Most common questions used to investigate
Are the edges or tips of the leaves turning red or yellow?
Have you recently moved your plant from a spot with slightly less sunshine to a well-lit spot?
Have you been watering your plant less often recently?
Have you recently moved your plant to a colder spot indoors, or is the weather outside getting colder if you’re growing your succulent outdoors?
Are the leaves turning dark brown or black on the whole plant?
Are only the bottom leaves changing color to dark brown or even black?
Do the succulent’s leaves have brown spots resembling freckles on them?
Have you recently taken your succulent outside and exposed it to a direct sunlight?
Have you recently moved your succulent to a very cold spot inside or outside the house?
On closer inspection, can you see small insects on the succulent leaves?
Common conclusions
This is normal, the plant is still healthy. The color change is due to an increased concentration of Anthocyanins in leaves which helps protect the plant from the UV light.
This is normal, the plant is still healthy. Succulent leaves are normally green when they are watered often but can get red or yellow around the edges if they are watered more scarcely.
This is normal, the plant is still healthy. Some succulents species change color during winter dormancy season.
Your succulent may not be getting enough nutrients or space for its root. You need to repot the plant using fresh soil mixture.
Rotting of the roots and stem causes leaves to turn dark brown or black and die out. Rotting most often is due to overwatering. You should immediately change the soil mixture and cut all rotted roots. If the rotting hasn’t spread too far, the plant might recover.
This is normal, the plant is still healthy. Older leaves of some succulents often dry up and change their color to dark brown or black. You should cut the old leaves from the stem for decorative purposes.
Your succulent is experiencing normal seasonal color change.
Your plant may have been sunburned. Damage from ultraviolet light is irreversible. You should prevent any further damage by moving your plant to a place where it is not exposed to direct sunlight. When moving your succulents outside you should gradually place it brighter spots.
Your plant may have been freeze damaged. Immediately place the plant in a warmer spot. You should never place a succulent in a temperature lower than 5 °C (40 °F).
Scale insects (Coccoidea) are known pests on succulents and may resemble brown spots on the leaves. Use cotton swabs dipped in alcohol to get rid of them, or use any approved insecticide against them.
Brown spots are caused by fungal rot on the leaves. Rotting of the leaves most often occurs when water is retained on them due to improper watering. Always water only the base of the plant, never pour water over the leaves themselves.
References
Related Problems
