Start New Succulents. Required fields are marked *. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The plants can feed on those nutrients for quite some time. Remedy: Re-pot the plant using a suitable well draining potting mix or by fertilizing. ... A Sweetheart Hoya, with its heart-shaped leaves, is a beautiful easy care houseplant. We all love our succulents, but it’s important not to love them to death. Their leaves are discoloring and misshapen. Use a well balanced fertilizer designed for houseplants or a fertilizer blend specifically formulated for cacti and succulents. Pay attention to other things that are going on with your plant. Most succulents like a good watering until excess water drips out of the holes of the pot. The stem can also appear puffy. The base will do best if you leave a few leaves to absorb sunlight. Your privacy is important to us. Here is a succulent arrangement that suffered a sad, sad fate. For more details about th… Click here for tips and suggestions. The problem may be hiding under the leaves and in the soil. Succulents require minimal watering. 3. Dilute the amount of fertilizer recommended on the package to half. You feel terrible for killing your baby. Want to make sure you have the right succulents for your environment? Let water drain out of the holes when watering and allow soil to dry before watering again. Why do succulents stretch? Their reaction is to increase the amount of exposed surface area in order to receive more light. Too much water can cause the leaves to swell, become soft and mushy, and eventually fall off. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is a crucial part of succulent care. Close. The plant may also need to be watered more often during these conditions. Why are leaves falling off your succulents? Remedy: Move the plant to a more shady location or provide more shade during a heatwave. Dilute the amount of fertilizer recommended on the package to half. Most commercial succulent potting soil come with added compost or fertilizer in the mix. The base, or original plant, will start to put off new offshoots within a few weeks. You can start new succulents from a cutting and even doctor your old succulents too. If your plant has been sitting in the same pot for over two years, it may be time to re-pot or add nutrients. Overwatering can also cause the leaves to shrivel. One problem happens more often than it should. The stem and the plant itself are stretching out towards the direction of the light source. Use a well balanced fertilizer designed for houseplants or a fertilizer blend specifically formulated for cacti and succulents. You should only water your succulent when the soil it’s planted in is completely dry to the touch. Slowly increase the amount and intensity of sunlight the plant receives. This process is very normal, but won’t necessarily happen. Leaves that fall off from overwatering appear wet and mushy, and the stem may appear puffy. If the plant is in a wrong potting mix, re-pot in a well draining potting soil. Be sure to check out my succulent identification chart below! Plus wife to my hubby, David, for 20 years (gosh that makes me sound old). It’s possible that your plant is asking for more light, but (as long as it’s not showing signs of etiolation ) … Plants that do not receive adequate sunlight become weak and will not grow properly. This unfortunately, cannot be saved. Are your succulents stretching taller and taller? Lack of nutrients may also cause stunted growth. If it is super wet, the succulent needs to dry out and should probably be removed from the soil and repotted or planted in a dryer situation. Leaves bending down or flattening is usually the first sign that a succulent is not getting enough light. The leaves are all flattening out around the outside. There are tools you can use such as moisture meters and hygrometers to check for moisture in the soil and the air. Here are a couple of mine that look similar to yours Grab a pair of sharp scissors and start by cutting off the top of the succulent. Use 20online coupon for 20% discount only for the first 20 customers. Remedy: Withhold watering until the top inch of the soil feels dry. Leaves that fall off from overwatering appear wet and mushy, and the stem may appear puffy. These plants are suffering from lack of nutrients. Eventually these nutrients are flushed out of the soil from constant watering and nutrients need to be added back in. For example, try not to move the plant from a low light setting indoors to full sun outdoors right away. Your email will never be shared nor sold. Because most succulents are adapted to hot, arid areas where prolonged periods of heat are the norm, they respond by dropping leaves when stressed by heat or drought. When repotting, let the plant dry out for a few days to recover and heal before transplanting and watering again. I can almost hear the sad music in the background. Succulent, any plant with thick fleshy tissues adapted to water storage. Wait until the soil dries before watering again. For example, try not to move the plant from a low light setting indoors to full sun outdoors right away. Slowly increase the amount and intensity of sunlight the plant receives. You can gently pull away the dead leaves to leave your succulent looking fresh. I hope you found this a help in troubleshooting for these common succulent problems. How to Start the Leaf Cutting Place the succulent leaves flat on top of the soil surface Place the entire leaf on top of the soil surface. Once the end of the cutting has dried out completely and looks “scabbed” you can plant it in soil and begin watering it. If in a container, it should have drainage holes. Then as it grows, it will get taller with more space between the leaves. The little dolphin leaves branch off of green stems that may reach several inches high (up to 15 cm. We do all of that with a few shortcuts. Succulent and Cacti Cuttings and Leaves To put it simply – almost every succulent (which includes cacti) is able to propagate from a leaf or a cutting. When given the right environment, they are able to thrive for long periods of time with minimal care. They are, however, not immune to problems and can show signs that they are in need of a change. She lives in a humid climate with very cold, freezing winters so she had this arrangement indoors. Sometimes you must learn the hard way; if you give the plant to much sun, it will burn. Why are leaves falling off your succulents? Click, What is Succulent Propagation? Remedy: Re-pot the plant using a suitable well draining potting mix or apply fertilizer. Either will work! Remedy: Move your plant to a brighter location. While this is a normal response in nature, there are steps you can take to minimize stress in your plant. This type of succulent is the larges tone on our list, growing up to twenty-five feet tall! If you have been watering your plant sparingly, and the leaves are starting to shrivel, you have an under watering problem which can be easily remedied. Sadly, she didn’t even know she killed the plants in it. Also, examine different parts of your plant. Check out 6 Types of Succulents you should grow now! Lower leaves naturally wither and die as the plant grows and produces new leaves from the center of the plant. It seems simple really. The most common reason for brown or dark spots on the leaves leaves on your succulents is sun damage or sunburn. Succulents hate wet roots. Feeding about every two weeks during the growing season should be good enough. ). Find yours at my affiliate! Adjust and make changes as needed. Slowly acclimate your plant if moving it to a sunnier location to avoid sun damage. Limited time offer. If the plant is being under watered, water the plant more thoroughly. Overwatering and underwatering can both cause the leaves to turn yellow. If the plant is well watered and the leaves are turning yellow, feel mushy and swollen, the plant is being overwatered. Dolphin plants are a cross and have some of the traits of both parents. Mom to 3 wonderful kids & lots of furbabies. Then spray the surface of the soil with water. The plants were overwatered and did not receive enough light. Bottom leaves going brown and crispy: It is perfectly normal for the bottom leaves on your succulent to die as they grow. Cacti and succulents are not heavy feeders and do not require a lot of fertilizers. You can also purchase special lights for your indoor plants to help them grow properly. A south or east facing window will provide the most sunlight indoors. Cacti and succulents are not heavy feeders and do not require a lot of fertilizers. Remedy: Move the plant in a shadier location away from the intense, full sun during a heatwave or drought. Picture This is an impressive plant identification app for your smartphone. The problem may be hiding under the leaves and in the soil. The plants can feed on those nutrients for quite some time. Increase watering as needed or when the top inch of the soil feels dry to touch. Leaves can become misshapen from watering issues mentioned above. If the soil is moist or cool, the plant is adequately watered. Stunted growth can be caused by lack of light. So, soak the soil and then let it dry completely. They are often numerous, and can be found sucking on leaves or flowers at the end of the stems. Your best bet: Choose the sunniest south-facing window available, and if all windows face elsewhere, pick a more forgiving succulent like aloe or throw in the towel and opt for a sturdy pothos. Can your plant be saved or is it lost forever? Leaves can turn yellow from lack of nutrients. Be sure to leave enough stem on the cutting to plant in soil later. Leave a Comment. Succulent comes from the Latin ‘sucus’ for juice or sap and this sap forms an important part of a succulent’s water storage ability. It’s true! In our house we love to get outside, have family fun, and enjoy all Florida has to offer (Hey, Universal!) These plants are interesting, not only in their appearance, but also in the structure of their stems and leaves. This is especially noticeable in rosette shaped succulents like echeveria or sempervivum. It really depends on the extent of the damage to the plant. If they leaves are turning yellow, shriveling and wilting, and you know you have not watered your plant for a while, then the plant is most likely underwatered. Remedy: Move your plant to a brighter location. Feeding about every two weeks during the growing season should be good enough. Conversely, if the plant is getting too much light, the leaves will curl inward to protect themselves. You can cut off the top of the succulent, or you can cut off a new offshoot. The leaves will get moist in the process, but that’s okay. Grab a pair of sharp scissors and start by cutting off the top of the succulent. If the plant is underwatered and the leaves are shriveled, a good watering will often quickly solve the problem. A south or east facing window will provide the most sunlight indoors. Your email address will not be published. One of the solutions for succulent leaves falling is the light! Pin this to save for later or share with others now! Lack of light. It … "String of Dolphins" is a plant of hybrid origin resulting from a cross between Senecio articulatus and Senecio rowleyanus. The new rosettes will still be able to grow without the “parent” leaves. Here are Hoya Kerrii care tips … The stems are also mushy. Slowly acclimate your plant if moving it to a sunnier location to avoid sun damage. Before moving a plant outdoors or to a sunnier location, do so by slowly increasing the amount and intensity of sun the plant receives overtime to slowly acclimatize the plant and prevent sun damage. If you are uncertain whether your succulent plant is displaying normal behavior or is signaling that there is a problem in need of immediate attention, the information below will help you troubleshoot what’s going on with your plant. It's facing SE, and is planted in succulent soil. Leaves turning yellow can be for different reasons: Leaves can turn yellow from watering issues. It’s a rare animal-like variety that develops a beautiful curvy leaves which perfectly resemble a pod of little jumping Dolphins. They also expel a lot of sugary white substance or honeydew, as they feed. Dilute the amount of fertilizer recommended on the package to half. Nutrients can be added in by re-potting the plant in fresh potting mix or by fertilizing the plant. A Simple Solution, « 10 Best Oatmeal Recipes to Start Your Day. Does it need more light or is it fine? If you suspect the plant is being overwatered, water less frequently and wait for the soil to dry out in between waterings. Take a photo of the succulent you want to id. Be sure to leave enough stem on the cutting to plant in soil later. While the trait is not entirely unique to these xeriphilic (dry-loving) plants, they have perfected it. 6 Types of Succulents You Should Grow Right Now. The stems start stretching out and new growth will be sparse and minimal. HOME | ABOUT | CONTACT | RECIPE INDEX | ADVERTISE |MEDIA KIT. Don’t worry if they do fall off though! Please check out my, If it’s lack of nutrients that’s causing misshapen leaves, re-pot the plant using a suitable well draining potting mix or by fertilizing. If the roots are established in the soil, you have two options. Too much water can cause the leaves to swell, become soft and mushy, and eventually fall off. The lack of light can cause other problems too. You can continue to care for this plant the same as you were before cutting. Let your leaf or cutting dry out. If the plant is overwatered, it depends on the extent of the damage to the plant how your plant reacts when water is withheld. Feeding about every two weeks during the growing season should be good enough. Nutrients can be added in by re-potting the plant in fresh potting mix or by fertilizing the plant. Leave the soil to dry out between watering, but be aware that if not watered enough the dolphin succulent’s leaves will begin to pucker. It has large cylindrical branches that are yellowish green with red tips. If you have trouble figuring out when you should water your succulents, we’ve got you covered. You can use the stems to propagate the plant, which is a very robust grower but does not live long without propagation. During periods of intense heat or drought, succulents respond by dropping their leaves to help conserve energy and maintain their water supply. The fact that they are so hardy, and don't need much care make them an excellent choice. These are pictures of overwatered plants that dropped most or all of their leaves. Cause #4: Succulent leaves falling off because of overwatering. If it’s lack of nutrients that’s causing misshapen leaves, re-pot the plant using a suitable well draining potting mix or by fertilizing. When you water your succulents, soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes. If the leaves appear withered and shriveled, often from the top leaves of the plant first, the plant is most likely in need of water. Dead leaves can be easily pulled off or they drop off on their own. If your plants are looking sick and upon closer inspection you see tiny bugs crawling and creeping around, then you might have a pest infestation. Succulent plants are often hybridized to create new and amazing forms. Etiolation is a plant’s natural response to lack of light. If you are unable to provide more sunlight for your indoor succulents, a grow light is a great option to provide more light for those hard to reach areas indoors. When you cut your succulent leave at least an inch or two on the base with 2-3 leaves. Leaves flattening out? Another common reason is lack of nutrients in your plants. But if the roots have rotted, turned black, or have dried up and turned brown, chances are slimmer that you can save your plant. When you cut your succulent leave at least an inch or two on the base with 2-3 leaves. This is the first sign that stretching is inevitable. The first thing that happens is your succulents will gradually bend toward the light.