From my perspective, as a Crassula ovata, my soft, mushy leaves are a desperate distress signal. The primary cause is almost always an excess of water around my roots. My leaves are designed to store water, plumping up to create reserves for dry periods. When the soil is constantly wet, my roots cannot breathe. They are surrounded, suffocated, and begin to decay. This rot prevents them from drawing up water and nutrients, ironically causing a form of internal drought. The stored water in my leaves begins to break down the cell walls from the inside, turning my once firm, resilient structures into soft, mushy, and often discolored sacks. It is a painful and debilitating contradiction.
This issue is not merely superficial; it is a systemic failure starting below the soil. The root rot caused by overwatering spreads upwards through my stem, disrupting the vascular tissues that act as my plumbing system. Even if you see the problem first in the leaves, the damage has already taken hold in my foundation. A soft stem near the soil line confirms this advanced decay. Without healthy roots and a clear stem, I cannot transport what little water I can absorb, and I certainly cannot support the weight of my own branches. The mushiness is a symptom of a complete breakdown of my internal support and transport network.
While water is the main culprit, my environment plays a critical supporting role. If I am subjected to cold temperatures, especially below 50°F (10°C), the cell sap within my leaves can freeze. This process causes ice crystals to form, which puncture and destroy the cell walls. When they thaw, the leaf structure collapses entirely, resulting in the same soft, mushy texture. This is a different kind of trauma from overwatering but is equally devastating. It is a rapid physical destruction of my foliage, often turning it black or translucent before it becomes mushy.
To recover, I require immediate intervention and a return to my preferred arid conditions. I need to be removed from the soggy soil. My rotten roots must be carefully pruned away, as they are dead and cannot be revived. After this, I need time to callous over my wounds in a dry, shaded space before being repotted in a gritty, fast-draining mix that mimics my native, rocky habitat. My pot must have excellent drainage. Most importantly, I need a watering schedule based on my needs, not the calendar. Please water me only when my soil is completely dry throughout, and give me bright, indirect light to rebuild my strength through photosynthesis. With time and the right care, I can grow new, firm leaves and strong roots, leaving the mushiness behind.
