If succulents don’t get enough sunlight they begin to grow tall and stretch out. … While succulents are fairly slow growing, its amazing how quickly they seem to stretch when they aren’t getting the light they need. The technical term for this is etiolation. Some succulents will stretch less than others.
Correspondingly, why is my succulent plant growing tall?
Why It’s Happening
Etiolation is most commonly caused by lack of sufficient sunlight to the plant, which in turn produces a change in the shape, color, and growth of your plant. This happens most often with indoor succulents, since they are not in direct sunlight for very long, but it can happen to any succulent.
Moreover, what to do when your succulent gets really tall?
The simple solution is to move the plant to a southern exposure. But this still leaves that leggy party. Fortunately, leggy succulent plants can be topped, removing the part that is too tall and allowing new shoots to form and develop into a more compact plant.
Can you cut the top off a succulent and replant it?
Once you remove the top of your succulent, you can replant it in the soil and it won’t look so stretched out and leggy anymore. Grab a sharp pair of shears or a gardening knife. You should also wear a pair of gloves—some succulents have thorns and others have milky sap that can be irritating to your skin.
How do you prune a leggy succulent?
How To Cut a Leggy Succulent Plant
- Cut the plant leaving about an inch or so of stem on the bottom of the plant.
- Place the stem cuttings in a dry area away from direct sunlight to dry for a day or two, more if your area is humid. …
- Once the cut has healed, stick the cuttings in a well-draining potting mix.
How do I stop my succulents from stretching?
Are succulents supposed to grow tall?
Succulents will grow tall and lose pigmentation in an effort to absorb more sunlight. A gradual transition over 1-2 weeks to a brighter location will help them grow more leaves and recover their color, but some changes to the shape of the plants can be irreversible.
How do you repot overgrown succulents?
How to Repot Overgrown Succulents
- Pulling from the base of the stem, gently remove all plants from the old container.
- Fill the new, larger pot partly with a gritty, well-draining soil like a cactus / succulent potting mix.
What do Overwatered succulents look like?
Here’s what to look for to know that your succulent is overwatered: Soft, mushy, translucent leaves–An overwatered plant will have soft, mushy leaves that may also appear shriveled. … Leaves turn black–If the overwatering continues, the leaves will start to rot and you will see them turn black.
How do I make my succulents chubby?
1. Do Not Overwater. You love your succulents so much, and you want to water them every other day to make them grow plump and lush.
Should succulents be in direct sunlight?
Succulents love direct sun, but if yours is sitting in the same exact spot day after day, it’s likely that only one side is getting enough light. … Succulents will lean towards the sun, so rotating them will help them stand up straight. (Leaning may also be a sign that they need to be in a sunnier spot.)
