One morning after succulent watering, you suddenly found that the pot had changed -- the tip of the leaf had been kissed by the setting sun, dyed with a touch of playful red; some of the edge of the leaf was red as if bordered, and some, even the whole leaf, was flushed with pink color. This sudden change lets you feel surprise and doubt: Is the succulent growth more energetic, or is it quietly temper tantrum? In fact, succulent turning red is like a wonderful “color magic”, behind which hides different stories, some of which are good news, and some of which we need to pay more attention to. Today, we will unpack the bag of this magic and teach you to read the things that succulents turn red. 

Succulents turning red: is it “beauty mode” or “distress signal”? 

The color of succulent leaves is like their “expression.” Green is the most relaxed norm, while the appearance of red is often related to changes in the surrounding environment. In a comfortable environment, red is succulent “state burst” performance. The leaves will be fat, hard, bright color eye-catching; but if the environment is not right, red may be succulent in the “frown.” The leaves will be soft, wilted, and even slowly withered. Just as a person's face turns red after exercise is a red face when you are sick, red face needs to be paid attention to. The red color of the succulent also has to be combined with the specific situation to see. 

Common conditions that cause succulents to turn red: one by one 

“Pretty redness” from sunlight.

Most succulents turn red when they get enough sunlight, which is their little trick to protect themselves. Adequate sunlight causes more anthocyanins to grow in the leaves, something that helps them block out too much sunlight while letting the leaves show through in nice colors like red and pink. 
How to judge: Reddened leaves are hard and bulging to the touch, shiny, the color starts from the tips or edges of the leaves and swooshes out a little bit towards the middle, and the whole pot of succulents looks very spirited, with none of the leaves drooping or rotting. 
What to do: This is a succulent showing off its good condition, so don't worry about it! If you want the red color to stand out more, keep letting it get some sunlight (a little bit in the middle of the day in the summer), and a south-facing windowsill is perfect. If you don't have enough sunlight at home, the succulent fill light ($20-$30) can help. Shine it 30 centimeters away from the succulent, and the red color will still come out. 

Cooler temperatures deliver “red cheeks.”

When the weather gets cooler, especially when the temperature difference between morning and evening gets bigger, succulents will save up some anthocyanins to ward off the coolness, and the leaves will follow suit and turn red. Autumn is the most powerful time for succulents to turn red. A cool wind blows, and many Sedum family succulents will change from green to red, as if stained by autumn paint. 
How to tell: The red color mostly appears at the end of fall and the beginning of winter, and the leaves are very uniform in color, quite firm to the touch, and don't look frozen and transparent or rotten. 
What to do: This is a little surprise from the season, so don't worry about enjoying it. As long as the temperature doesn't fall below 5℃ and you don't let the succulent freeze, there's no problem. Water less when it is cooler, and let the potting soil dry out a little. The red color will stay longer.

“Thirsty Alert” When Dehydrated 

If you haven't watered your succulent for a while and the potting soil dries out to the point of cracking, the succulent will shrink its leaves a bit to reduce water evaporation while growing anthocyanins to protect itself, and the tips and edges of the leaves may turn red. The red color at this time is more like a succulent whispering, “I'm thirsty”. 
How to tell: The reddened leaves are a bit wrinkled and soft, and the surface of the potting soil is hard. After a day or two of watering, the red color will slowly fade and the leaves will bulge again. 
What to do: water the succulent quickly, slowly water along the edge of the pot until the water flows out from the bottom of the pot, and put it in a ventilated place after watering. Normally, you can take a chopstick and stick it 2 centimeters into the soil. If the chopstick is dry, it means it's time to water, so don't wait until it turns red with thirst.

The “Little Effects” of Soil Acidity and Alkalinity 

Whether the soil is acidic or alkaline can quietly affect the absorption of nutrients by succulents and indirectly make a difference in the color of the leaves. Some succulents (e.g., Purple Pearl, Evening Haze) will have a brighter red color in somewhat acidic soil; when the soil is alkaline, the red color may fade a bit, but it's usually less noticeable. 
How to tell: The red color changes very slowly, the leaves are growing well and not rotting or wilting, and you may have recently changed the soil or applied a somewhat acidic fertilizer. 
What to do: You don't need to do anything on purpose; succulents are not that delicate. If you want to make the soil a bit acidic, just pour some fermented rice water occasionally, or use The One Bloom's special soil for succulents (it is a bit acidic and most succulents like it). 

Pests and diseases make “bad color.” 

A few times, succulents are bitten by bugs or become sick; they will turn red locally, and also with spots, pits, wilting, and these faults, which are the reaction of the leaves after injury.
How to judge: the red color is piece by piece, bit by bit; the shape is messy, the leaves are soft and curly; there may be small holes or white flotsam (insect secretion), and the growth is much slower. 
What to do: Look at the back of the leaves and use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to wipe them down if there are a few bugs; if there are a lot of bugs, spray them with The succulent insecticide ($10-$15). If it gets sick, cut off the bad leaves and spray it with a bit of polymyxin so it doesn't spread. 

Small characteristics of different succulents that turn red 

• The succulents that love to turn red: they are born “love to dress up.” 
  Fire Festival, Red Leaf Festival, Rainbow Jade, these succulents are born easy to turn red, when there is enough sunlight and a big difference in temperature, the leaves will become red, or even the whole pot is red, this is their healthy look, the redder it is, it means that the better the maintenance is. 
  
• Do not love red succulents: love “green clothes.” 
  Haworthia truncata, Haworthia maughanii. This Haworthia, most of whose leaves have always been green or a little transparent, even if the sun is very full, also seldom turns red. If they turn red, most of the sun is too sunny or lack of water; you have to move to a place with a bit of diffused light, appropriate watering. 
  
• Succulents with powder: red “veiled” 
  Echeveria Laui, Guanghan Palace. These leaves with powder succulents, when red, powder will be a light red underneath, like a veil, especially good-looking. Don't touch the powder off when watering, or the red color will be directly exposed and may be faded by strong sunlight. 

Tips to keep succulents healthy and red 

• Create a “morning and evening temperature difference.” 
  A temperature difference of more than 10℃ in the morning and evening will make the succulent grow more anthocyanins. In autumn, you can put your succulent outside (at a temperature of no less than 5°C), in the sun during the day and cool air at night, and you will see the color change in a week or so. In winter, put it by the window and take advantage of the temperature difference between inside and outside the house (don't freeze); the red color will stay longer. 
  
• Light “no more, no less is just right. 
  Let succulent sunshine 4-6 hours a day, summer noon, do not get sunshine (afraid of sun bad), winter can be all day sunshine (and warm, and can make the color better). If you don't have enough sunlight, use a fill-in lamp for 6 hours a day, 30 centimeters away, not too close to avoid sunburning the leaves. 
  
• Watering “when it's dry.” 
  During the growing period, wait until the potting soil is dry before watering. Keep the potting soil a little bit dry; a proper “little thirst” will make the succulent easier to turn red, and the leaves are also stronger. But don't stop watering all the time, or the leaves will be wrinkled like paper and the red color will lose its spirit. 

Enjoy the “little color blessings” of succulents turning red 

Succulents turning red is a little gift from nature, both in terms of healthy awesomeness and hints of environmental changes. By learning to read the reasons behind the red color, you can keep your succulents looking beautiful all the time. The One Bloom not only has things like succulent-specific soils, but also has a “succulent combo that turns red easily” ($25-$35), which makes it easy for novices to keep them looking nice and red. Observe with care and adjust slowly; you will find that the red color of succulents can add a lot of life to your home, and keeping succulents becomes a thing full of surprises.