Succulents are very easy plants to look after but that doesn’t mean you can forget about them for month on end.
If you want them to remain healthy looking they will require some care.
And one of the main reasons people choose to buy a succulent is for their “plump” appearance, so what does it mean if your succulent starts to look deflated?
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Why Did My Succulent Deflate?
Your succulent has started to look deflated because it is not being watered enough or its soil is too compacted and the roots cannot absorb enough water for it to survive.
When your succulent doesn’t get enough water it goes into survival mode and tries to save the little bit of water that is left in its leaves.
The first leaves to dry up will be the bottom ones and they may even fall off as the plant further attempts to conserve water.
Without intervention, all the leaves will eventually deflate, dry up and fall off.
And given enough time without water, the stem and roots will eventually dry up and wither away also.
These types of plants rely on good water retention to maintain their round and plump-looking leaves.
If you have neglected to water your succulent often enough (typically this is about once a month) then you may find that the leaves have lost their juiciness and appear deflated or even shriveled.
Succulents store water in their leaves to survive in times of drought.
That’s what gives their leaves that plump look and if your succulent Leaves are looking deflated, it isn’t getting enough water.
Typically the leaves will shrivel and die from the bottom up, so do not simply quickly glance at your succulent to check its health!
Remember to check the entirety of the plant, pay special attention to the leaves at the bottom to check whether or not it is in a good condition.
Related Article: Why Do My Succulents Look Dusty? (Explained)
Is It Serious If My Succulent Looks Deflated?
How serious the problem depends on exactly how deflated your succulent’s leaves are and how much it has been neglected.
For example, if you have completely forgotten to water your succulent for several months you may find that the leaves have deflated, shriveled up, and are about to fall off.
In this case, your plant will need some serious care, love, and attention to help it become healthy again!
However, if you catch the problem early enough, for example, if you only notice that the leaves are beginning to deflate then you’ll be able to reverse the problem quickly.
This way you can simply adjust the watering schedule or the amount of direct sunlight that the plant is getting (as this will dry out the soil faster) accordingly.
How To Save A Deflated Succulent?
Thankfully an underwatered succulent plant is easier to revive than an overwater succulent plant, so it is possible to restore it to full health (providing that the plant is not dead and falling apart).
If your succulent is only just starting to look deflated then you will only need to make sure that it is watered well the next couple of times that you do so.
Give the soil enough watering so that water drains down through the roots.
But, just in case some of the roots are damaged or dead because of dryness, don’t give it too much water at first.
Start with small amounts of water so what’s left of the roots doesn’t drown and has a chance to recover.
Also, make sure the pot has good drainage so that the water can drain away.
If the soil is too soggy or if your succulent is left to sit in water, it will rot and die a lot faster.
After two or three waterings you will notice that the plant appears to “perk up” and will look much healthier in no time.
The worst thing that you can do for an underwatered plant is to then overwater it – essentially you will be drowning it.
Once watered, allow at least the top one inch of soil to completely dry out before you water your succulent again.
This usually takes from 3 to 6 weeks can take more or less time depending on your plant and its environmental conditions.
This way there will not be a backlog of water around the roots.
How To Prevent Your Succulent From Looking Deflated?
Your succulent plant will need three main things to ensure that it stays in good health:
- Soil.
- Sunlight.
- Water.
Ensure Your Succulent Is In The Right Type Of Soil
Succulents like porous, well-drained potting soil that’s more on the sandy side.
If the soil you are using is too clayey it will come packed around the roots of your plant and cut off its access to water.
If compacted soil is the issue, it won’t matter how much water you give it.
The problem wondering man until you repot the succulent into a loose and well-draining potting mix that’s suitable for these types of plants.
Ensure Your Succulent Is Getting The Right Amount Of Water
You will also need to pay attention to how quickly the soil dries out in the pot.
Succulents are usually drought-resistant plants and allowing their soil to dry out between watering times is a very safe way to water them.
Normally, succulents will need to be watered once every month, but depending on the humidity, heat, and how much direct sunlight they get you may need to water them more frequently than this.
Watering your succulents according to the season is also very important.
Depending on their growing cycle, your succulents may need more water in the summer than they will in the wintertime and this is exactly why it is very important to pay attention to just how quickly the soil in their pot dries out.
Let your succulent tell you when it needs water by only watering it when the soil has dried out.
Provide Your Succulent Enough Light
If you live in a place that gets very little sunlight it may be a good idea to place your succulents on a windowsill, or even outside every now and again, just to make sure that they are getting enough direct sunlight.
Rotate Your Succulent For Even Sun Exposure
One way to make sure that they are getting enough light is to rotate them once every few days.
This way you can make sure that no leaves will get too much sun and others get too little.
It’s also a good way to prevent parts of your succulent from reaching for sunlight and becoming leggy.
Final Thoughts
Succulents are super-durable and easy to care for.
But if you notice your succulent’s leaves are no longer looking plump and starting to look deflated, it just means the plant hasn’t been getting enough water and shouldn’t be too difficult to revive.
