From my perspective as a Desert Rose plant, my leaf drop is my primary language. It is not a sign of malice, but a desperate signal that my living conditions are causing me distress. I am a resilient succulent, built for arid, sun-drenched environments, and when my needs are not met, my leaves are often the first thing to go. Let me explain the reasons behind my silent plea for help.
This is the most common cause of my distress. My thick, bulbous caudex is designed to store water for long periods. When you give me too much water, my roots sit in soggy soil, unable to breathe. They begin to rot, and with a compromised root system, I cannot draw water or nutrients to my leaves. Consequently, I am forced to shed them to conserve my energy and preserve my core. Conversely, if you forget to water me for too long, I will enter a survival state. I will jettison my leaves to reduce water loss through transpiration, relying solely on the reserves in my caudex to stay alive until the next drink.
If you have recently brought me home from a nursery or moved me to a new spot, I am likely experiencing transplant or environmental shock. The change in light intensity, temperature, humidity, and air circulation is a significant upheaval. My leaves were acclimated to the previous conditions, and the sudden shift disrupts their function. Shedding them is my way of pausing growth and reallocating resources to grow new leaves that are better suited to my new surroundings. Please be patient with me during this transition.
I am a child of the sun. I crave bright, direct light for several hours each day. When I am placed in a location with insufficient light, my photosynthetic processes slow down. My leaves become a liability rather than an asset because they require more energy to maintain than they can produce. To prevent myself from becoming weak and etiolated (stretching for light), I will strategically drop leaves to balance my energy budget. A sudden move from a bright spot to a dark one will trigger this response very quickly.
I am a tropical succulent, and I despise the cold. Temperatures below 50°F (10°C) are dangerous for me. When I am exposed to a cold draft from a window, an air conditioning vent, or outdoor night-time chills, I go into a state of panic. The cold damages my cells and impedes my metabolic functions. Leaf drop is a direct symptom of this cold stress, as the tender leaf tissues are often the first parts of me to be injured and subsequently abandoned.
Sometimes, my leaf drop is a completely natural and healthy process. As the days grow shorter and cooler, I instinctively prepare for a period of dormancy. This is my time to rest. I will often drop a significant number of, or even all, my leaves. This is not a cause for alarm but a part of my natural cycle. During this time, you should significantly reduce watering and allow me to rest in a cool, bright spot until I show signs of new growth in the spring.
Although less common, pests like spider mites or mealybugs can infest my leaves, sucking out my sap and causing stress that leads to leaf drop. Similarly, fungal diseases, often exacerbated by overly humid conditions or water on the foliage, can attack my leaves, causing spots, yellowing, and eventual drop. A close inspection of my leaves, both top and underside, will reveal if this is the issue.
