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.
Correspondingly, how do you shorten tall succulents?
Use a sharp knife for cutting succulents that grow too tall so that the cut is not squashed. If you don’t have one at hand, you can also use (pruning) scissors, most succulents are tough. Make the cut as horizontally as possible in order to keep the cut and thus possible spot for dirt small.
Sometimes before a succulent leans or gets tall, the leaves will curl backward. While a tightly curled up succulent is getting plenty of (or too much) sun, one that is flattening out or has it’s leaves spreading out is not getting enough.
Thereof, what is the long stem growing out of succulent?
Succulents will grow long stems when they are not getting enough sunlight. This process is called etiolation, where they start to turn and stretch out in search of light, giving them a “leggy” appearance with a long stem and smaller, spaced-out leaves.
Why is my succulent leggy?
Most succulents will grow “leggy” if they don’t get enough light. But those succulents that change colors when stressed are usually more light sensitive than others. Their reaction can be quick, putting out etiolated “growth” in a mere few days.
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 take care of an overgrown succulent?
Why is my cactus growing tall and skinny?
Cacti that receive inadequate sunlight tend to become etiolated and grow long and thin. This is their way of expressing that they need more sunlight, so they are reaching out for it. … Also, make sure that your cactus is receiving more water in the summers and less water in the winter months during its dormant period.
How do you keep succulents from getting leggy?
How do you keep succulents from getting leggy?
- Make sure they are receiving adequate sunlight, whether indoors or outdoors. …
- Indoor succulents are more likely to get leggy. …
- Make sure they are not being blocked by taller plants in a planter. …
- Rotate the pot so all the plants in the planter get adequate sunlight.
Should I trim my succulent?
Succulent Growth
Succulent plants often need pruning just like any other kind of garden favorites, for size control, to shape them better, or to propagate them for more plants. … Because new growth typically sprouts near the end of cut ends, simply prune stems to where you want new growth to emerge.
Can a succulent come back from overwatering?
Yes. If you lost a lot of leaves from overwatering, the plant will eventually recover as long as it is not rotting. When given a chance to dry out, you will soon notice new growth or tiny leaves along the stems. You will also notice new growth from the sides, the top, or even the bottom of the plant.
