Are Leaves Falling off Your Succulent?
Here are 5 Possible Reasons!

It's never a pleasant sight when plants shed their leaves. I will tell you 5 reasons which cause falling leaves and how you can prevent them.

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Kelly Adams

April 14, 2021


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Introduction

It isn’t very pleasant when plants shed their leaves. Not only is this messy, but it is also disheartening. Especially with houseplants, like succulents, you don’t want any falling leaves.

If you have never wondered what causes falling leaves, you probably wish to be aware of how you can prevent this from happening. In this post, I will tell you about some reasons that are causing the loss of leaves and what you can do to stop it.

Several factors are responsible for falling leaves of succulents. These factors include improper watering, imbalanced exposure to light, unsuitable temperature, excessive use of fertilizers, and the use of inhospitable soil.

Reason 1: Improper Watering

Improper watering of succulents is one of the most common reasons for falling leaves. Since succulents store water, they do not require frequent watering like many other houseplants. People often confuse succulents with ordinary houseplants and overwater them. One of the consequences of overwatering is the falling of leaves.

A great tip for watering your succulent is by first viewing its leaves. If they are big and fluffy, it means they already have ample water. At this point, if you will water the plant further, it will shed leaves.

Warning

Beware! Watery leaves of succulents may cause slippage.

Moderate watering is the key!

Moreover, another helpful tip is to water your plant less frequently. This means you have to water the succulent sufficiently and wait long enough to get its topmost soil dry. Once this happens, water it again. If you are interested in knowing more details about the watering regime, you would love this post:

How often to water succulents? The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Plants!

If you are a beginner and don't know how often to water succulents, read ahead to learn how often you need to hydrate your plant.

Additionally, you have to make sure that your pot has holes in it. This will help in draining extra water and will keep your plant dry. A dry plant will shed leaves less often.

Reason 2: Imbalanced Exposure to Light

Exposure to more or less sunlight is another reason for falling leaves. Plants need light to complete the process of photosynthesis. This process helps plants in getting the energy that they need.

However, for many succulents, exposure to direct and heavy sunlight is not appreciated. In reaction, they shed their leaves. So, if your plant is placed in a spot with ample direct sunlight, you might want to bring it under partial shade.

Limited light exposure will prevent falling of leaves.

On the flip side, in the absence of ample sunlight, succulents also shed their leaves. This case is particularly relevant in the case of indoor succulents. You don’t want to light-starve your plant either. To avoid this, make sure your room has exposure to direct sunlight or otherwise, keep wiping fallen leaves off your floor.

Reason 3: Unsuitable Temperature

Often, unsuitable temperatures are also the reason for falling leaves. If your plant is exposed to extremely cold conditions, don’t expect its leaves to be healthy. Frosty conditions hinder water storage in leaves. As a result, they fall off.

Mild temperature will keep leaves on your succulent

Similarly, the hot and humid conditions of your room can also be the reason for falling leaves. Hot temperature brings the plant under stress. Resultantly, the plant starts to consume the stored water at a higher rate. The absence of requisite stored water causes the leaves to fall off. If your plant is in the room, air conditioning will help your cause!

Reason 4: Excessive Use of Fertilizers

Succulents do not always love fertilizers. Too much exposure to foreign elements is another cause of falling leaves. While succulents love nitrogen, phosphorous, and magnesium, excess fertilizers containing these elements can harm their health.

Over fertilizing will drop leaves off your succulent!

In an ideal case, you would want to fertilize your plant organically. Coffee ground and manure teabags are some of the organic ways in which you can fertilize your plants. Here is where you can get 100% natural manure teabags 100% natural manure teabags.

Sustane Compost Tea Bags

I highly recommend these compost tea bags for your succulents!

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Reason 5: Use of Inhospitable Soil

Another contributing factor for falling leaves of succulents is the use of inhospitable soil. Succulents do not love ordinary garden soil. Since they hate too much moisture, a combination of common garden soil and coarse sand is what they love. Ideally, you would want your soil mix to contain a fifth of either coconut coir, or perlite. This soil mix will also make succulent leaves strong.

Good soil mix will keep leaves on your plant

If you want to make soil for your succulent at home, please check this post about succulent soil recipes!

3 Super Easy Homemade Succulent Soil Recipes That Will Nurture Your Plant!

When it comes to plants, good soil is vital. So here are some homemade soil recipes for your beloved succulents

Conclusion

Leaves falling from your succulents is not a sight you like to see. A variety of factors contribute to making this happen. Specifically, improper watering, imbalanced exposure to light, unsuitable temperature, excessive use of fertilizers, and use of inhospitable soil are the reasons your succulent is falling of leaves. This article has told you everything you need to do to avoid falling leaves.

If you’re new to all of this and wish to learn more, I think you should read more about succulents. I recommend this post about the most popular succulents!

The 8 Most Popular Succulents That Can Beautify Any Space!

Succulents are proven mood-boosters. Are you wondering which one to get for your home? Read ahead to learn about the most popular ones.

Kelly Adams Picture

By Kelly Adams

Easy Succulents Founder

My name is Kelly and I'm the the founder of Easy Succulents! I'm fascinated by this wonderful plants and I want to share with the world everything I know about them!

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Kelly Adams Picture

Kelly Adams

Easy Succulents Founder

My name is Kelly and I'm the the founder of Easy Succulents! I'm fascinated by this wonderful plants and I want to share with the world everything I know about them!

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