Succulents are one of those amazing fleshy plants that really can endure extended droughts since they retain water inside their leaves, which are shielded against evaporation by a dense, waxy layer.

With vast fibrous root systems that possess a powerful capacity for sucking, they utilize the water stored very carefully.

These are considered low-maintenance plants that rarely suffer from the disease—with the exception of those that are grown in subpar conditions.

Despite having so many good properties and characteristics, unfortunately, my succulents are now suffering from the symptoms of sooty mold.

But there is nothing really to worry about. In this article, I will explain my way of treating mold on succulents. So if you are also facing the same issue and want to get rid of it, make sure to read this article till the end.

What Does Sooty Mold On Succulents Look Like? 

There is no denying the fact that one of the LEAST harmful fungi is sooty mold. It is sometimes known as black mold as well.

A similar thing has happened with my succulents as well, and therefore they are suffering from the sooty mold issue.

Now you must be wondering how I was able to determine if my succulent plant has sooty mold or not well.

Well, it was quite simple.

I saw that there are certain symptoms of dark brown or black fungal growth around the outside of the succulent.

This was especially true for the outside leaves, and this, as a result, helped me identify that my indoor succulents are suffering from Sooty Mold.

Image Credit: worldofsucculents.com

So if you also identify something similar to what I did, you must know that this can be the issue of sooty mold on your succulents.

Alright, so now that we know how to identify it, let's understand why my succulents get mold.

Why Did Succulents Get Mold? 

Contaminated soil

The number one reason why my succulents got mold is contaminated soil.

These are soils that are usually contaminated with bacteria and harmful fungi, which as a result, affected my succulent plants, and they suffered from Sooty Mold. Click here to get the professional succulent potting soil mix.

Insect pests

The sooty mold infection typically indicates that whiteflies, mealybugs, sap-sucking pests, and aphids are now present across the entire plant.

Interestingly, the Sooty Mold thrives on the honeydew, which these bugs are said to exude and consider to be delicious.

Image Credit: vdomemechty.ru

Overwatering

Another reason is over-watering.

I made the mistake of overwatering my succulents, and on top of that, there was no proper drainage as well. Because fungi grow and attract themselves to your plant, as fungi can thrive in pond water or moist conditions.

This further caused them to rot.

Lack of Sunlight

Along with that, poor sunlight can also be one of the reasons why my succulents suffered Sooty Mold.

So what happens is that most succulent types need a lot of sunlight to thrive properly.

In case you fail to provide them with proper sunlight, things can get bad really fast and may, in fact, cause them to have mold.

How To Treat Sooty Mold on Succulents? 

Just as rust is cancer for boats, mold can be cancer for succulents. There are several different ways to get rid of mold on succulents. 

DIY treatments

What I did for that purpose was to use some warm water, along with baking soda and dish soap, and mix all of these.

If you don't want to use both of these, I'll suggest you at least use one of them with water.

Before you rush into trying this method, please make sure you don't overdo it.

Instead of making things better, it can further aggravate the condition of your succulents.

Image Credit: otvet.mail.ru

Removing the damaged leaves

Another great method can be removing the damaged leaves.

This is effective in situations where you see that the fungus has spread and has affected other leaves as well.

Remove that leaf before it can further allow mold to spread on other leaves and, eventually, the entire plant.

Neem oil

You may also easily get clear of succulent Sooty Mold by using neem oil.

It is indeed an excellent fungicide that is also mostly safe for your succulents.

You can prevent sooty mold from succulents with detergent or fungicide.

However, the best way to prevent infection is to care for your succulent plants properly.

How Do You Prevent Fungus in Succulents? 

You can prevent succulent fungus with the following methods.

Healthy Soil

Your potting soil should be healthy and suitable enough for the type of succulents you have in your home. Ensure the cactus soil mix has the necessary nutrients and you feed it regularly. It should also be well-drained and have the proper materials to promote healthy growth.

Provide ventilation environment

A little ventilation, such as a fan or open window, will prevent harmful dust particles from falling on your succulent.

Image Credit: allaboutgardening.com

Wipe off excess dust and debris

It's easy for dust and debris around the house to start collecting on your succulent's soil and leaves. Mop leaves and soil frequently and lightly and rake in excess dead leaves. It is healthy for the plant.

Avoid Overwatering 

Overwatering is one of the easiest ways for fungi to grow and attract themselves to your plant, as fungi can thrive in pond water or moist conditions. Be sure to let the soil dry completely before watering your succulent again, especially since succulents have a mechanism for storing water for quite a long time. Click here to learn how to save overwatered succulents.

Conclusion

Alright, folks! I hope you got something valuable to learn from the way I managed the issue of sooty mold affecting my succulents.

Simply follow the aforementioned tips, take prompt action, and you will be good to go.