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Mother of thousands dropping leaves: causes and fixes

Kalanchoe daigremontiana

Quick answer

Leaf drop on your mother of thousands has a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is overwatering.

Mother of thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana)
Mother of thousands · Kalanchoe daigremontiana
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Toxic to pets

Most likely cause

Overwatering

Pixel illustration of a finger checking how moist the soil in a pot is

How to tell

  • Leaves yellow and then drop, and the soil stays wet for days after watering.

The fix

  1. 1
    Ease off watering, check drainage, and inspect for rot at the base if it feels soft.

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.

The fix

  1. 1
    Check moisture and roots before changing anything.
  2. 2
    Keep its spot and care steady and don’t fertilize while it settles.
  3. 3
    If 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.

How to tell

  • Watch for wrinkled leaves first.

The fix

  1. 1
    If 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.

The fix

  1. 1
    Move 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.

How to tell

  • Mother of thousands wants bright light and some direct sun.

The fix

  1. 1
    Give it a brighter position, out of harsh midday sun.

All mother of thousands guides

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