Bubbles On Succulent Leaves – Causes & Treatment

Do you notice bubbles on your succulent leaves?

Succulent plants have a thick structure that helps them retain water during drought and other harsh climatic conditions, like temperature increases.

Their drought-resistant properties make homeowners prefer succulents as opposed to other ordinary indoor plants.

Also, many of the widely available succulents are characterized by their beauty and easy-to-maintain characteristics.

There are over a hundred varieties of succulents in the universe, each with exceptional color and appearance.

The most common indoor succulent houseplant can include four species:

• Flaming Katy (kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
• Aloe Vera (aloe vera)
• Crown of Thorns (euphorbia milii)
• Roseum (sedum spurium)

Though most succulent plants resist incredibly harsh weather conditions, they are not resistant to certain diseases and complications.

This article will look at one common problem facing most indoor and outdoor succulents: “bubbles formation on succulent leaves.”

Understanding Succulent Plants

Many factors might cause bubbles that form on the leaves of most succulents. It could be because of overwatering or infections from a fungal disease. Also, it could be because of a root infection.

So, maintaining a succulent plant should not be over or under-watered.

Note that: Most succulent plants are sensitive to humidity.

When too much humidity is in the air, they will feel mushy and soggy. To tell if you are under-watering your succulent plants, you should notice the limp and wilted leaves. Dehydrated succulent leaves look yellowish and later turn brown.

On the other hand, over-watered succulent plants have soft and soppy leaves that may appear wrinkled.

A healthy succulent plant should be turgid (the leaves should not be dented or floppy in any way), and the plant should assume a slightly glossy, waxy finish.

Also, the plant should have fat and partly green leaves.

Common Causes Of Bubble Infections On Succulent Leaves

Edema (edema) is a common name for blisters or bump growth on the undersides of lower or older leaves. These bumps are crystal-like in appearance and can often be confused with other fungal and bacterium bump infections.

A better way to describe it is when the roots take more water in that its leaves can process and release results to plant edema.

It contrasts with root rot, where too much water rots the roots. The roots can rapidly process the water with plant edema, but the leaves can’t keep up. When buying succulents or planting one, you should not overwater them.

Although overwatered succulents can be mistaken for edema, they are not the same.

As much as overwatering could be the leading cause of bubble formation, a few other underlying factors can cause bubble infection.

• Suffocating plant pots that do not allow excess water to drain out.
• Minimum light in the room.
• Increase in humidity in the environment.

Some of the blisters will not assume a whitish appearance. The blisters will be either red, purple, yellow, tan, or grey.

It is important to note that, depending on the color of the blister, you should be able to differentiate between which kinds are fungal-caused and which types are water-caused.

Prevention And Management

There are long-standing and short-standing suggestions that can be used to manage the bubbles on succulent leaves.

These suggestions include:

• Increasing the amount of light intensity by spacing your succulent plants.
  All plants need light to produce the energy to grow well.
• If your succulent plants are kept in a vase or pot, ensure it is well-drained.
• Well-drained pots will drain excess water once the soil is soaked.
• Succulent plants do not need too much fertilizer.
• Some succulent plants are slow-growers and therefore require restricted nutrients for better growth.
• During the cool seasons, you should avoid over-watering your succulent plants.
• Also, with low lighting in the room, do not water your in-house plants a lot because of slow transpiration.
• If your succulent plants are growing inside the greenhouse, you should ensure that the room is adequately ventilated.
• There is usually high humidity inside most greenhouses.
• You should not plant different succulent plants on the same irrigation line/vase.
• This is because each species has different growth vigor and requires different water amounts.

For instance, the Haworthia is an exotic and slow-growing succulent plant that is beautiful on the front lawn.

The Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana, on the other hand, is a relatively fast-growing succulent plant that needs continuous irrigation all through.

How Do We Treat the Bubbles on the Succulent Leaves?

If you notice bubbles on your succulent plants, you should not wait until the condition deteriorates.

There are a few methods that you can use to eliminate this problem. Below are two crucial measures to try at home.

1. Adjust Your Watering Routines

When you notice the appearance of bubbles, you need to adjust your watering habits immediately. Overwatering is the ultimate problem that causes the appearance of these stubborn transparent blisters.

Good watering practice: Instead of giving your succulents sips of water regularly, try to provide enough soaking.

Enough socking means giving water to the point where the water drains through the round/square drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Let the soil dry out completely after a few weeks before watering again. If a saucer is underneath the pot, you can empty it first. You can also keep water building up from the soil by using fast-draining soil specifically made for succulents.

Depending on your environment, you can use pumice or coir. Pumice absorbs moisture and releases it slowly as the surrounding soil dries up. So using pumice is a good option to improve succulent soil drainage.

Meanwhile, you get coir, a fiber, from a coconut’s outer husk, mainly used for ropes and matting. It also holds moisture well, like pumice, releasing and draining water easily.

2. Let the Succulent Plant Be Exposed to Direct Sunlight Without Water

Leaving a succulent plant out in the sunshine for extended periods not only helps it make its food. Exposure to direct sunlight increases plants’ transpiration rate, including succulents.

When you leave the succulents out in the dry (between 5 to 7 days) without water, the excess water in the pot will evaporate, and the plant will start to gain its original form.

Succulents prefer high humidity levels because of their environmental adaptation.

In winter, most succulents should be moderately watered because of the reduced humidity levels in the atmosphere.

Final Thought

You must watch their watering pattern keenly to increase the succulents’ lifespan and boost their health. Identify the specific species in your home and know the water needed for nominal growth.

Alternatively, ensure that the succulents are well maintained by adding fertilizer, manure, and other growth improvement products.