What if I told you that succulents are one of the most straightforward plants to grow indoors? However, problems like red leaves can occur almost any time.
They require relatively little maintenance and are quite hardy.
However, succulents can also turn red without any prior notice.
In this post, we’ll discuss some of the most common reasons for succulents to turn red, as well as how to keep them in a vibrant green hue for as long as possible!
What Causes Succulent Red Color Change?
There’s a lot going on inside succulent plants that causes them to turn such vibrant colors when exposed to particular conditions.
Succulents have evolved over time to become what we see now because it allows them to survive in harsh living situations such as drought or desert areas where accessing water is difficult.
When stressed or subjected to environmental changes, leaf succulents’ hues tend to shift.
Succulent leaves can turn red, orange, or pink in response to environmental stress because the increased coloring warns animals to keep away.
It functions in the same way as vividly colored berries warn other succulent eaters of the bitter taste and toxicity levels.
This permits succulents to thrive longer during dry seasons and for longer periods without being eaten by succulents.
If you lay your succulent in direct sunlight, for example, depending on how long it has been exposed to the sun, the leaves may turn red or pinkish instead of green.
Succulents can become purple or brown if there isn’t enough water available, as a means to hold onto what little water they have left inside their cells until rainfall occurs again.
Is it True That all Succulents Change Color?
Some succulents have adapted so successfully to their surroundings that they rarely change color, even under the harshest situations.
When exposed to strong levels of sunshine, aloe succulents will only turn a small shade of red, but it does not affect them as much as other succulent plants.
If there isn’t enough succulent food available, aloes will lose their leaves, but it won’t cause other plants to become red or pink if they are in the appropriate conditions.
When exposed to high quantities of sunlight, cacti succulents have a somewhat different reaction because their skin often becomes bleached rather than changing color.
Because it gives them a withered and sickly appearance, this is an excellent technique for cactus succulents to protect themselves against succulent eaters.
Succulents with high moisture levels in their leaves, stems, or roots do not change color. However, they can turn vibrant hues if the succulent is severely damaged.
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Why are my Succulents Turning Red?
The magnificent display of colors is the most enticing quality of succulents. Most of us adore succulents because of their beautiful shapes and hues. Anything strange about the plant’s general appearance should raise your suspicions. You may have noticed that one of the most typical difficulties with succulents is that they turn red or change colors.
Do you know why your succulents are turning red? Is this color shift related to the general health of the plant?
Succulents turn red as a result of various pressures or environmental extremes. There is nothing to be concerned about. These modifications are typically innocuous, and the plants will continue to grow normally.
Here, we’ll provide you with a clear picture of the causes influencing this color shift.
Succulents turn red mostly as a result of harsh climatic circumstances. Succulents experience stress as a result of the hard environment, which manifests itself in the form of color shifts. Though these color changes are normally not harmful to plant health, certain pressures can be.
If you pay close attention to your succulents, you will see that they will become red for one or more of the following reasons:
- Excessive exposure to direct sunlight.
- Keep an eye out for temperature extremes.
- Poor potting material can be a source of frustration.
- Watering is less than necessary.
- Plants are experiencing nutritional stress.
- Succulent has a root system.
Excessive exposure to direct sunlight.
Succulents require sunlight exposure to grow well and keep their shape. Some succulents like shade, while others thrive in full sunlight. However, too much sun exposure might cause stress in your plants.
Prolonged exposure to direct sunshine is the main cause of red leaves. Constant exposure to the bright afternoon sun will turn succulents into crimson. The reddening of leaf tips or leaves is a natural plant activity.
If the plants are cultivated outdoors and exposed to direct sunshine, you will notice the reddening of the tips and leaves every summer.
Crassula ovata, for example, begins to turn red from the tips when cultivated in full sun.
The reddening of leaf tips or leaves is a natural plant activity. If the plants are cultivated outdoors and exposed to direct sunshine, you will notice the reddening of the tips and leaves every summer.
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Extreme Temperatures Can Cause it to Turn Red
Your succulents will become stressed if the temperature becomes too hot or too chilly.
During the highly hot summer months and the exceptionally cold winter months, the plants will turn crimson. Succulents are not cold-hardy and will perish if exposed to frost or temperatures below freezing for an extended period of time. When the temperature drops below freezing in the winter, the tips of the leaves begin to turn crimson. People living in lower USDA zones may encounter this issue if they do not give adequate frost protection to their plants.
The plant is stressed by the chilly weather, which causes the reddening of the tips and leaves. This does not imply that your succulent will suffer irrevocable harm or die. Some plants grow well even when stressed.
A bad potting medium can cause red leaves and stress.
Succulents are stressed by poor soil that contains too much sand or clay. They will continue to grow, but in a more compressed manner and with strange color changes. A lack of nutrients in the soil might also cause the plants to turn red.
Echeveria Big red is a popular ornamental plant that turns red when grown in poor or heavy potting soil.
You are watering less than necessary.
Another reason your succulent is becoming red is that you are hydrating it insufficiently. When there is a lack of water, the plants lose their typical green color and begin to become red.
A lack of water for an extended period of time can turn a normally green Jade plant crimson.
Plants are experiencing nutritional stress.
You’ll notice color changes in your succulents when they’re starved for nourishment. In general, if you do not fertilize your plants on a regular basis, they will change color.
Tangled Roots.
When a succulent’s root expands and spreads to the point where there is no more room for growth, it is said to be root-bound. In pursuit of additional room to grow, the roots will become dense and clump together. It stresses the succulents, causing the tips of their leaves to turn red. Succulents with roots have darker red tips and leaves.
Graptoveria gets root-bound and changes color to red.
If you remove a root-bound succulent from its container, its root zone will become solid and take on the shape of the container. Some succulent growers purposefully allow their plants to become root-bound in order to achieve distinctive forms and hues. Keep in mind, however, that not all succulents will thrive in a root-bound environment. Some succulents will die quickly if they do not have adequate area to spread.
What Should I Do If the Leaves of My Succulent Turn Red?
If your succulents become red, there are certain things you can do to improve the living circumstances so your succulent leaves don’t die off.
Allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Succulents will perish if left in moist soil for an extended period of time, which is why it is critical to allow the soil to dry out between watering succulent plants.
Succulents require deep but infrequent watering, which means you should water succulents only when the soil is dry.
Remove Succulent Flowers and Buds.
Succulents turn red when succulent blossoms or buds are left on them for an extended period of time, as they drain the energy essential for living.
If succulents are producing blooms or buds, you must remove them from succulent plants so that they may focus on self-care and remaining hydrated during warmer seasons.
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During the colder months, bring your succulent plants inside at night for a few weeks.
When succulent leaves are exposed to cold temperatures, they turn red, which can cause succulents to perish.
Succulents may begin to turn red if temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, as succulent cells are pushed to their limits.
However, if you bring succulents indoors during the colder months, they will be able to utilize less energy and retain more water, eliminating the need for succulents to turn red.
Repot in a larger pot with better soil.
Succulent plants will die if their succulent roots are bound down.
Too many succulents in a pot prevent them from getting adequate water and nutrients from the soil, which is why succulents require space to flourish.
If your succulents are withering off, it may be time to repot succulents in a larger pot with healthier soil.
Keep succulents warm throughout the winter and cool during the summer.
Succulent leaves and stems will turn red if exposed to high temperatures, which can cause succulent cells to break down and lose suppleness.
Succulent plants will perish if they are kept too hot for an extended period of time because the heat hinders succulents from retaining water inside their cells.
Stop Over-Fertilizing to Stop Red Leaves.
Succulent plants will turn red if their succulent leaves are over-fertilized.
Too much fertilizer can cause succulent cells to degrade, leaving succulents thirsty and unable to retain water within their cells.
Succulents require relatively little fertilizer to thrive. Fertilizing succulent plants should only be done during their growing seasons.
Keep Succulents in bright indirect sunlight.
Succulent leaves and stems will become red if exposed to direct sunlight because succulent cells cannot withstand high temperatures.
Succulent plants lose their suppleness when exposed to too much sunlight, making them more susceptible to dying.
Succulents require a few hours of bright indirect sunshine. During hot days, every succulent plant should be shielded from direct sunlight.
Finally, some final thoughts.
Succulents are an excellent plant to grow, and succulents becoming red is a regular issue.
Succulents that turn red could be a sign of serious underlying issues.
However, it is possible that your succulent has been exposed to too much sunlight and should be relocated to a shadier area or perhaps brought indoors for a few days until its leaves have recovered.
Succulents do not always turn red when they need to be watered. However, if you begin to observe any of the following signs in your succulent, there may be a problem:
- Leaves or stems that have shrunk.
- Leaves or branches that are drooping.
- Succulent’s color has faded.
- Succulent is starting to wilt.
- Succulents do not thrive in their current environment.
- If any of these signs appear, make sure to give your succulent the care it need.
This will prevent additional harm to its health and allow it to return to full, flourishing succulents.
