Help! My succulent is...

  • Fading to green or white

    Succulents come in a wide range of colors, and the same plant can even look different at different times of the year. In general, you can expect the brightest colors in the spring and more green tones in winter. That said, fading and greening can be signs that a succulent is not getting enough l...
  • Going soft, translucent yellow, and mushy

    As succulents grow or adjust to new conditions, they shed their older, lower leaves. Often these leaves are dry and crispy, but in some conditions a plant will have a "wet shed" of mushy lower leaves. If, however, you notice top or center leaves becoming mushy, translucent, and yellow, the leave...
  • Stretching / reaching for light

    Succulents come in many different forms and some varieties will naturally become tall as the result of healthy growth. Tall, healthy succulents tend to look full whereas stretched succulents have large gaps of stem and downturned leaves. True stretching is a sign of etiolation, meaning that a su...
  • Becoming limp, wrinkly, or crispy

    As succulents grow or adjust to new conditions, their older, lower leaves become dry and crispy and will eventually fall off. This is a natural growth process and you can remove dry lower leaves by hand without harming the plant. If, however, you notice top or center leaves becoming limp, wrinkl...
  • Turning reddish

    Succulents come in a wide range of colors, and the same plant can even look different at different times of the year. Seasonal color patterns vary greatly, but many varieties show red hues in winter or summer. Red tones can also be a sign that a succulent is "beautifully stressed". The stress co...
  • Getting dark spots

    Possible Causes of Dark Spots (and Solutions) Rot: over-watered succulents will eventually get darky, mushy patches; let soil fully dry, reduce watering frequency, and ensure that pots and soil are well-draining Sunburn: extreme sunburns will turn black permanently; protect from direct sun and w...
  • Marked with scarring or other abrasions

    Some succulents have delicate leaves that are easily marked by handling, particularly Aeonium. These varieties are labeled with [shipping issues] right after the plant name. Abrasions are permanent, but over time the succulent will grow new leaves and shed the old. Raised, white abrasions can ...
  • Covered in bugs

    There a couple common pests that can attack succulents, particularly if they are indoors or kept too wet. The two usual culprits are mealybugs and aphids. Fortunately, mealybugs and aphids are treated in the same way and there are good, general pest prevention strategies that work for all types o...
  • Blooming

    Flowers are a plant's way of producing new seeds. Blooming is a normal, healthy process that can happen year after year for most succulent varieties and attract pollinators to your garden. The exceptions are Sempervivum, Tillandsia (Air Plants), and some Agave. These types of succulents are ...
  • Losing leaves

    As succulents grow or adjust to new conditions, their older, lower leaves naturally dry out and fall off. This is normal, healthy growth. If, however, you notice lots of leaves falling from the top or center of the plant, there could be something else going on. Possible Causes of Leaf Loss (and ...