The stem of the old succulent plant has shrunk. What should I do if the succulent plant has shrunk?

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In recent years, succulent cultivation has become more popular, especially with the rise of self-media, which has made many flower lovers join the ranks of succulent lovers. However, some flower lovers have found that the roots of succulent old piles are normal, but the stems close to the soil surface are wrinkled and soft, and the leaves are wilted. What's going on?

Analysis of the causes of pole shrinkage

If the root system is normal, it means that the problem with the succulent is not in the soil. However, if the leaves are wilted and the stems close to the soil are wrinkled and soft, it means that there is a problem with the stems of the succulent, and the problem is very serious and has endangered its life.

Many people encounter this situation when growing succulents in the summer, and all of them are old succulents with stems directly exposed outside. Why does this problem occur? Let me explain it slowly below.

When succulents are exposed to high temperatures in the summer, their roots are protected by the soil, so they can only survive long-term water shortages and excessive moisture in the potting soil ( the former will cause the roots of succulents to wither and die, and the latter will cause the roots to rot and turn black ).

Generally, they will not be seriously damaged, and the upper stems of succulents will not be easily sunburned because they are shaded by leaves. However, the stems directly exposed to the outside are different. They can easily shrink and soften under the high temperature and exposure in summer.

As for why the problem with succulent stems is the part close to the soil, it all starts with the succulent paving stones. Succulent friends who have touched flower pots and the ground during the summer noon know that they are very hot under high temperatures.

Especially in some areas with extremely high temperatures, it is no exaggeration to say that you can fry eggs on the stone slabs at noon in summer. In this case, the succulent stems on the paving stones will definitely be injured first, as they will inevitably become soft and dry due to the sun.

Once the succulent stems are dried like this , there is no other way to save them. You can only cut off the intact stems and use them for cuttings, otherwise they will continue to rot upwards later.

However, succulents with partial stem sun exposure usually grow aerial roots. If we pay attention to retaining these aerial roots when cutting off the heads, it will help the succulents adapt to the pot faster.

When there are many aerial roots, when the succulents are potted after drying their wounds, as long as the temperature is not high, we can even directly water the potting soil thoroughly. Then these aerial roots will quickly turn into real roots and allow the succulents to adapt to the pot normally.

Avoiding the shrinkage of old succulent plants

In summer, we should avoid the problem of old succulent plants with exposed stems from being exposed to the sun. First of all, we must provide proper shade during the high temperature periods of noon and afternoon . If we are afraid that they will grow too tall, we can use partial shading.

For example, we can break off some branches or other things to block the stems of succulents and prevent them from being directly exposed to the scorching sun. Secondly, the old succulents that are raised outdoors in summer should keep the soil in the pot slightly moist , and must not be exposed to the sun in a water-deficient state, otherwise the stems will be exposed to the sun in minutes.