Overwatered vs. Underwatered Succulents: A Guide to Recognizing the Signs
- Succulent Garden
- Sep 6
- 2 min read
One of the biggest challenges for new succulent owners is knowing when and how much to water their plants. Overwatering and underwatering can both cause stress, but the signs are very different. Learning to read your plant's signals is key to keeping it healthy.
Signs of an Overwatered Succulent
Overwatering is the number one killer of succulents. When a plant gets too much water, its roots can't breathe and begin to rot. The stored water in its leaves can also cause the plant to burst from the inside.
Mushy or soft leaves: The leaves will feel soft, mushy, and bloated. They may turn a translucent yellow or brown and feel like they are about to pop.
Leaves falling off: Leaves will drop from the plant with just a slight touch.
Black or mushy stem: The stem will turn black or brown and feel soft and slimy. This is a sign of severe root rot.
The Fix:
Immediately stop watering.
Remove the plant from its pot and let the roots and stem dry out for a few days.
If the stem has rotted, cut off the healthy top part of the plant and propagate it in new, dry soil.
Signs of an Underwatered Succulent
Succulents are built to withstand drought, but they still need to be watered. An underwatered succulent is often easier to save than an overwatered one.
Wrinkled or shriveled leaves: The leaves will look thin and wrinkled. This is the plant using up its stored water.
Dry or crispy leaves: The bottom leaves of the plant will dry up, become crispy, and fall off. This is a natural process, but if it happens to many leaves at once, it's a sign of thirst.
Lightweight pot: The entire pot will feel very light, indicating that the soil is completely dry.
The Fix:
Give your plant a deep, thorough soak. Water it slowly until the water drains freely from the bottom of the pot.
Wait until the leaves plump up again before you water it again. This may take a day or two.
The Golden Rule
When it comes to watering, the golden rule for succulents is: "When in doubt, wait." It is much easier to bring a thirsty succulent back to life than to save one from root rot. By learning to recognize these signs, you can easily provide your plants with exactly what they need to thrive.
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