The trouble is, occasionally those colors are not natural, and sometimes they may even be painted onto the succulent’s leaves. You might frequently notice vibrantly colored succulents in stores or plant nurseries and wonder how you can get yours to appear like that too.
Because they obstruct the pores of the succulent and prevent photosynthesis, which is vital for a plant’s existence, this paint is frequently harmful to succulents and can cause them to pass away very rapidly.
Nevertheless, applying food coloring is one approach to artificially change the color of a succulent. As long as you perform it correctly, it won’t hurt the plant and will guarantee that your succulent retains its vibrant color for a considerable amount of time.
To make sure that the process is successful, there are a few things you need do before you accomplish this.
What you’ll require is:
- Succulent
- Water
- Cup for Measuring
- Blending Cup
- Coloring Agents
- Knife
- Pot
- Soil
Dehydrate Your Succulent
Succulents are excellent at filtering out any potential toxins from the water they are consuming. The water in their roots, stems, and leaves must therefore be sufficiently dehydrated for them to have done so. This will make them more willing to drink the colorful water than they otherwise would be.
Prepare Your Dye
Pour half a cup of water into your mixing glass after measuring it out. Mix the water with a few drops of the food coloring of your choice. The color of the succulent will get more vibrant as you apply more food coloring.
Prepare Your Succulent
You must dig your succulent out of the ground and cut off its roots in order for it to absorb the colored water without filtering it. You will only be left with the succulent’s stem and leaves if you do it this manner. Cut the roots from the stem using a knife, being careful not to harm the stem.
Dye Your Succulents
Since the succulent’s roots have been removed, it will no longer be able to filter the water’s food coloring. If the colored water has been sitting for a while, add the succulent stem and give it a little swirl to make sure everything is well combined. Let it soak up all the water in the glass by letting it sit in the water for about a half-day.
Repot Your Succulent
It’s important to repot your succulent once it has soaked up all of the colored water. Your neighborhood plant nursery or gardening store may sell you some potting soil made specifically for succulents. Fill a pot with potting dirt. Then insert the succulent’s stem into the ground.
Once there is enough dirt to sustain the succulent, fill the pot the rest of the way. After placing the soil in the container, avoid compacting it. Water must be able to drain out quickly from succulents.
Do Not Water Your Succulent for a Few More Days
After repotting it into the soil, it is advised that you wait a few more days before watering it again to make sure the succulent gets the colored water into its leaves. This will guarantee that the dye is absorbed completely by the plant’s leaves, changing the color of the leaves.
When you begin to water it once more, you’ll see that the color gradually starts to disappear as the dye in the leaves is increasingly diluted. As the succulent begins to root into the soil once more and begins to photosynthesize once more, you may also start to observe some new leaves sprouting.
Rich colors like red, blue, and purple work best when coloring succulents using food coloring because they are more likely to produce the greatest results. The natural method of coloring succulents takes a little longer to take effect, but this process won’t destroy your plant the way painting would. Your succulent may even retain its color for a while if you take good care of it.
Where can I find multicolored succulents?
Some succulents may undergo changes or lose the vivid hues they had when they were first purchased. Some plants may gradually turn green in a few months, especially if they are planted in the shade or in locations with poor natural lighting. For succulents to “stress” and show off their vibrant hues, they require intense sunlight all day long or at least six hours every day. To ensure that your succulent plants receive adequate sunlight, thrive indoors, and keep their brilliant red/pink hue, you must have windows that face south. Make sure there are no obstructions to natural sunlight for your succulents, such as trees or structures.  
What can I do to turn my succulents green?
Succulents may lose their bright hues in addition to stretching out due to inadequate light. Bright sunlight is necessary for succulents like Sedum nussbaumerianum to keep their vibrant hues throughout the day.
They gradually turn green when grown in the shadow or in places that don’t receive bright light all day, like indoors. But that does not imply that they are unwell. They will carry on expanding and multiplying, but until they receive more sunshine, they will remain green.
This is the same “Jade plant” as the one below, but one side of it is shaded by a tree while the other receives bright sunlight all day. The coloration is quite unique! On the side of the plant that receives direct sunlight, the red tips are considerably brighter and thicker.
The plant in full sun will also have more variegation and a dash of yellow. These colors can still be seen on the shaded side, but they are less pronounced.
How should a succulent be colored stressed?
Placing your succulents in the dark is one of the simplest ways to stress them out. For four or five days, cover your succulents in darkness to replicate the conditions they would encounter when being transported in a dark box (one of the reasons why store-bought succulents are so colorful at first).
For the colors to truly stand out, you can continue doing this for up to fourteen days. Low-light indoor succulents including jade plants, air plants, gasteria, and haworthia work well for this.
Stressing Succulents With Grow Lights
On the other hand, by giving your succulents more sunlight, you might be able to encourage them to exhibit vibrant hues. Consider beginning the plants outside, where they can receive up to a week’s worth of bright shade (note – only do this if you live in a warm enough climate to grow succulents outdoors, or you may kill them with too much cold),
Give the plants another week or so to adjust before moving them to an area with partial sunlight. Bring the plants inside, where you should place them in a full-sun area or beneath grow lights.
When exposed to more sunshine, certain sun-loving succulents, such as cacti and sedum, will reveal more lovely colours of red, pink, and purple because their pigments will grow more bright.
Pay close attention to your succulents if you plan to light stress them. You’ll be able to recognize sunburn symptoms early. Succulents can typically bounce back from the majority of light-related issues in just a week or two if you gradually introduce them to the proper circumstances.
How to Cold Stress Succulents
Start with a robust collection of plants. You should pick succulent kinds like aloes, kalanchoes, euphorbias, sedums, sempervivums, aeoniums, and echeveria because not all succulents will change color when stressed. Normally, agave doesn’t change color under stress.
Cold stress has the same positive effects on succulents’ color as light stress does. While keeping temperatures above freezing, you could leave the plant outside in the cold. Similar to mild stress, this shock may cause pigments to flush.
But this procedure is a little more delicate. To ensure that your succulent plants aren’t stressed to the point of death by spending an excessive amount of time below their cold hardiness thresholds, you’ll want to keep a close check on them.
How to Stress Your Succulents With Moisture
You may stress your succulent plants with water just like you can with light and cold stress. Succulents are known for their capacity to tolerate extended droughts, therefore doing this can be challenging.
However, you can frequently stress your plant out enough to flush pigments by cutting out water (the precise amount you should cut out will vary depending on what kind of succulent you’re growing and how much water you are giving it now; consult your planting instructions for more information on this).
What causes succulents to turn pink?
Are there several types of stress in succulents—good stress and negative stress? Yes. In general, a healthy plant under stress will retain its original form and characteristics while changing its color. A troubled, stressed-out plant will appear warped, malformed, or merely sickly.
Knowing the type of plant you have will assist you identify any problems it may be having. When subjected to intense heat or direct sunlight, some succulent plants develop scarlet tips on their leaves. The plant produces a crimson pigment (carotenoids) on its leaf to withstand the intense heat and shield itself from sunburn. We can refer to this as “positive stress” because it enhances the beauty and color of the plant rather than harming it.
However, reddish tinges on the leaves and stems of succulent plants may indicate an insect infestation, such as spider mites, which leave red stains on the plant. Additionally, the leaves would be crooked, which would indicate that something was amiss with the plant. We can refer to this as “bad stress” because the plant is genuinely suffering, and you must act quickly to preserve it.
If your plant starts to take on a reddish tint, check to see if this is a natural occurrence or if the plant is being bothered by something else.
Some plants respond well to intense light, scorching heat, and extreme aridity by turning a lovely shade of yellow-orange. This is how the plant defends itself from the harsh environmental circumstances. Because the plant is not in distress and you don’t need to act right away, this is “positive stress.”
On the other hand, excessive watering or soil that is always damp might cause a plant to turn yellow. You’ll see that the leaves have begun to discolor and have also become squishy and mushy. It’s important to address this “bad stress” before it gets worse.
Unlike “bad stress,” “good stress” is not accompanied by symptoms or indicators that the plant is in distress, such as squishy leaves.
Under “positive stress,” several plants, including the Echeveria “black prince” and the Aeonium arboreum “Zwartkop” (Black Rose), change to a lovely hue of dark purple to black. These same plants will lose their lovely coloring and turn green if you pamper them, put them in the shade, and water them frequently.
However, if you notice that some of your succulents are going black from the bottom up and losing their leaves, this is unquestionably a sign of “bad stress.” When a plant rots from the root up, this is when it. The stems decay and the leaves turn black. If you don’t respond quickly, you risk losing the plant.
Knowing your plants well enough to determine if they are experiencing good or bad stress doesn’t take much time. You would eventually be able to distinguish between them.
The one with green foliage is newly potted in new potting soil and kept in the shade.
The third tree, which has crimson leaves, receives little water and has less fertile soil.
As more water and shade are provided, the leaves become lighter and greener, as seen in the second shot.
The most recent was taken following a particularly wet winter. The plant’s darker purplish coloration has been removed, and it has become more green.
What can I do to turn my succulent purple?
Succulents are typically green, but as they mature, they may also show shades of purple, crimson, or even blue. The entire leaf may turn purple or scarlet in some succulent species, but only the tips or inner corners in others.
For instance, it happens frequently to Sedum, Crassula, some Kalanchoe species, and other succulents for them to turn purple or scarlet. Be sure to seek for images of your particular species of succulent to determine whether it is normal.
Reason 2: Too much heat or light
Succulents enjoy direct sunlight, yet they are susceptible to sunburn just like any other plant. Discoloration, bleaching, or yellowing, as well as corking, are some of the primary symptoms of scorching in succulents.
If your succulent is placed in an area that receives excessive direct light, the plant’s cells will be harmed and it will no longer be able to grow. If your succulent is showing signs of discoloration on its sun-facing side, it has most likely been scorched.
However, a succulent that changes color may be a warning of too much light. It may begin to take on a purple, crimson, or bluish hue. Be cautious while placing plants because heat and light stress can be fatal to a plant.
Although different succulent species have different lighting needs, most of them favor a lot of bright indirect light. Some will require placing of partial shade.
During the growing season, a general requirement is 6 hours of light every day. You can utilize LED or fluorescent illumination (60 watts, for 10–14 hours a day) like this if you don’t get a lot of light, especially if you’re growing succulents indoors.
Reason 3: Sudden changes in temperature or lighting
Never make an abrupt alteration to the surroundings of your succulents because doing so could harm or even kill them. Sudden variations in temperature or light stress succulents.
Your succulents may begin to change color if there are abrupt changes in temperature or illumination. Because they are not acclimated to the new conditions, succulents might become suddenly red, purple, or bluish.
Always remember to gradually acclimate your succulents to more sunshine exposure following the winter. Right after winter, you should try to cover your succulents, including cacti, with a shade cloth like this. Once your succulents are accustomed to the light once more, gradually begin taking the shade away over the course of a few weeks.
But it can also occur in the winter. The majority of succulents cannot survive temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 Celsius). Keep your succulents indoors in a cool location if the temperature falls below those levels where you live. A succulent with discolored rings has suffered cold damage.
In the winter, keep them away from radiators, and water them less. Avoid planting succulents close to powerful air conditioners throughout the summer. Any abrupt change is undesirable.
Increase watering gradually as we emerge from winter. Similarly, when winter is on the horizon, gradually cut back on watering.
Succulents may, however, naturally change color and turn purple as the seasons change. After the winter, you should be cautious when exposing your succulents to more sunshine.
Reason 4: Underwatering
When succulents are submerged in water, they might turn red or purple. Your succulent may begin to slightly change color as a result of lack of water. You might start to detect the emergence of a purple, red, or even bluish coloring.
Curling leaves and dry, shriveled soil are some further signs that a succulent is underwater. The leaves will begin to lose their heft.
Even though you should let your plants go dormant in the winter and avoid giving them regular watering, some water is still necessary. Succulents are typically kept indoors, where it is warm, during the winter.
This implies that if kept indoors throughout the winter, you must water your succulents at least once a month. Otherwise, the soil in your succulent plants may dry out, harming the roots and the entire plant.
You should give your succulent plants regular watering from early spring to late October. Several variables, including the pots the plants are in, the temperature, the sunlight, and more, will affect how frequently to water. Make sure to wait a while before watering the soil.
Reason 5: Poor soil
It’s crucial to repot your succulents because the soil they are now growing in will soon become depleted of nutrients. Additionally, your plants will develop and may outgrow their existing containers. It’s time to repot your succulent if you see circular and tightly packed roots.
Your succulents won’t be content and live very long in bad soil. And that is despite fertilizing the soil during the growing season. Your succulents may begin to change color and possibly become purple or red due to bad soil.
Every year or so, give your budding succulents a new pot and larger pot. You can repot succulents that are more established and mature every 3 to 4 years on average.
Reason 6: Lack of nutrition
Even though they are more resilient to adverse environments than other plants, succulents still require nutrients. Your succulents may start changing color and turning purple if the soil lacks nutrients. Succulents that are severely malnourished can also become yellow.
Use this or a comparable succulent fertilizer to feed your succulents solely during the growing season (often mid March-mid October). When succulents remain dormant in the winter, never fertilize them. The ideal feed contains less nitrogen and has balanced potassium and phosphorus ratios (such as 2-8-8).
Reason 7: Protection
Strong sunshine can cause cacti and succulents to turn purple. This further shields them from damaging UV radiation exposure, which in extreme circumstances can kill the plant.
However, at the same time, it might mean that your succulent is stressed and is not used to current conditions. Most succulents lose their purple color when sunlight is restricted or naturally diminishes (seasons).
Reason 8: Issues with the root system and root rot
Your succulents may become purple if there are problems with their root systems. As a succulent keeper, you should get in the habit of removing your plants from their pots every few weeks or so to check on their roots.
You need to take care of your succulent’s root system if you find any white clumps (root mealybugs), little flies (fungus gnats), or generally black roots when inspecting the roots.
Additionally, avoid repotting or moving your succulents around too frequently. Stress can result from repotting succulents too frequently, especially mature ones. Make sure your succulents are firmly rooted in the ground; otherwise, they won’t be able to absorb the soil’s nutrients and water.
Reason 9: Rot rot
Your succulent is experiencing root rot if it is turning dark purple or even black. You must immediately trim any soft black leaves and black roots using sanitized shears or scissors. After pruning, repotted your plant into a clean pot with new soil.
Overwatering and prolonged exposure of roots to standing water are common causes of root rot. Ensure that the pots you use for succulents have drainage holes, and always discard any water that accumulates in a saucer.
Any leaves that are still green can be removed if your plant as a whole has been harmed. Once you notice roots, you can then keep them apart and grow them. By using leaf cuttings, you can develop new succulent plants.
Sun stressing succulents?
Some succulent growers think that subjecting succulents to solar stress is a good way to help them “realize their full potential.” Succulents’ attractive coloring can be stimulated by positive sun stress.
Succulents will turn red, purple, or even yellow under any type of stress, not just sun stress. Underwatering or subjecting succulents to excessive cold or heat are two more types of stress that can cause succulents to become purple.
For novices, it’s not a good idea to overstress succulents because you risk killing the plant. Succulents, however, are accustomed to severe settings and can be saved if you spot symptoms of suffering at an early stage.
Succulents experience both positive and bad stress, therefore you should take care not to add to the harmful stress. You can determine whether stress is positive (or neutral) or negative by studying your succulents and searching for cues.
Your sun-damaged succulent is probably not in pain if it has maintained its original shape but changed colors. However, if you notice any bugs or reddish scarring, your plant may have pests.
Additionally, if your plant’s leaves become floppy, crispy, or brown, something is wrong. The presence of any white patches, raised lumps, or corking indicates excessive light.
Succulent turning purple and falling off
Your succulent is under extreme stress if its leaves are turning purple and dropping off. Stress of any kind, such as intense heat, light, cold, or a lack of water, can cause succulents to become purple.
Your succulents may start falling off the main plant and die if you keep them in very harsh circumstances, especially if changes are quick.