You are observing my distress signal. A squishy or shriveled texture is a clear deviation from my natural plump, firm state. The primary cause is almost always related to water. However, the symptom is the same for two opposite extremes. I require you to investigate further by gently removing me from my pot. If my roots are brown, black, mushy, and fall apart easily, you have over-hydrated me. This is root rot, where the damaged roots can no longer absorb water, causing my leaves to become squishy from internal cell collapse. If my roots are dry, brittle, and thin, you have under-hydrated me. My leaves are shriveling because I have exhausted my internal moisture reserves and lack the root system to draw more from the soil.
If the diagnosis is over-watering, immediate and decisive action is required. My compromised roots are under attack by anaerobic bacteria and fungi thriving in the soggy soil. You must perform emergency surgery. Gently remove all the wet soil and carefully cut away any soft, rotten roots with a sterile tool. What remains should be firm and healthy. Allow my root system to air dry and callous over for a day or two in a shaded, well-ventilated area. Then, repot me into a fresh, dry, fast-draining succulent mix, ideally in a pot with a drainage hole. Do not water me immediately. Wait at least a week to allow my tender, new root initials to seek out moisture and establish themselves without the risk of immediately re-drowning.
If the problem is chronic under-watering, the process is less urgent but requires a gentle and consistent approach. My root system has likely desiccated and may be partially non-functional. Do not shock me by drenching the bone-dry soil; this can also stun the remaining healthy roots. Instead, give me a thorough but controlled watering. Soak the soil completely until water runs from the drainage hole, then allow it to drain away fully. Place me in bright, indirect light and monitor my condition. The shriveled leaves may not fully plump up, but you should look for signs of improvement in the newest growth at the center of my rosette. Resume a regular but cautious watering schedule, only when the soil is completely dry.
Once my immediate crisis is managed, my environment must be optimized to prevent a recurrence. My pot must have excellent drainage. My soil must be gritty and inorganic, mimicking the rocky, free-draining ground of my native habitat. I thrive in bright, indirect light. Direct, hot sun can scorch my leaves, causing a different kind of stress and discoloration. Water me deeply but infrequently, only when the soil has been completely dry for a few days. During my winter dormancy, I require even less water, sometimes only once a month. By understanding my needs as a xerophytic plant built for arid survival, you can help me return to a state of firm, healthy turgor.
