If your succulent’s environment gets a little out of whack, these usually low-maintenance, tough-as-nails plants might start dropping their fleshy leaves. You’ll see this most often with Jade plants and other members of the Crassulaceae family.
Cause #1: Not Enough Light
Succulents are total sun-worshippers. Most of these exotic survivors hail from tropical or subtropical regions where they soak up twelve or more hours of sunshine a day. To stay healthy and vibrant, they need a serious amount of light. This is why indoor succulents can struggle—if they’re stuck in a shady corner, they basically go into survival mode.
In most cases, leaf drop is a direct result of this lack of light, and it’s especially common during those dark winter months. To fix the problem, move your plant to a bright, sunny spot immediately (a south-facing window is usually your best bet). During the winter, you can also help them out by using a dedicated grow light to make up for the short days.
Cause #2: Soggy Soil
Even though succulents look juicy because they’re experts at storing water, that doesn’t mean they want to sit in wet soil. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! These plants thrive in lean, well-draining soil that stays on the dry side.
If a succulent’s roots are sitting in standing water, leaf drop is almost guaranteed. To save your plant, you need to act fast:
- Repot your succulent out of the wet soil as soon as possible.
- Gently clean all the old, soggy dirt off the root system.
- Use a sharp, clean knife to trim away any mushy or rotted roots.
- Replant it in fresh, bone-dry succulent soil.
Tips & Tricks for Leaf Loss
Once you’ve repotted your succulent, don’t reach for the watering can! It needs about three weeks of “recovery time” before it’s ready to take a drink again. After that period, use the finger test to check if it’s actually time for watering. Until then, the most you should do is give the leaves a light misting with soft water.
If you notice the leaves turning yellow before they fall off, your plant might be suffering from “lime-induced chlorosis.” This happens when there’s too much calcium/lime in the soil, usually caused by watering with hard tap water.
Pro Tip: Always try to use rainwater or filtered/decalcified tap water to keep your succulents happy and green!
