I have never seen anything like this? I’ve separated it from the rest of my plants, it’s the only one with this problem! Why is it purple??
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This lengthening of a succulent is a process known as Etiolation. It’s not getting enough light, so it’s stretching out as much as it can to try and get more light to each petal. The color change is also likely from the lack of sunlight as well. I’d suggest moving it to a window where it gets more light.
Either too much or not enough sunlight causes some succulents to turn purple, and judging by the growth pattern and lighter colour of the leaves, it seems like it doesn’t get enough sunlight. It being so focused in those areas where leaves are attached would probably indicate it’s trying to heal up some wounds, and trying to protect it from sunlight.
As to why it’s dropping seemingly healthy leaves, I have a theory. If I see this correctly, the roots are popping out everywhere, indicating that it has nowhere to go. This will slow down growth and it will drop older leaves in order to sustain the growth.
That’s just a theory though. Personally, I would repot it into a bigger (plastic) pot with drainage, and place it somewhere that gets a bit more sunlight and track how it’s growing.
Would also appreciate a higher res picture to definitely say it’s the roots and maybe check out the specks on the leaves, as that could be a disease.
Drooping and dropping leaves is usually lack of water, but who knows with succulents
I’d assume that’s what it is tho. And the purple is just what they do instead of browning
Not a succulent expert by any means, but the fact that it’s growing some air roots and the dropped leaves also are trying to root also seems to point to not enough water.
We have a big jade that will air root when it’s too dry. Before it gets to that point it’s leaves will look noticeably less plump.
Succulents do require watering, but it’s very important to not overdo it. Our Jade is probably only watered ever two months or so when it’s outside (on an east facing porch in zone 6) during the summer and even less frequently in the winter. I know it well enough to be able to eyeball the plant at this point.
I have a graptoveria that produces air roots constantly, mostly because despite having a perfectly good pot and light source, it does its utmost to grow outside of the pot. Every year I have to chop and prop it to save it from itself.
Some succulents grow in such… seemingly unsustainable ways for the mother plant. I guess ultimately these are all some kind of propagation strategy for the plant though.
Alloe will overground their pots with tons of babies and fall over when they get too big.
Our big jade will intentionally dry out the center of some of its smaller branches to make the ends of the branch fall off in hopes of rooting.
I guess this is why the plants have been successful. It does make for some level of struggle as a house plant though, lol.
Clearly it’s the wrong type for Bulbasaur
