Why Is My Christmas Cactus Dropping Leaves? 7 Solutions

Why Is My Christmas Cactus Dropping Leaves? 7 Causes and Solutions

The colorful flowers and unique shape of Christmas cacti have earned them a spot in many homes across the globe.

Then there’s the fact that they’re tough and sturdy, hardly needing any care to thrive and flower.

But just because they’re tough, that doesn’t mean these succulents never have problems. One of the most obvious signs of trouble is leaf drop.

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Holiday cacti will drop their cladodes – the leaflike structures – naturally as they age. It’s usually just one or two here and there, and the plant will look perfectly healthy otherwise.

Speaking of, check out our guide to growing Christmas cactus to learn what it takes to keep your specimen in good shape.

But if young leaves are falling or more than a few are dropping at a time, you need to read this guide and figure out what’s going on.

Here’s the list of issues we’ll go over:

The first topic we’ll discuss is probably one of the least common unless you are a chronic overwaterer.

If the cladodes are falling and you notice little tan lesions or black water-soaked spots on the foliage, you’re probably dealing with Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum.

This pathogen needs a lot of moisture to thrive and spread, so overwatering or keeping your plant in poorly draining soil or containers can invite it.

You might be able to save the specimen if you catch it early enough, but if not, your best bet is to take a cutting to propagate a new plant and toss the infected one.

To determine if you can save your Christmas cactus, remove it from the container and wash the soil from