What is going on when succulents "wear skirts" in summer?
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Images: Gardening Xiaohu
Recently temperatures have risen and sunlight has become intense. Succulents grown outdoors have not only faded in color but have also started "wearing skirts." The most common reason we encounter for succulent leaves spreading open is lack of light combined with too much water, but for outdoor-grown succulents with plenty of light, that is not the cause. Instead, it is caused by sunlight that is too strong, literally "scorching" them open.
Succulent leaves spreading open is a problem we encounter often, and there are many causes. The main three are: succulents in their growing period or acclimation period, lack of light combined with too much water, and intense sun exposure. Among these, succulents in their growing period or acclimation period that spread their leaves open need no intervention, and the leaves will recover after some time.
If the leaves spread open because of lack of light combined with too much water, then prompt action is needed. This generally happens to succulents kept indoors. If left unresolved for a long time, the succulent will become leggy. A succulent that has spread open can still return to its original form, but once it becomes leggy it can never return to its original form. So to keep succulents from becoming leggy, spreading leaves must be dealt with promptly.
The method is simple. During this period, do not water the succulent, and increase its light exposure. It is best to move it outdoors to grow. If you do not have the conditions for outdoor growing, open the window and place the succulent where it can receive direct sunlight. You can also loosen the soil so that the moisture in the soil evaporates as quickly as possible, and after some time the leaves will close up again.
If the leaves spread open because of intense sun exposure, it is somewhat more serious. At this point the leaves are very likely to show sunburn damage. Move the succulent to a cool, shady place as soon as possible for care, and do not let it get any sun. This situation generally happens to succulents that have just been moved outdoors to grow, or to succulents that have not been outdoors for long when the temperature suddenly rises.
Right now the sunlight in southern regions is already very strong. Succulents newly moved outdoors this year need shade ahead of time. Succulents that have been grown outdoors for a long time have somewhat stronger resistance, but when the temperature is above 35°C they also need shade, otherwise they will get sunburned. Mild sunburn leaves marks on the leaves and affects the succulent's appearance, while severe sunburn can kill them.
If a succulent has spread open because of sun exposure, then do not keep exposing it to the sun. Placing it in a cool, shady spot will let the leaves slowly close up, but the sunburned parts will not recover; you can only wait for them to be shed through the plant's own metabolism later on. This is also a warning to us, telling us that the sunlight is very strong at this time and that we can start shading our succulents.
Shading succulents in summer is very important. Outdoor-grown succulents cannot be exposed to intense sun outside. Leaves spreading open is the mildest form of sunburn; some succulents are simply sunburned to death. Temperatures have risen recently. Has this happened to your succulents?
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