I would say it is normal. The young growth is always brighter than when it ages.
Maybe if you showed a photo it would give a better idea of how it looks.

Very dark green almost brown?
Sounds like far too much water. Browning at the base - nasty.
Don't water it until spring or until it is starting to wrinkle.
Growing medium - gritty, very free draining (water should flow through the growing medium and out the drainage holes almost immediately).