From my roots to my leaves, water is my lifeblood. When I start dropping leaves, the most common reason is a disruption in my water supply. This can happen in two opposite ways. First, and most frequent, is underwatering. If my human forgets to water me, the soil becomes dry and brittle. My roots cannot absorb the moisture they need, and my internal water pressure drops. To conserve my remaining resources, I am forced to sacrifice my oldest leaves, letting them yellow and fall away. It is a survival mechanism.
On the other hand, overwatering is just as deadly. When my pot sits in soggy soil for too long, the water fills the air pockets around my roots. My roots need oxygen to breathe, and without it, they begin to suffocate and rot. Once my root system is damaged, it can no longer deliver water to my stems and leaves, even though the soil is wet. The result is the same as underwatering: I wilt and drop leaves because my upper parts are not getting hydrated. The key is consistently moist, but never waterlogged, soil.
As a plant native to the forest understory, I am accustomed to moist, humid air. The air in modern homes, especially during winter when heating systems are running, can be extremely dry. This arid environment pulls moisture from my leaves faster than my roots can replace it. This process, called transpiration, puts me under immense stress. My leaf edges may turn brown and crispy before the entire leaf gives up and drops. It is my way of reducing the surface area from which I lose precious water. Increasing the humidity around me with a pebble tray or a humidifier makes me feel much more at home.
Light is my food source, but the amount I need is specific. While I am often labeled a "low-light" plant, this is a misunderstanding. I prefer bright, indirect light. If you place me in a deep, dark corner, I will not receive enough energy to sustain all of my foliage. I will respond by becoming leggy as I stretch towards any light source and by dropping leaves that are no longer productive. Conversely, if I am placed in direct, harsh sunlight, especially through a hot window, I can get sunburned. The intense light scorches my leaves, causing them to turn brown, dry out, and fall. I thrive best in a spot with filtered, gentle light.
I am a growing being, and over time, my root system can fill the entire pot. When I become pot-bound, there is very little soil left to hold water and nutrients. My roots become tangled and congested, making it difficult for them to function properly. This stress directly leads to leaf loss as I struggle to support myself. Furthermore, the limited soil gets depleted of essential nutrients. Without a steady supply of nitrogen, potassium, and other elements, I cannot maintain healthy green leaves, and they will yellow and drop. Repotting me into a slightly larger home with fresh potting mix every couple of years solves both of these issues.
Sometimes, my leaf drop is not due to my environment but to tiny invaders. Pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs see my succulent leaves as a feast. They pierce my leaf surfaces and suck out the sap, which is full of nutrients. This weakens me significantly and damages the leaf cells. An infestation can cause leaves to speckle, yellow, curl, and eventually fall. If you notice fine webbing, sticky residue, or tiny moving dots on my leaves, I am sending a clear distress signal that I need help to evict these pests.
