Troubleshooting
Aeonium 'Sunburst' problems — and how to fix them
Aeonium 'Sunburst' (Aeonium 'Sunburst') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Sunburn on variegated tissue
The pale cream margins scorch in fierce direct sun. Provide bright but partly filtered light and acclimatise slowly to prevent bleached, crispy patches.
Summer-dormancy curling
Rosettes close and shed lower leaves when resting in summer heat, which can be mistaken for dying. Cut back watering rather than drenching, and it revives in autumn.
Rot from overwatering
Soggy soil or watering during dormancy rots the stems and shallow roots. Water on its winter-growth cycle and use a free-draining mix.
Faded colour and stretching
Too little light loses the copper blush and elongates the rosettes. Increase light to restore the pink edges and keep growth compact.
Prevent aeonium 'sunburst' problems before they start
Most aeonium 'sunburst' issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for aeonium 'sunburst' in general rather than its problems? Read the full aeonium 'sunburst' care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Aeonium 'Sunburst' problems — FAQ
Why is my aeonium 'sunburst' sunburn on variegated tissue?
The pale cream margins scorch in fierce direct sun. Provide bright but partly filtered light and acclimatise slowly to prevent bleached, crispy patches.
Why is my aeonium 'sunburst' summer-dormancy curling?
Rosettes close and shed lower leaves when resting in summer heat, which can be mistaken for dying. Cut back watering rather than drenching, and it revives in autumn.
Why is my aeonium 'sunburst' rot from overwatering?
Soggy soil or watering during dormancy rots the stems and shallow roots. Water on its winter-growth cycle and use a free-draining mix.
Why is my aeonium 'sunburst' faded colour and stretching?
Too little light loses the copper blush and elongates the rosettes. Increase light to restore the pink edges and keep growth compact.