Help! Dark spots on my Echeveria

Meredith
by Meredith
Hello! I've noticed these black spots lately at the lower leaves of my succulemt. What could this mean? My other Echeverias don't have them and they look healthier. Haven't watered in a week. Thanks!
  11 answers
  • Gale O'Neal Gale O'Neal on Jun 24, 2017


    Because you live in a very warm and humid climate, you will need to water very, very sparingly. Echeverias come from areas of low humidity, and you have high humidity. Because of your high humidity, they won't need much water. Make sure your plants are in a very free-draining gritty mix, and be very careful about watering them. When you do, keep water off the foliage. The plant can grow out of the spotted foliage eventually.

    • DORLIS DORLIS on Jun 24, 2017

      For my succulents, I use turkey grit from the feed store. It is sharp, doesn't clump like pea gravel . Depending on the plant, I sometimes use up to 1/2 grit and soil. It has worked well for me, especilaly when I put everything on the deck in the summer. Even with a heavy rain, they drain quickly.

  • C. D. Scallan C. D. Scallan on Jun 24, 2017

    Believe it or not , excessive sun exposure can also cause these dry spots. I'd remove them from the window sill and maybe put them on a table near the window . The glass is probably magnifying the sun's effects to certain extent and well...too much of a good thing .

  • Don14583735 Don14583735 on Jun 24, 2017

    Don't know if your plants have the same reaction as my violets do, but be careful when watering. Any droplets of water left on the leaves will cause black spots.

  • Vanessa Vanessa on Jun 24, 2017

    It can be a number of things, water sparsely, check the roots and if the are dark you are over watering. Also it might be time for a bigger pot.

  • DORLIS DORLIS on Jun 24, 2017

    All these ideas are good and put together, will make for a healthy plant.

  • Rhonda Brooks Rhonda Brooks on Jun 24, 2017

    I have my succulents outside and it rains almost everyday. The key is well drained soil. I put a layer of pebble rocks and mix cactus potting soil with warm castings. Make sure your pots have holes and they are happy.

  • Rhonda Brooks Rhonda Brooks on Jun 24, 2017

    worm castings. Lol

  • 9530106 9530106 on Jun 24, 2017

    Repot the ones in the plastic nursery pots. They do not breathe, and not meant for permanent potting. :)

  • Margaret Armagh McMullen Margaret Armagh McMullen on Jun 25, 2017

    Sphagnum Moss under the soil not only keeps the roots dry, it can help when I'm busy and forget to water.. When any of my plants have black spot I give them some milk. They LOVE milk as it provides calcium. Black spot can be a sign a plant has calcium deficiency. They also love tea.. Your left over tea, or tea leaves.. used tea leaves are best.. 🙂

  • Geew Geew on Jun 29, 2017

    Overwatering

  • Maria H. Maria H. on Jun 29, 2017

    try repotting it and put small pea gravel or medium sized gravel in the bottom for good drainage! :)