I noticed that one of the stems of my Echeveria has rotted so badly that I could pull it out without any roots left. The stem wasn't producing any leaves or making progress, and it seems like the water I was giving it contributed to the rot. The other stems look fine, but I'm worried about the rotting roots still in the pot. If I leave them, will the rot spread to the healthy parts? Should I go ahead and do a full repotting?
3 Answers
Just cut off the rotted parts and consider switching to a better soil, preferably in a terracotta pot. Make sure it gets plenty of light but less water. That will help it recover.
So, root rot usually comes from microorganisms in the soil that thrive on decaying material. If you don’t repot, the new roots that are hopefully developing could struggle due to the presence of these pathogens. I'd really suggest repotting to give your plant a fighting chance! Just make sure you get rid of any rotten parts and freshen up that soil.
I totally get your worry! I had a similar issue with my Echeveria. After years of thriving, one of my stems went downhill too, and I found all the roots were mushy. I chopped the dead ones off, used rooting powder, and replanted it in new soil. It’s stressful but keep an eye on it. It might just be adjusting from winter to spring! You might even be seeing some old roots from last year that died off.