leaf drop on Pachyphytum
Quick answer
If your Pachyphytum has leaf drop, the most likely cause is: Pachyphytum rosettes form on ever-lengthening stems whose plump, powder-coated leaves detach at the slightest bump, leaving bare denuded stems; Baldwin warns that even routine handling pops the leaves off, and Pilbeam's Pachyphytum oviferum section recommends holding the pot rather than the leaves for exactly this reason.
Start here:
- 1. Handle the plant gently and always lift it by the pot rather than the leaves, since plump Pachyphytum leaves detach from the stem at the slightest pressure and the bare stem cannot be re-leafed in place.
- 2. Set any detached leaves atop coarse potting medium where they can root and form a new plant, and shorten over-long stems with a clean cut so fresh rosettes regrow from the base.
Why Pachyphytum gets leaf drop
Pachyphytum
Pachyphytum rosettes form on ever-lengthening stems whose plump, powder-coated leaves detach at the slightest bump, leaving bare denuded stems; Baldwin warns that even routine handling pops the leaves off, and Pilbeam's Pachyphytum oviferum section recommends holding the pot rather than the leaves for exactly this reason.
How to reverse leaf drop on Pachyphytum
- 1
Handle the plant gently and always lift it by the pot rather than the leaves, since plump Pachyphytum leaves detach from the stem at the slightest pressure and the bare stem cannot be re-leafed in place.
- 2
Set any detached leaves atop coarse potting medium where they can root and form a new plant, and shorten over-long stems with a clean cut so fresh rosettes regrow from the base.
Keep leaf drop off this Pachyphytum
Place Pachyphytum where the long stems will not brush against passersby, repot and water without jostling the rosettes, and refresh the soil every spring so the plant does not stretch into a top-heavy form that snaps.