Most likely cause
Overwatering
How to tell
The fix
- 1Ease off watering, check drainage, and inspect for rot at the base if it feels soft.
Ghost plant dropping leaves: causes and fixes
Graptopetalum paraguayense
Quick answer
Leaf drop on your ghost plant has a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is overwatering.
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Other possible causes
Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.
A recent change or shock
It started dropping leaves soon after you bought, moved, or repotted it.
A recent change or shock
It started dropping leaves soon after you bought, moved, or repotted it.
The fix
- 1Check moisture and roots before changing anything.
- 2Keep its spot and care steady and don’t fertilize while it settles.
- 3If roots were damaged, follow this plant’s repotting guidance.
More about this
Water according to moisture, only when the soil has dried out completely. Check drainage and do not water just because a calendar says it is time.
Underwatering
Leaves drop after the soil has been bone dry for a while.
Underwatering
Leaves drop after the soil has been bone dry for a while.
How to tell
The fix
- 1If the soil is bone dry, water thoroughly, then check it more regularly so it doesn’t dry out that far again.
Cold drafts or temperature swings
It sits in a draft, near a cold window, or next to a heater, and leaves fall after a cold snap or a sudden temperature swing.
Cold drafts or temperature swings
It sits in a draft, near a cold window, or next to a heater, and leaves fall after a cold snap or a sudden temperature swing.
The fix
- 1Move it somewhere with stable, draft-free temperatures.
Too little light
It quietly sheds its lower and inner leaves over weeks while new growth stays small and pale.
Too little light
It quietly sheds its lower and inner leaves over weeks while new growth stays small and pale.
How to tell
The fix
- 1Move it to a sunnier spot, over a week or two if it has been somewhere dim.
All ghost plant guides
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