Troubleshooting a Wrinkled or Wilted Succulent
Healthy succulents have thick, firm leaves and stems. Often, the first sign of a problem with a succulent is when the leaves start to look different. By keeping a close eye on your succulents, you should be able to identify issues quickly and figure out how to fix them.
Wrinkled and wilted succulents are almost always the result of a watering problem – either too much water or not enough. For beginners it can be difficult to tell the difference between an underwatered succulent and an overwatered succulent, but there are several other signs that can indicate what the issue is.
Overwatering
When there is too much water in the tissues of a succulent, the leaves may look bumpy or wavy. They wilt and eventually fall off the stem. The lower leaves will be affected first, then the problem will move upward in the plant if the overwatering continues. Leaves might also turn yellow or translucent, and they will feel mushy or jelly-like.
Underwatering
A thirsty succulent looks dried out and desiccated. The leaves will become shriveled and wrinkled. When you touch them, they feel flat and deflated. Leaves may also turn brown or develop crispy edges as the plant dries out even more. With underwatering, the leaves will not usually wilt, but they will drop off the plant if the situation isn’t remedied.
Fixing Wrinkled or Wilted Succulents
If your succulent is underwatered, the solution is easy: provide it with some water. However, be sure not to overcorrect. You don’t want to drown your plant either. Just give it the normal amount of water and it should start to smooth out within a couple of days.
It’s more difficult to fix an overwatered succulent. If the problem is minor, you can just hold off and not water the plant until the soil dries out again. However, if the issue is severe, you may want to take more drastic action. The best way to do this is to remove your plant from the pot, remove the damp soil, and then repot it in fresh potting mix. It is also helpful to be sure the plant is in a bright, warm location with plenty of air circulation. All of those environmental factors help the water to evaporate from the soil more quickly.
