Echeveria are beautiful rosette-shaped succulents with chubby, colorful leaves. They are low-maintenance houseplants as long as they receive plenty of sun and are not watered too often. Over time, you may notice your Echeveria is losing it’s rosette shape as the bottom leaves begin to point downwards. There are a few reasons why Echeveria succulent leaves point down, relating to water and sunlight. Continue reading to learn how to identify the cause of this problem and how to fix it.
Learn more about general care with this: Echeveria Succulent Guide.
Echeveria succulent leaves pointing down due to insufficient sunlight
The most common reason for Echeveria leaves pointing downwards is insufficient sunlight. Echeveria are light hungry succulents and thrive when they receive several hours of bright, direct sun per day. When Echeveria do not receive enough light, they etiolate (stretch out) in search of more sun.
Signs of an Echeveria receiving insufficient light include:
- Leaves stretching out and pointing down
- Long gaps in the stem between leaves
- Pale green leaves
To learn more, read this article about succulent etiolation.
Place your Echeveria succulent right by the window so it can receive direct sunlight. South-facing windows are ideal as these provide the brightest light. In general, north-facing windows do not provide enough sun, especially during the winter.
If your Echeveria is currently in a shaded area, be careful not to immediately move it into bright light because that could lead to leaf burn. Slowly increase the light your Echeveria receives each day over the span of a few days so that it has time to adapt to the increased light.
If your Echeveria continues to have downward growth in front of a south-facing window, consider investing in a grow light to supplement the sunlight. Again, make sure to slowly acclimate your Echeveria to the grow light by slowly increasing the time it is on over a few days. You may also need to use a grow light during the winter season when there are fewer hours of sunlight.
Echeveria succulent leaves pointing down due to over watering
Another common reason for succulent leaves pointing downwards is over watering. Echeveria succulents are desert plants and prefer to be infrequently soaked every few weeks. Watering too often can lead to root rot and plant death. In this case, the excess water drowns the roots and they are unable to breathe. Usually, it is the bottom leaves that start to show signs of root rot first.
Other signs of an over watered succulent include:
- Limp or droopy stems
- Brown or black stems
- Yellow, translucent leaves that point downwards
If the any of the above signs are present, the soil feels wet to touch, or the succulent has been watered frequently, root rot is the likely culprit.
Remove the succulent from it’s pot and cut off the rotten roots (they are brown and black). Allow the succulent to dry for 2 to 3 days outside of soil. Wash the pot with soap and fill it with fresh, new soil. Choose a succulent soil and mix in perlite and gravel to increase drainage.
Place the plant in a sunny area with good airflow and reduce your watering frequency.
Reviving a succulent from root rot is not always possible, especially if the damage is extensive and the rot has progressed to the majority of the plant.
Water your succulent only when the top few inches of soil are dry to prevent root rot. The frequency of watering will depend on environmental factors (such as sunlight, humidity, and temperature). After watering, dump out any water that has collected in the saucer. Do not mist the soil in between watering- succulents prefer to be infrequently soaked. For more information, check out this succulent watering guide.
You can improve drainage by using a soil mix specifically for succulents and cacti, as general houseplant soil is too dense. Add perlite and gravel in a 60:40 ratio of soil to perlite to increase drainage. Planting in a terracotta pot with a drainage hole also helps to remove excess water.
Can Echeveria leaves point back up?
Once Echeveria leaves point down, they will not curl back up, even if the underlying problem is fixed. You can either wait for those leaves to drop off and leave your plant as is, or you can take a cutting from the top of the plant where the growth is still a rosette (this is especially helpful if your plant has etiolated and has a leggy stem).
Cut the top rosette off with a clean pair of garden shears. Remove leaves from the bottom of the stem so you have a clear region to plant in soil. Leave about 1.5 inches of a stem below the rosette so that you have a long enough area to plant.
Learn more with this complete guide to succulent propagation.
Don’t worry- beheading the plant does not hurt it and is actually a great way to maintain compact growth.
Echeveria Succulent Care
| Sunlight | 7 to 8 hours of bright, direct sun |
| Water | Once every 1 to 2 weeks in the summer, once every 3 to 4 weeks in the winter |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil |
| Temperature | Warm and dry, not cold hardy |
| Propagation | Propagate easily through leaves, cuttings and offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats, dogs and children |
In summary for Echeveria succulent leaves pointing down…
Echeveria leaves usually point down due to insufficient sunlight or too much water.
Provide your Echeveria with several hours of bright sun per day and water only when the top few inches of soil are dry. While the curled leaves cannot point back up, you can ensure the new grow is compact and points up as it should. You can always behead the top growth and create a new plant if you want to start over.
Have any more questions about Echeveria succulent leaves pointing downwards that I did not answer? Let me know down below!
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Succulent Etiolation: What to do if your Succulent is Growing Tall
