Aeonium leaves falling off

18 years ago

I purchased an Aeonium Kiwi a few weeks ago. I had been doing fine but I noticed what I thought to be some sun burn. I moved it off the windowsill and on to my desk. I have noticed many leaves falling off the bottom of each stem. Is it in shock? Will they grow back? What can I do or did I do something really wrong. I have it in the same pot I bought it in and do not water until it is really dry. This is one of my fist succulents. The rest I have are doing great but this one is suffering a bit.

Featured Answer

mstrgrdnr1

18 years ago

I believe all do; it gives them the "sculptural" appearance that's part of their charm. The sunburn is a concern, since these plants need "cool sun"...sun but without the heat at mid=day. I grow mine under fluorscent lights fall to spring; can you augment the light for your plant somehow so it doesn't get "leggy"?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

mstrgrdnr1
18 years ago
Aeoniums lose their leaves from the bottom up, leaving bare stems behind them. The leaves shouldn't be just falling off while green; take another look to see if the plant isn't dropping withered, tan or gray leaves (the plant pulls everything it can out of the foliage before letting it drop). That kind of leaf drop is normal for these plants (a bit messy, but normal!) If you're seeing green, plump leaves drop, that's a problem.
vanillalotus
Original Author
18 years ago
The leaves that are falling off are still rather green but they are really soft at the tips with brown speckles. They are the ones that mainly got the burn marks on them which is the brown speckles. So is that alright. Do all aeoniums lose their bottom leaves or just certain varieties?
Related Professionals
Niles Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · San Diego Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Coeur d'Alene Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kahului Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tuscaloosa Landscape Contractors · Washington Landscape Contractors · Galveston Landscape Contractors · Escanaba Landscape Contractors · Brooklyn Landscape Contractors · Chula Vista Landscape Contractors · Salt Lake City Landscape Contractors · Elizabeth City General Contractors · Laredo General Contractors · Springfield General Contractors · Canton General Contractors
vanillalotus
Original Author
18 years ago
Right now it's on my computer table that is about 12 inches away from the window. I haven't seen any new signs of sunburn. I don't think it will get leggy here and it still will get sun but just won't be magnified by the window. I'll see how it does if not I was going to build a grow light stand for seedlings. Maybe I can purchase just a grow light for it on my desk to make sure it gets enough light.
Joylene
18 years ago
Aeoniums are strictly Autumn/Winter growers so in the Northern Hemisphere they will be going dormant now and don't need much care at all until they wake up in early Autumn.
Mine have woken up and look great here in Australia.
And yes, the leaves dying off from the bottom is normal behaviour for them.
dufflebag2002
18 years ago
Right on. Mine start to wake up about the middle of October, I am in a dry
valley, semi-desert. They acutally start to close up to protect themselves from the sun. Put them in the shade or partial morning light but no direct sun.
Watch watering or they could rot off at the base/ at the soil line. In this country they are very likly depending where you live/location in the garden to be summer dormant. Norma
tanyag
18 years ago
Ditto on all that. Don't overwater. I have a zartzkopft that grows in afternoon sun but it has really dark leaves (which I was told need more sun to go through the photosynthesis process-not sure if that is true). It was slowly acclimated to these conditions and it does get some shade. You might want to make sure it is getting morning sun only. You shouldn't notice any new growth for a while.