Aeonium, or tree houseleeks, are beautiful houseplants that contain about 40 plants in this genus. They look a lot like Sempervivum plants and require almost the same care as hen & chicks plant. While they are easy to care for and are quite hardy, some issues in their care can cause Aeonium to start losing leaves. In this post, you will find reasons why Aeonium leaves are falling off, and solutions on stopping dropping leaves in Aeonium.
The main reasons why an Aeonium is losing leaves are because of aging leaves, root rot. Other reasons for leaves falling off include sudden temperature drops, blooming, seasons change, underwatering or overwatering, or repotting and watering the plant in summer.
Reason 1. Aeonium plants drop their old bottom leaves
One of the reasons why your Aeonium is losing leaves is because it’s natural for them to drop leaves while they grow. Aeonium plants lose their bottom leaves as they grow older, while growing new leaves on the top. This is normal – you will also notice small scars on the stems, where the leaf was growing from.
Old leaves will fall off, and there is nothing to worry about. They would turn brown and crispy before falling off. However, if your plant is losing top, green leaves – then something is wrong in the care. You will need to review more points to find out what is wrong.
Reason 2. Root rot
Another major reason why your Aeonium plant might be losing its leaves is due to root rot. Root rot is when your plant’s root system is damaged, and is now rotting. Sometimes it’s still possible to save a plant with a root rot, but you might act quickly before it’s too late.
One of the reasons of root rot is overwatering. Because Aeonium plants are succulents, they don’t need too much watering and hate waterlogged soil. In general, you should allow around 1″ (2.54 cm) of soil to dry out before you water your Aeonium again. Don’t leave any excess water in the dish and make sure there are drainage holes in the pot.
To check your plant’s root system, take it out of the pot and inspect the roots. If you can see any black roots, bad smell, then it could be rot. In case of root rot, you would need to repot it. Try to dry the rotting roots won’t help and repotting of a new cutting is essential.
To save an Aeonium with root rot, you will need to cut it at around the middle length of the plant, taking a cutting. Then, you would dry that cutting for a couple of days and plant the whole new cutting into a fresh soil mix. The soil must be dry at first, only slightly sprayed. After a couple of days, if everything is well, you can gently spray the topsoil. Keep spraying gently until the cutting becomes more established in the soil.
However, if you can see normal, but weak roots, then there’s no need for taking cuttings if it doesn’t look too weak. Aeonium plants generally have a poorly develop root system anyways.
Reason 3. Cold weather or sudden temperature changes
Aeonium plants do not like sudden temperature changes or cold weather. In winter, make sure to bring your plant inside and don’t leave outside if nights are cold. In general, Aeonium plants are comfortable at temperature ranges between 10–24°C (50–75°F). In winter, temperature ranges between 10-14 °C (50-57 F) are optimal. Aeonium do not tolerate low temperatures, but can survive temporary drops to 5 C (41 F).
Avoid leaving your plant on a balcony, on a cold windowsill, near drafts, air conditioning and so on. Also, frequently taking your plant in and out with sudden temperature changes will affect your Aeonium and make it lose leaves.
Reason 4. Flowering
Flowering, or blooming, is another reason for falling out leaves in Aeonium. When this succulent blooms, it causes its rosette to die off. This is natural, and nothing to worry about. New stems will emerge, replacing the lost rosette.
Reason 5. Too much or lack of light, especially in winter
Because Aeonium plants are succulents, they prefer bright light. However, during hot summer days, avoid leaving your Aeonium in direct sunlight (though it can tolerate that for a short period of time). Bright light and diffused bright light is optimal for Aeonium, so leaving it in a dark room year round can lead to falling out of leaves. Dark, dry spots on leaves indicate burns on leaves from too much sun.
However in winter, there is often lack of light, which can usually lead to loss of leaves in Aeonium plants. Most Aeonium plants that suffer from dropping leaves in winter, recover during the spring months. But if you wish, you can supplement the light by using LED or fluorescent plant lights like this or similar.
Reason 6. Using cold water
Succulents, including our Aeonium plants, don’t like being watered with cold water. Using cold water might shock your plant and make it lose leaves all of a sudden. So, when watering your Aeonium, use water that is warm.
Reason 7. Watering, taking cuttings or repotting in summer
Believe it or not, but Aeonium plants go dormant during hot months of summer – which means you should reduce watering greatly in this period. Because Aeonium go dormant in response to heat, you need to treat it as a rest period of the plant. If you manipulate the plant in its dormant state or water it too often, leaves might start falling off the plant and it can develop some damage.
But besides watering, you should avoid taking any cuttings, or try to grow new Aeonium plants from cuttings on hot summer days. There is a chance that even cuttings won’t settle or grow, but rather stay the same size, not showing any change. Of course this will depend on many factors, however.
The most active period for growth of Aeonium plants is autumn and spring, so that’s when you can take cuttings, water your plant more frequently and repot the plant. But if your summers are very temperate and cool, then the plant might continue its growth during that period.
Reason 8. Underwatering or overwatering
Aeonium plants like to be well watered, however you should follow some rules. If your Aeonium plant is underwatered, it will start dropping leaves, especially ones on the bottom. While bottom leaves naturally dry up and fall off as they age, underwatering can cause increased fall of these leaves.
Another thing to remember, as mentioned in the previous point, is that Aeonium plants go dormant during hot summer months (if you have hot summers). In this case, you should water very minimally (maybe once or twice in summer), to allow your plant to get rest. In autumn, winter and spring, water your Aeonium plants 1-2 times a month. However, let the soil dry out between waterings.
What is more, make sure that the pot that your Aeonium plant is in has drainage holes. There must not be any excess water accumulating in a saucer or near its roots. Also, be careful with spraying the leaves of the plant. Avoid any water accumulating near the base of leaves. This can lead to rot and falling out of leaves.
Reason 9. Too much fertilization and repotting
Another thing that is worth mentioning is that repotting your Aeonium too often or using too much fertilizer, thinking that it will do more good, is not right. On the contrary, repotting the plant too often can lead to damage to its root system, for example. Using too much fertilizer, also, can lead to extensive growth, which can make your plant grow a big and heavy crown, which in turn can break and ruin the plant.
There is no need to repot you Aeonium every year, or even a few times a year – once in 2-3 years is more than enough. What is more, Aeonium plants don’t like big planters, so make sure to choose one that is tight, but still allows space to grow.
And if you wish to fertilize your plant, do it during the growth season – from late September to end of March. You can fertilize it once a month, or as often as the label of the product recommends.
Because they become dormant during summer, avoid fertilizing during this time. You can let your plant become dormant outside in diffused light. If you wish to repot your Aeonium, the best time for it is spring.
Reason 10. Aeonium leaves falling off and seasons
Aeonium plants generally tend to drop lots of leaves during the late spring and winter months, and it’s natural. The main thing to look out for is not to overwater the plant during this period, especially if it’s cold where you live. Don’t leave your plant anywhere with temperatures below 10 C (50 F). Colder the weather, less you will need to water your Aeonium.
Problems with Aeonium plants and solutions
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
| Brown patches on leaves, dry spots on leaves | Burns | Move your Aeonium away from direct sunlight. Allow some shade and introduce to direct sun gradually. It can tolerate some direct light, but not for long. In winter, you can leave it on the brightest windowsill. |
| Dark rotting spots on leaves | Water droplets | Avoid misting your Aeonium, especially if it’s sunny. Direct sunlight can cause burns on the plant. Water droplets accumulating on the leaves and base of leaves can cause rot. |
| Yellow, droopy, soggy leaves | Overwatering | Reduce watering, let around 1″ (2.54 cm) of soil to dry out between each watering. |
| Drying leaves, losing plumpness | Underwatering or aging leaves | Aging leaves on the bottom of the plant will naturally become dry and crispy, and fall off. However, if it’s happening to many leaves at the same time or top leaves, it could be due to underwatering. |
| White powdery patches | Mealybugs | Insecticide to remove mealybugs and don’t leave any water droplets on the bottom of leaves especially. |
Conclusion – Aeonium leaves falling off
To sum it up, Aeonium plants generally experience falling off of bottom leaves as they age, and this is natural. What is more, aging Aeonium plants lose most of their leaves, and that’s why it’s recommended to take top cuttings and plant them into a new pot for new plants. In late autumn to winter, Aeonium is also likely to drop leaves.
Aeonium plants have a lifespan of around 3 years – a plant or rosette dies off once it produces seeds. So, if you want to keep the plant and its decorative appearance, you will have to take cuttings and grow new plants from them. What you can also do, is plant many cuttings together in one pot to improve its decorative look.
If you would like to learn more about indoor plant care, please see this page.