Hello, dedicated caretaker. We sense your concern when you notice our leaves becoming soft, wrinkled, or detaching. These are not signs of us being difficult; they are our only way to communicate that our needs are not being met. Please, understand our language from our perspective.
When our leaves become unpleasantly soft, mushy, and translucent, often starting from the bottom of the rosette, we are suffering from too much water. Our roots, which are designed to seek out scarce moisture in arid environments, are drowning. They cannot breathe in constantly soggy soil. This suffocation causes them to rot, and the rot travels up our stem, preventing water and nutrients from reaching our leaves. The cells in our leaves literally burst from overhydration, causing that soft, squishy feel. This is a critical situation for us, as it can quickly lead to our complete collapse.
Conversely, when our leaves become wrinkled, limp, and flat, curling inwards on themselves, we are desperately thirsty. A healthy Echeveria's leaves are plump and firm, full of stored water. We use this reservoir during dry periods. When that reserve is depleted and not replenished, our leaves shrivel and wrinkle. It is our most direct way of showing you that our soil has been dry for too long. While we are drought-tolerant, we are not immortal; we need a deep, thorough drink when our soil is completely dry and our leaves just begin to show these first signs of thirst.
Do not be alarmed if you see our very bottom, oldest leaves occasionally becoming wrinkled, dry, and crispy before they fall off. This is often a natural process called reabsorption. We are cannibalizing the nutrients and moisture from that older leaf to fuel new growth, such as a fresh root system after repotting, a flower stalk, or new offsets (pups). It is a prudent conservation strategy. However, if this is happening rapidly to many leaves at once, or to younger, higher leaves, it is a sign of a larger problem, typically severe thirst or a root system that cannot function properly.
Sometimes, our leaves drop at the slightest touch, and you may notice our stem turning black or brown and becoming soft. This is advanced rot, often a consequence of persistent overwatering. The rot in the roots has spread to the stem, severing the connection to the leaves. With their lifeline cut, the leaves detach easily. At this stage, our very core is compromised. Our plea is for immediate intervention—beheading us above the rot to propagate and save the top part of the plant is often the only course of action.
Our problems are almost always linked to water, but the root cause is often your care routine. Please, ensure we live in a gritty, well-draining soil mix that does not hold water for long. Plant us in a pot with a drainage hole. Water us deeply only when the soil is completely dry, and never let us sit in a saucer of water. Provide us with plenty of bright, direct light to keep our growth compact and strong. By understanding these needs, you can help us thrive rather than simply survive.
