root rot on Aeonium
Quick answer
If your Aeonium has root rot, the most likely cause is: Aeonium roots require fast drainage because waterlogged soil deprives roots of oxygen and promotes Pythium and Phytophthora root rot. A simple 1-gallon pot drainage test predicts soil performance: if water drains in minutes, soil is sandy and needs organic matter; if it takes over an hour, soil is clay and aeoniums will rot.
Start here:
- 1. Dig a test hole the size of a 1-gallon nursery pot and fill with water — if it takes an hour or more to drain, soil is clay and dangerous for aeoniums
- 2. For clay soil, remove entirely and replace with cactus mix, or plant in raised beds built atop the clay
Why Aeonium gets root rot
Aeonium roots require fast drainage because waterlogged soil deprives roots of oxygen and promotes Pythium and Phytophthora root rot. A simple 1-gallon pot drainage test predicts soil performance: if water drains in minutes, soil is sandy and needs organic matter; if it takes over an hour, soil is clay and aeoniums will rot.
How to reverse root rot on Aeonium
- 1
Dig a test hole the size of a 1-gallon nursery pot and fill with water — if it takes an hour or more to drain, soil is clay and dangerous for aeoniums
- 2
For clay soil, remove entirely and replace with cactus mix, or plant in raised beds built atop the clay
- 3
Create mounds of equal parts pumice, compost, and coarse sand to elevate aeonium roots above problem soil
- 4
Apply inorganic topdressing (gravel, crushed rock) several inches deep to suppress weeds and insulate roots — organic mulch harbors pests
Keep root rot off this Aeonium
Never plant aeoniums in clay soil without amendment. Use raised beds, mounds of amended soil, or containers to elevate roots above poor drainage zones.