From my perspective, the primary reason I am becoming soft and mushy is almost always related to my roots and the soil I am planted in. My leaves are designed to store large amounts of water, making me a succulent. When I am forced to sit in constantly wet or poorly draining soil, my roots cannot perform their essential function. They require oxygen from the air pockets in the soil to breathe. Saturated soil drowns my root system, leading to a condition you call root rot. Once my roots begin to decay, they can no longer absorb water or nutrients. Ironically, while surrounded by water, I am unable to drink, and the cells in my leaves begin to break down and collapse, leading to that soft, mushy texture you feel. This is a desperate cry for help from my foundation.
You see, my thick, fleshy leaves are comprised of specialized cells that act like tiny water balloons. They are brilliantly designed to expand and hold onto moisture for long periods of drought. However, these cells have a limit. When I am given water too frequently, or my pot does not allow excess water to escape, the pressure within these cells becomes too great. The cell walls, which provide structure and firmness, literally rupture. This internal damage is what you perceive as mushiness. It is not simply that I am "full of water"; it is that my internal structure has been catastrophically compromised from within due to the constant pressure and the subsequent onset of rot from my damaged roots.
The softened, damaged tissue of my leaves and roots creates a perfect entry point for opportunistic pathogens. The constantly damp environment is an ideal breeding ground for fungi like Pythium and Phytophthora, as well as various bacteria. These organisms rapidly colonize my decaying tissues, accelerating the breakdown process. This infection often manifests as dark brown or black spots that spread, and the mushiness will often be accompanied by a foul, unpleasant odor. This is a sign that the problem has progressed beyond simple overwatering to a systemic infection. At this stage, the damage is severe and can quickly spread to my core, threatening my entire existence.
While less common than overwatering, another factor that can cause my tissues to become soft is temperature stress. As a plant native to warm, arid climates, I am highly sensitive to cold. If I am exposed to temperatures below 50°F (10°C), especially for prolonged periods or in combination with wet soil, the water within my leaf cells can actually freeze. This formation of ice crystals punctures and destroys the cell walls, leading to damage that appears identical to rot—soft, translucent, and mushy leaves. This type of damage often occurs quickly after a cold event and is typically localized to the parts of me that were most exposed to the low temperatures.
