---
title: "can someone help me with my succulent? the leaves have turned black…"
description: "can someone help me with my succulent? the leaves have turned black and skinny/shriveled while the bottom of the plant is yellow and dead. i can’t tell if i’m…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/xHGXHAlTQm-2bPA8ZiFcCA"
community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle"
author: "gabs"
published: "2024-07-25T23:13:09.668536Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0eDpgdt1WgEXWta-NEtsQqa2H9e7L-jdiSH8NDIiW7U/2_uggcR9Qy2AscnNrorzIA.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Cactus \& Succulent Circle](https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w.md)

# can someone help me with my succulent? the leaves have turned black…

_Posted by gabs on 2024-07-25_

can someone help me with my succulent?  
the leaves have turned black and skinny/shriveled while the bottom of the plant is yellow and dead.  
i can’t tell if i’m overwatering or under watering- i only water it once or twice a month :(

i’m not sure what im doing wrong or how to make it better.

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0eDpgdt1WgEXWta-NEtsQqa2H9e7L-jdiSH8NDIiW7U/2_uggcR9Qy2AscnNrorzIA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0eDpgdt1WgEXWta-NEtsQqa2H9e7L-jdiSH8NDIiW7U/44HPRnXaS_W-rV6kMYaClw.webp?size=large)

## 9 comments

### Swamp Witch commented on 2024-07-25

Looks severely under-watered to me. Are you drowning it when you water or just putting a little in? When you do water you have to COMPLETELY saturate the soil.

#### BigGrac replied on 2024-07-26

Gotta drown that hoe for sure

#### gabs replied on 2024-07-26

i normally water it until it has water coming out of the drainage hole at the bottom, which is normally pretty fast

#### Swamp Witch replied on 2024-07-26

Your soil has become hydrophobic. Bottom water it and let it soak up as much as it wants. OR you can just run water over the top for a LONG time.

#### gabs replied on 2024-07-26

good to know! should i repot the plant with new soil then?

#### Swamp Witch replied on 2024-07-26

I would if it has never been transplanted or has been a while. You may find that the roots want you to downsize the pot. Measure the root ball and add an inch to figure out the pot size you need.

_1 more reply in the app_

### Kades commented on 2024-07-26

Not sure if this helps at all but my haworthia were getting watered ~once a week (when temps were 90-100). But it also lives outside in the summer!

Highly agree with the above comments, I find it easier to just refresh the soil but I wouldn’t upsize the pot.

### Lali commented on 2024-07-26

I don’t water my zebra’s until the soil is pretty dry. I’ve had this one for about 3 years and done beautifully. Not sure about bottom watering, as their roots are quite shallow.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/CwNmjvDBLItAyYY_XrVH2yLI1_7FCuB2TkfQWR_B8ME/FXywLif3SLGJf2slD1mACA.webp?size=large)

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_