Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Feel the soil several inches deep to check for moisture.
- Inspect the base of the trunk for soft or discolored tissue.
- Verify that your pot has adequate drainage holes.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The base of the plant feels soft or mushy, and the leaves may turn pale or collapse.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the soil dry out completely. If the soil is heavy, repot the plant into a gritty, fast draining cactus mix.
Poor Drainage
PossibleHow to tell: Water pools on the surface after you water, or the pot lacks drainage holes.
What to do: Ensure your pot has large drainage holes at the bottom. Elevate the pot slightly if it sits directly on a flat surface to improve airflow.
Find out what's wrong with your desert spoon
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the trunk feels soft or smells foul, the rot may be advanced. It is normal for the plant to lose a few lower leaves as it grows, but mushy tissue is always a red flag.
Stopping it coming back
Always wait until the soil is bone dry before watering again, typically every 14 to 30 days.
Desert Spoon: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your desert spoon and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I save a plant with root rot?
- If the rot is caught early and the trunk is still firm, you can save it by repotting into fresh, dry soil and cutting away any black, slimy roots.
- How often should I water my Desert Spoon?
- Water every 14 to 30 days, but only if the soil has dried out completely. In winter, you can stretch this interval even further.
More problems with Desert Spoon
Back to the Desert Spoon guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.