You just bought some beautiful succulents from your local nursery, or even better online with 3 day shipping. Everything is going well, your succulent has been growing healthy, and happy since you bought them.
Yes, succulents are very easy to grow and care for however, some common growing problems will occur. One very common growing problem when growing succulents is their leaves tend to fall off if not growing correctly!
Leaves falling off your succulent does happen a lot, it’s very common and it mostly happens to beginners. When leaves fall off succulents it doesn't really mean the succulents are unhealthy, it’s just a sign that your succulent isn’t doing so well.
So why do succulent leaves fall off? After reading this article, you will know why exactly the leaves on your succulents are falling off. You will also know how to solve these issues that make leaves fall off of succulents.
Before we Begin...
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Let’s begin!
Why Leaves Are Falling Off Your Succulent
Leaves falling off your succulent is a very common thing that happens to beginner succulent growers. Lack of light, too much fertilizer, extreme temperatures, and overwatering causes succulent leaves to fall off. These problems aren’t that big of an issue, they are very easy to fix, however, if you don’t fix these issues then your succulent leaves will continue to fall off and grow unhealthy.
It’s very important that you try to fix these issues immediately. All of these issues are very easy to fix and treat. You will just need to make sure you take action and follow the steps that we provide.
Overwatering
Probably the main reason why the leaves on your succulent are falling off is due to overwatering. Since succulents absorb the water they drink and store it in their leaves, over watering will make the leaves squishy and heavy. When this happens the leaves will start to fall off because the succulent simply can’t support the leaves anymore. It’s very important that you avoid overwatering so this doesn’t happen.
To avoid overwatering you must use fast/well draining succulent soil. Fast/well draining succulent soil will drain the excess water and keep the soil as dry as possible. This will help prevent overwatering which will then later prevent succulent leaves falling off.
It’s also great to use a succulent pot with a drainage hole, this helps prevent over watering as well. A succulent pot with a drainage hole will drain all the excess water out the bottom of the pot, keeping the soil as dry as possible.
It’s also very important to only water your succulent 1-2 days a week or when the soil looks or feels very dry. Also make sure to keep track of the exact last time you watered your succulent so you don’t forget and overwater it.
All of these solutions will help your succulent so it stops its leaves from falling off. These solutions will also help with root rot. To prevent leaves falling off your succulent simply cut back on watering, and follow the solutions we provided.
Lack of Sunlight
Lack of sunlight will also cause the leaves on your succulent to fall off. When a succulent doesn’t get enough sunlight then the succulent is most likely not growing healthy. Lack of sunlight will cause etiolation and will cause the leaves on your succulent to fall off.
When a succulent lacks sunlight it’s growing unhealthy, so it will also grow weak. When this happens its leaves will start to fall off because the succulent is weak and simply can’t support the leaves anymore.
To fix this you must make sure that your succulent gets at least 6 hours of full sun every single day. This will help your succulent grow healthy, avoid etiolation, and will stop and prevent the leaves on your succulent from falling off.
If you’re growing indoors and your house simply doesn’t get enough sunlight then don’t worry. You can try investing in some grow lights so you can make sure that your succulents are getting enough sunlight to avoid these issues.
Make sure to also give your succulents some partial shade. If you give them too much sunlight then there’s a chance that they can experience a sunburn and leaf damage. This will also cause the leaves to fall off your succulent.
Sometimes when succulents get too much sun then the leaves will get burned, shrivel up, and then fall off. 6 hours is the perfect amount, but also make sure you give them some partial shade so they can avoid sun damage and falling off.
Too Much Fertilizer
Too much fertilizer will also cause succulent leaves to fall off. When a succulent is absorbing fertilizer it’s eating and absorbing nutrients. This is very healthy for a succulent, yet too much fertilizer will cause the leaves to fall off.
This simply happens because a lot of nutrients will cause root burn. When a succulent gets root burn the roots get very weak. When roots get weak then the leaves of the succulent will start to fall off all because of a weak root system and succulents.
To fix this simply cut back on the fertilizer and just use regular succulent soil. If you already are using succulent soil loaded with fertilizer, then you will have to buy new soil, take the old soil out, and repot the succulent into fresh new succulent soil. This will give your succulent a break from the fertilizer, avoiding root burn, and avoiding leaves falling off.
Extreme/Freezing Temperatures
Freezing cold temperatures will cause the leaves on a succulent to fall off. Succulents aren’t cold hardy, so growing them outdoors in cold weather will harm or kill them. When they are exposed to cold weather their leaves will start to fall off because the succulent is weak and it cannot stand the freezing temperatures.
To avoid this you simply must move and grow the succulent indoors. If the weather in your location gets under 30 degrees, then you will definitely have to move and grow your succulent indoors during the cold winter season.
If you do this it will prevent your succulent from dropping its leaves. You will also avoid harm and death towards your succulent. Just remember, succulents aren’t cold hardy. Freezing temperatures will easily kill a succulent and make its leaves fall off.
Will the Leaves Grow Back?
Sorry for some bad news, but when leaves fall off your succulent they will not grow back. I wish they did but the succulent will just be left with a spot on its stem that used to be a leaf. As time goes by that spot will eventually fill and blend in with the stem if the succulent continues to grow healthy.
This is why it’s very important to take action immediately the second you see leaves falling off your succulent. If you don’t take action immediately then there’s a big chance that all the leaves can fall off.
I know we said the leaves won’t grow back, but there’s a chance you can save those leaves! You can propagate the leaves and hope they will take root. Yes, you can definitely grow succulents from leaves, it just takes some time and patience. Once you get it down it’s such a great and awesome feeling you will love it and be addicted to it!
That’s it!
That’s exactly why your succulent leaves are falling off. You also know how to prevent this from happening again. It’s just very important that you notice leaves falling off your succulent immediately. This will allow you to take action right away and help you save and prevent leaves from falling off your succulent.
If some leaves do fall off don’t worry! It’s sad yes, they won’t grow back, but you can propagate those leaves and potentially make other beautiful succulent plants.
Make sure to take action and follow all our steps that we provided! If you do then the leaves will stop falling off your succulent!
Also Check Out
How to Propagate Succulents From Leaves and Cuttings
