conclusion 

As experts have it is always best to prevent these conditions occurring rather than treating it. So , if we stick to this, it is always best to keep the succulents on the dry side whilst watering them adequately. 

Besides, it is important that you avoid exposing them to intense sunlight as well. Be mindful not to bring the plants outdoors at once particularly during hot summer as it could traumatize your plants and make the plants’ stems dry out.

Next ensure that you have grown them in a planter which has good drainage as well. That will avoid any excess moisture piling up in the pot. Moreover, grow them in a potting medium which has excellent drainage too.

Credit to : Stacey Here We Grow Again
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About author

I’m Dr. Chamika, As a hobby love talking about plants and showing you that taking care of indoor plants. My website is knowledge I’ve learned over the years and continue to learn about growing succulents. If you’re a succulent lover, then you have come to the correct place.