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Love lies bleeding · Amaranthus caudatus

Why is my Love lies bleeding dropping its leaves?

It is less common for this plant to drop leaves, and it usually happens due to extreme heat stress or sudden changes in environment. Check if your plant has been moved or exposed to intense heat waves recently.

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Check these first

  1. Check the soil moisture level.
  2. Observe if the leaf drop happens after a move.
  3. Look for signs of heat damage on the leaves.

Likely causes

  1. Heat Stress

    Possible

    How to tell: Leaves wilt and fall off during the hottest part of the day even when the soil is moist.

    What to do: Provide some afternoon shade during extreme heat waves. Ensure the plant has enough water to handle the high temperatures.

  2. Root Disturbance

    Possible

    How to tell: Leaves drop shortly after repotting or moving the plant to a new location.

    What to do: Keep the plant in a stable environment and avoid moving it frequently. Give it a few weeks to recover from the stress of being handled.

Leaf drop in other plants

Find out what's wrong with your love lies bleeding

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

It is serious if the plant loses more than half its leaves in a few days. Minor leaf drop is normal when a plant is adjusting to a new home.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the plant in a stable, sunny location and avoid unnecessary repotting.

Love lies bleeding: leaf drop? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your love lies bleeding and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Will the leaves grow back?
The plant will not regrow leaves on the bare stem, but it will continue to grow new foliage from the top.
Is leaf drop a sign of pests?
Sometimes aphids can cause stress that leads to leaf drop. Check the undersides of leaves for small clusters of insects.

More problems with Love lies bleeding

Back to the Love lies bleeding guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.