Succulents are well-known for their minimal upkeep and ease of care. That is precisely why they are one of the most popular houseplants all over the world. However, if your succulent starts to turn purple, it might be due to a variety of stressors. In this essay, I’ll go through all of the reasons why your succulent has become purple.
Succulents are commonly seen in brilliant greens, but certain succulent varieties also come in lovely purple and pink hues. Before you continue reading, find out what sort of succulent you have and whether it is usual for it to be purple!
What is causing my succulent to become purple?
So, what’s the deal with your purple succulent? When subjected to a particular degree of stress, succulents tend to change color. Overwatering or underwatering, excessive sunshine, cold temperatures, the improper soil type, or a rapid change of environment are all examples of environmental conditions that might cause a succulent to become purple.
If you’re looking for the scientific explanation, a purple succulent is produced by a pigment called anthocyanin, which may tint a succulent purple, red, or blue. This is what gives fruits like strawberries and berries their gorgeous hues, but when a succulent produces anthocyanin, it is to protect the plant from temperature stressors and overexposure to sunshine.
Let’s go a bit more into each of the above now that you have a basic idea of what causes a succulent to turn purple.
Overexposure to the sun
Succulents, as we all know, love to be in the sun. Succulent leaves and stems retain water, which is why they thrive in dry environments. They can live without water for long periods of time and thrive in direct sunshine.
A succulent, on the other hand, can get too much sun. In fact, the majority of plant species are sunburned! When I initially heard about it, it blew my head as well. However, if your succulent is outside in full sunshine or on a window sill that receives a lot of direct sunlight, this might very well be the reason of it becoming purple.
Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible, especially if you live somewhere where the summers are hot. Instead, attempt to offer indirect sunshine to your succulent throughout the day.
The weather is chilly
For a succulent, the only thing worse than direct sunshine is frigid weather! Because succulents are native to hot, arid climates, plants do not perform well in freezing temperatures. If you live someplace where the winter temperatures drop below freezing, you should absolutely bring your plants inside during this time.
Although some succulents can withstand freezing temperatures, most will perish. It will slow down their growth and, in some cases, cause black blotches on your succulent. This is frostbite, and you may observe your succulent going purple at first, before gradually turning a darker shade of black.
The best idea is to keep succulents as indoor houseplants where the temperature can be controlled.
The soil is incorrect
Succulents and cactus require a certain sort of soil that is rich in organic materials. You may most likely find a ready-mixed potting soil designed for succulents at your local garden center.
The most important thing to remember is that succulents require well-draining soil to avoid overwatering. If you want to make your own potting soil mix, use a combination of organic and inorganic materials, such as peat moss and granite. The soil will remain light as a result of this.
Regular potting soil for plants will be far too thick for your succulent. This implies it will absorb an excessive amount of water, coloring your succulent purple!
Before the growing stage of your succulents, you should fertilize them once a year. If you like to do your own thing, try putting coffee grinds on succulents.
Overwatering
Succulents are prone to be overwatered. They are native to hot areas and retain water in their stems and leaves, as previously stated. There is no set watering schedule to follow, and because there are so many different varieties of succulents, it all relies on the particular plant.
Succulents, on the other hand, require more watering in the summer and spring. As a general rule, wait until the soil is totally dry before rewatering. When you water your succulent, make sure it gets a good bath. Make sure you’re using a pot with drainage holes and that any extra water is drained away. Allowing your succulent to sit in extra water is not a good idea. This will result in root rot, and your succulent will turn purple.
Overwatering can also cause your succulent’s leaves to turn yellow and make it feel mushy and limp. It’s also possible that the leaves will start to fall off. Overwatering is a typical problem with succulents, and if you suspect this is the reason for your plant’s color change, you should stop watering it right once.
Mealybugs, spider mites, and fungus gnats will be attracted to overwatered plants
Underwatering
Underwatering can cause your succulent to become purple in the same way that overwatering does. Despite the fact that the effects aren’t as severe, you shouldn’t allow your succulent to grow to the point where it needs a huge drink.
If your succulent’s color is changing as a result of being submerged, inspect the soil first. If it’s completely dry throughout, you should water it right away. Shriveled stems and foliage, crunchy leaves, and excessive leaf shedding are further characteristics of an underwatered succulent.
A sudden shift in the environment
Finally, a rapid shift in the environment might cause a succulent to become purple. Temperature variations are most likely to blame. If you’re relocating your plant from one location to another, you should do so gradually over several weeks.
If you transfer your succulent from outside to inside, for example, and the temperature changes abruptly, your succulent may begin to change color. This isn’t a cause for concern, as the alteration will be solely cosmetic.
The reasons for succulent leaves and stems becoming purple are mostly due to the aforementioned factors.