Eight Reasons Why Your Succulents Keep Dying

Succulents are plants that nearly everyone can grow and enjoy in and outside the home. There are more than 10,000 types of these fascinating and resilient plants. With so many options, it’s easy to find a succulent that is right for you. If, however, you can’t keep a succulent alive, then you need to find the root cause of the problem, so your succulents can thrive once again.

The most common reasons that succulents die is due to overwatering and improper drainage. Too much water can cause a succulent’s roots to rot, and it is also a leading cause of rot and fungus growth. Succulents can also burn up in extremely sunny conditions, and freeze in cold temperatures. Pests can attack vulnerable plants, and you may need to change the soil type to keep your succulents thriving.

While there are several ways to kill a succulent, it is also easy to fix the problems and keep your succulents alive. The key is knowing the most common reasons succulents suffer, and ensuring you provide a safe environment for your plants free of these issues. Below is a list of the top eight reasons why your succulents are dying and five effective ways to keep these plants alive moving forward.

The Top Eight Reasons Why Your Succulents Are Dying

1. You’re Watering Them Too Much 

The most common way to kill a succulent is by overwatering. Plants need water, but succulents are relatives of the cactus family, and they don’t like too much of it. Before watering a succulent, you must ensure the soil is fully dry.

While you may have the best intentions when you frequently water your plants, too much water is likely to do much more harm than good to a succulent. When you overwater a succulent, the roots can get waterlogged and quickly rot. This leads to all sorts of problems, including disease, root rot, and death. 

2. Poor Drainage

In addition to too much water, not enough drainage is another reason succulents die prematurely. Succulents love quick-draining soil. This is why it’s common to find them planted in rocky soil (or even in pebbles rather than soil) or bark.

You can use different soil mixes for your plant, but if it is compacted or your pot doesn't have drainage holes, then your plant is likely to suffer. A lack of drainage can cause the same issues as overwatering. Roots can rot and all sorts of other issues can occur. A combination of poor drainage and overwatering is often the reason most household succulents die an early death.

3. It’s Too Cold Outside

If you live in a climate with freezing winters, then there is a chance cold weather is the reason your succulents keep dying, Many succulent species are filled with water. This helps them stay alive when they are deprived of water. It also means that they are very sensitive to freezing temperatures.

If your succulents freeze even for just a brief period, the plant’s cells can explode due to their high water content. This can kill the leaves and potentially the entire plant.

4. The Plant Or Soil Is Contaminated

There is also a chance that your plant or the soil it lives in is contaminated with either fungus or other plant-killing bacteria. While succulents are resilient, they are no match for fungus that can take over the roots, and kill the plant from within. If you notice fuzzy white mold inside your dead plant, or in the soil, throw away the contents, disinfect the pot, and start with a new plant and soil.

5. Not Enough Sunlight

Some succulents aren’t picky about how much direct sunlight they need. Some even prefer a lot of shade. Still, it is important to remember that all plants require light, and succulents are no exception.

If you have a succulent indoors, and it keeps dying, then a lack of light can be to blame. Ensure your indoor succulents are species that require the least amount of light. Placing indoor succulents in the sun from time to time is also helpful in keeping them alive.

6. You Aren’t Watering Them Enough

While overwatering is the common reason succulents struggle, it is also entirely possible to underwater a succulent. Even though you don’t need to water these plants often, they still need water from time to time. If your plants are dying and look like they are shriveled like a raisin, then a lack of water may be the reason your succulents are dying.

7. Pests Are Attacking Your Vulnerable Plants

Pests can also kill your succulents. Strong and healthy succulents are often resilient against pests, but given the slightest vulnerability, pests can attack your previously healthy plant. Mealy bugs and spider mites are just two of the small insects that can make homes in your succulents and slowly kill them in the process.

8. You Are Using The Wrong Soil Type

If your succulents keep dying and you can’t figure out why, then your soil type may be to blame. Succulents like soil that drains well. Loose, pebbly and even chunky soil types are best. This allows for plenty of air, as well as easy drainage. If you are using regular potting soil or something dense and compact, this could be the reason your succulents keep dying.

Five Ways To Help Keep Your Succulents Alive And Thriving

1. Improve Soil And Drainage

Since the number one reason succulents die an early death is due to overwatering and root rot, the best way to help keep them alive is to improve drainage. Use clean soil that drains well. 

To improve drainage and prevent rot, place rocks at the bottom of your pot to further improve drainage. Or better yet, plant your succulents in a rock garden. This ensures that even if you water your succulent too much, the excess water will leave the pot through the bottom drainage.

2. Give Your Succulents The Perfect Amount Of Sun

Put thought into where you put your succulent. Ensure it gets plenty of sun, but not so much sun that it burns the plant. You may need to change the location of the plant from time to time to ensure it is always getting the perfect amount of sun. If you notice your plants struggling in the sun, move them to a shady spot.

3. Monitor Your Plants Closely For Changes

To prevent major problems, it’s best to identify small issues with your plant as they arise. If your plant looks dry, water it. If the leaves are changing colors, try to diagnose the problem. It is usually easy to rehabilitate a succulent that has only just started to struggle. 

4. Protect Them From Extreme Weather

Extreme heat and sun, as well as freezing temperatures, are terrible environments for most succulents. Make sure you shield your plants from these extreme weather conditions. If there is a heat wave or cold snap in your forecast, bring all your succulents indoors until the weather improves. Remember that extreme sunlight and temperatures below 32 degrees are both deadly conditions for most succulents.

5. Remove And Prevent Pest Infestations

If you notice bugs on your succulent, you need to address the problem right away. You can dunk the plant in a mixture of water and castile soap, or spray the plant. You can also help prevent pests from attacking your succulents using various sprays and natural methods.

Summing Up Why Your Succulents Keep Dying And How To Stop It

Succulents are known for their low-maintenance sensibilities, but this doesn't mean they are invincible. There are many ways you can kill a succulent. Overwatering and poor soil drainage are the two most common ways to kill a succulent unnecessarily. There are also pests and soil contaminants that can kill these plants, as can underwatering them. Too much or too little sunlight is also dangerous, as are extremely high and low temperatures.

Related Guides:

• When Should You Move Plants Inside?
• How To Move Plants Without Killing Them
• How To Protect Tropical Plants From Freezing Temperatures