Why are my Succulents Stretching out? 5 tips for saving your Succulents

Have you noticed that your succulents are starting to grow taller & awkward-looking? The Echeveria is no longer compact, full, and vibrant with variegated colors through the leaflets – it is now lengthy with a lighter hue, but why?

Here are 5 things you can do to save your Succulents:

1. Give them more sunlight! Chances are that your plants are not getting enough light! This can be tough to achieve if you’re growing your succulents in your office or a spot that doesn’t get sufficient light. A south-facing window usually does the trick, but through winter, that light may not even be enough as I have found this year. (Or maybe I have too many plants competing for that small sliver of sunlight)
2. Give them a grow light! After continually moving my plants around, it was clear they just weren’t getting enough light. Compact plants had stretched, the Echeveria was losing its reddish tinted leaflets, and some of the lower leaflets were dying due to lack of sun. They really don’t need a “fancy light” like an LED, but I’d love to see how the color pops under those (I think we have a new experiment!) Now check them out after less than a week under a T5 fluorescent light!
3. Check the moisture levels. Remember it is okay for succulents to dry out between watering – but also, don’t forget to water them altogether! You’ll want to use a high-porosity, well-draining soil – too much moisture can cause fungus or damage to lower leaflets.
4. Prune them! Don’t be afraid to give them a trim! When you’re seeing growth, the last thing you want to do is cut it down. But if your succulents are stretching, this could be a great way to save them. See how this Echeveria has stretched? We can definitely replant the rosette at the top and some of the leaflets that will be affected by this pruning. You want to cut about 1.5-2 inches above the soil line. Leave the plant in the pot, in a couple weeks you should start to see some new growth – just make sure it is getting enough light!
5. Propagate, & Replant! Next remove the leaflets below the main rosette, keeping them intact & undamaged from tears or rips. Let the individual leaflets & rosette callous over for 2 weeks and by that time, some roots may begin to form. At this time you can replant & have 10 times as many Echeveria! This can be done whenever you have plants stretching – or whenever you decide you want some more succulents! It is a process that requires 2-4 weeks of patience, it may not work 100% of the time, but it’s an awesome way to keep your plants around for a long time.

I hope that this was helpful & you’re able to save some of your succulents that are struggling in your home or office. And if you’re looking for Succulents to add to your personal spaces, or a unique gift idea, head over to our Succulent Shop!

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