If your succulent plant is looking worse for wear, you may be wondering whether its leaves will ever grow back. Sometimes succulent leaves wilt, turn yellow and drop off. This can happen if they are overwatered or if you don’t water your plant for months. While succulents do like dry conditions, they still require a little water regularly. Overwatering can affect the health of the plant.
The good news is that succulent leaves will grow back in time. They probably won’t grow back in precisely the same place, but your plant will grow more leaves and look fuller in time. This article will tell you everything you need to know to care for your succulent. We’ll also answer the question, ‘do succulent leaves grow back?’
Yes, Succulent Leaves Grow Back
But, like any plant, most species of succulent leaves won’t grow back exactly where they have fallen off. This is because new leaves grow from the succulent head rather than the base. New leaves won’t grow from the bottom or middle of the plant. While your succulent will grow new leaves, there may be a gap where leaves have been lost.
It’s likely that your succulent will fill out in time and will still look good. In some species of succulent offshoots, which are also known as second heads, will replace fallen leaves on the stem.
How to care for a Succulent
Succulents differ slightly from other kinds of plants. They have thick fleshy leaves and do best in dry sandy soil. Most succulents have a rubber-like texture, and some also contain sap. Succulents have risen in popularity in recent years as they are easy to look after and are available in different types, shapes, sizes, and colors.
Like a cactus, a succulent can survive without water for a long time, making them low maintenance. However, they shouldn’t be left for months without water, or their leaves may fall off, and they could die. Succulents can cope with harsh conditions as their leaves can store moisture and nutrients. They also have a shallow root system which means they don’t need much water.
Why do Succulents Lose their Leaves?
Succulents are native to countries with a dry climate. They commonly grow in arid regions and don’t need much water as they are able to store water in their leaves and stem. There are a few different reasons that succulents lose their leaves, and in most cases, they will grow more leaves in the future. Let’s look at the leading causes of leaf loss:
Over or Under Watering
The most common reason that a succulent’s leaves have started to fall off is due to either over-watering or under-watering. Providing incorrect amounts of water will likely cause your succulents leaves to turn brown or yellow. They may also shrivel up and will eventually fall off.
It’s a good idea to feel your succulents’ soil to see how moist it is. If it feels soggy, you’ve overwatered your plant. It shouldn’t be completely dry either, as these plants do need some moisture to help with photosynthesis, the process that turns leaves green. Succulents aren’t air plants, so they require water to get nutrients from the soil. You can’t plant a succulent only in rocks or pebbles. They need the right soil.
When succulents don’t receive enough water, they aren’t able to access nutrients from the soil. This interrupts the photosynthesis process and causes the plant’s green leaves to turn yellow. Eventually, the leaves will turn brown and fall off.
Old Leaves
It’s common for plant leaves to turn yellow or brown and then fall off when they get too old. While this is generally what happens to most houseplants, succulents are slightly different.
It’s not common for succulents to drop their leaves when they age; however, there are many different varieties of succulents, and in some cases, the leaves will fall off to make room for new ones. If your succulent has only lost one or two leaves, it may be a natural occurrence and nothing to worry about.
If your plants are losing leaves, it’s a good idea to assess where it may be due to other reasons such as incorrect watering before assuming that the leaves have simply gotten old.
Physical Damage
Sometimes succulent leaves get damaged by sunlight or insects. It’s a good idea to inspect your plants for signs of insect damage if the leaves have started falling off.
Propagating Succulents
You can propagate succulents from cuttings or leaves if you want to grow a new succulent plant. However, you’ll need to use healthy leaves or sections of the plant rather than ones that have turned brown and fallen off.
Cut a health section or a leaf from your succulent with a sharp pair of scissors. You can also try cutting off a new head or offshoot. Then lay the cutting or leaf on dry soil in a new plant pot. The cutting will dry out in the sun. After two or three days, the end should look dry, and you can give it some water. Ensure your cutting or leaf has scabbed over before you start watering; otherwise, it will absorb too much water and die. Your cutting or leaf will quickly begin to grow new roots once you start watering it and will regrow at a regular pace. Over time it will sprout fresh leaves and get bigger.
Conclusion
Most succulent leaves don’t grow back in precisely the same place after they’ve fallen off. However, as long as you keep your succulent healthy, it will grow new leaves from the head. Your succulent may look like it’s a bit bald, but in time it will likely fill out.
If you’d like to grow a new succulent plant from your old one, you can do so by propagating a cutting or a single leaf. You could even try growing this in the same pot as your old succulent as it will grow up and fill in the bald places, making your display appear fuller.
Ensure you monitor your succulent plant and water it enough so that it gets the nutrients it needs. Taking care of a succulent isn’t challenging as it doesn’t need much water or maintenance. Water your succulent in small amounts every couple of weeks to keep it healthy. A healthy succulent will look green and won’t drop leaves.