Do you have a problem with the juicy leaves that fall from your plants?
If you’ve noticed that your succulent is losing its leaves, don’t worry! Succulents with fleshy leaves and cacti can often drop their leaves for a variety of reasons.
Falling leaves is a natural part of the growing process or response to environmental stress, which may include circumstances such as:
- Reduction of energy needs
- Too much or too little water
- Excessive light
- Chemical Shock
- Excessive heat
- Excessive cold
- Lack of light
… and more.
In this article, we explore the many reasons why succulent leaves may be falling off your plants and share tips to help you deal with this problem.
7 reasons and answers why my echeveria is falling
You may already be wondering. So, why are my cactus leaves falling off?
Below, we’ll look at potential causes and what to do with succulent leaves that are falling off. There are many factors that can contribute to leaf loss:
- Types of succulents
- Care of succulents
- Soil type
- Pots with drainage
- Temperatures and periods of heat
#1 – Temperature irregularities
Most succulents thrive in very warm, dry areas. Falling leaves is sometimes a natural reaction to prolonged periods of excessive heat or drought.
Although drooping succulent leaves is a normal coping mechanism, it is not what you want in an attractive ornamental plant.
Succulents can start to drop their leaves if kept in low light conditions for too long.
The most common reason for brown or dark spots on the leaves of your succulents is sun damage or sunburn.
You can slowly increase the length of sun exposure over a period of several weeks until your succulent receives about six hours of bright, direct sunlight each day or about 12 hours of artificial light.
To prevent your succulents from becoming stressed by extreme heat, you should locate them in light shade when you keep them outdoors during hot weather. If they look wilted or sunburned, move them or place a shade cloth over them.
Indoors, keep your succulents a little away from windows so they get enough bright indirect light but aren’t scorched by direct, magnified sunlight.
On the other hand, succulents can also drop leaves and show other signs of stress when touched by frost.
Most succulents do not survive freezing and may develop scorched black and drooping leaves.
A plant that is stressed by frost, but not killed, will usually produce new leaves to replace the damaged leaves.
It is better to allow damaged leaves to fall off naturally than to pluck or prune them. NOTE: Try starting some new plants with leaves.
Plant cold-sensitive succulents outdoors in sheltered areas and mulch or cover them in winter as needed for protection.
Keep succulents indoors away from areas (e.g. near exterior doors) where they might catch cold air during the winter months.
#2 – Excesses and lighting changes
Most succulents such as Echeveria, Aloes and Haworthias do best with consistent, bright indirect light for 6-8 hours a day.
When kept in low light, your succulents lose color and may even turn yellow.
Related: Learn more about yellow succulent leaves.
Eventually the leaves will fall off.
Other signs of excessively low light include stretching.
If your plant leans towards the light and produces long, spindly stems, this is a sign that you need to move the plant to an area with better light.
The stem and the plant itself stretch towards the direction of the light source.
Sudden changes in light can cause the succulent leaves at the bottom to drop off. Watch how your plant reacts when you move to a different location, when you use a grow light, or when you make any adjustments.
If your plant has been facing the sun one way for a long time and then suddenly turns, this is often enough stress to cause the leaves to drop.
Likewise, if you move a plant from a relatively low-light area to a high-light area or vice versa, leaf loss may occur.
Be sure to make changes gradually so that your plant has time to adapt.
#3 – Succulent leaves that fall off from pests can also be a problem
For more details see these links:
#4 – Chemical burns can cause leaf drop
Chemicals can shock your houseplant’s system and don’t have to be overly harsh chemicals.
Even disease treatments, such as a fungicide designed for use with succulents, can cause your plant to drop its leaves.
When treating your plant for any ailment, it is wise to first look for natural alternatives.
Nutrients can be added by repotting the plant in fresh potting mix or by fertilizing the plant.
If you must turn to chemical treatment, carefully follow the instructions on the package.
Maintain your plant in an ideal, consistent environment during treatment to avoid excessive stress.
#5 – Are you watering correctly?
Although the vast majority of outdoor succulents are drought tolerant, a lack of water will naturally cause them to wilt and drop their leaves.
Likewise, excess water can cause succulent leaves to swell too much and fall off. Look for signs of root rot.
Succulent rot can occur from too much water, heavy potting mix that holds too much moisture, high humidity, heat (as mentioned above), or frost.
Leaves that drop from over or under watering look wet and mushy, and the stem may appear bloated.
Remove any dead leaves from the plant or remove dead leaves that have fallen to the ground to prevent insects and bugs from hiding there.
You need to find the perfect medium to water your plants in the right amount. As a rule of thumb, all succulent lovers must adhere to a regular watering schedule to prevent the soil from becoming too wet.
You should wait until the soil is almost dry and then water well.
Related: How often should a succulent be watered?
#6 – Is your succulent in the right type of container?
Containers for succulents and cacti should always be made of a porous, breathable material such as terracotta or hypertufa, and should always have plenty of drainage holes.
#7 Is your succulent in the right type of potting soil?
Succulent plants need light, airy, well-drained soil. Succulent and special soil for cacti is easy to find in any garden center.
It is also great to use a succulent pot with a drainage hole. This also helps prevent overwatering.
When you water, you should be able to pour water through the soil and let it pass freely through the large drainage holes in the bottom of your container.
Related: How to make succulent soil!
#8 Is your plant growing?
Sometimes as succulent plants grow, leaf drop or natural shedding of the lower leaves is common. This is not a cause for alarm.
Succulent care is simple
Consistency and moderation are the keys to successful juicing.
- Be sure to provide the plant with enough light (without burning it).
- Keep it constantly warm during the day and don’t let it get too cold at night.
- Provide a pot and potting soil that allows good air circulation around the root system.
- Water infrequently and thoroughly.
If you follow these guidelines, your succulent should only experience leaf fall and shedding as part of normal growth.