Purple Aeonium: Look Into My Eye!

Posted on July 9, 2008 by janedata

This is what my lovely purple aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Atropurpureum‘) seems to communicate. Its young leaves, in the center, are a bright green, like an eye. Mesmerizing! It’s loving the summer sun!

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5 Responses

  1. Julie, on July 9th, 2008 at 5:44 am Said:

    My aeonium also got a green center when i moved it into more shady area. It is doing great, thanks to you!!!

    Reply
  2. janedata, on July 10th, 2008 at 5:02 am Said:

    Hi, Julie. I’m very happy to hear that you’re aeonium is doing great! Glad to help!

    Reply
  3. Alma, on September 19th, 2008 at 9:46 pm Said:

    Hi Janedata,

    I also have my purple aeonium and it has grown to ablout a plate size. I noticed a month ago that the bottom leaves started to dry up fasterthat I am used to. Any recommendations?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  4. janedata, on September 20th, 2008 at 2:36 am Said:

    Hi, Alma,

    Thank you for your question. For my own purple aeonium, I’ve noticed the same thing. But the dry leaves were few in number and it appeared that they dried up and fell off to make way for new leaf growth. This has happened occasionally without any ill effects on my healthy plant.

    My young dragon tree, although a different plant, shows this same habit. If this is a one-time event of fast leaf shed, it’s not necessarily a problem. It might be just normal leaf shed. All the old bottom leaves eventually shed. It’d be a different story, I think, if the top leaves started dryin up. For now, I’d just use a strategy of watchful waiting to see if this fast leaf shed continues.

    But if there are a LOT of bottom leaves falling off or fast shedding continues, it could be the following possibilities, I’m guessing:
    1. Water – the soil should be only moistened, not soaked – I water mine lightly 1-2 times per week, but will switch to 1 time per week with the cooler season
    2. Air – related to 1. – if the plant does not get enough physical space for air circulation, that stress can cause leaf fall out
    3. Movement – if the plant was recently moved from one place to another – either because of transplanting or moving it to a spot where the conditions are more difficult (e.g., less direct sunlight, placed in poorly draining soil, pot to soil or vice-versa), the stress from the move can also trigger leaf fall out.

    Let me know how it works out. Hope this helps, and good luck with your purple aeonium!

    Reply
  5. Alma, on September 21st, 2008 at 5:00 am Said:

    Hi Janedata,

    Thanks you so much for your email. I was guessing too much water…I usually water 3x a week. I live in Norhtern Ca and it’s been hot the past few weeks. I will cut down to once a week and keep a watchful eye.

    Thanks again!

    Reply

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