Succulent etiolation is not just about lacking light - a detailed explanation of 4 deeper causes

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ForewordQian Yan

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Succulent growers surely all understand this endless worry. In addition, recently the editor-in-chief has received many messages in the backend asking how to prevent etiolation. After all, it greatly affects the appearance, and we still want to save them, so the editor-in-chief will give a little popular science explanation.

By the way, succulent lovers should all be able to tell what etiolation is, right? It is that kind of crazy stretching of stems and leaves, exaggeratedly able to shoot up several cm in a few days. But seriously, if only the editor-in-chief could etiolate like that, a little envious.

Back to the main topic, etiolation is an irreversible process. Once it has grown tall, it cannot shrink back down. That is really heartbreaking. We must take every precaution and nip etiolation in the bud.

First, let us understand the causes of succulent etiolation. Only in this way can we prescribe the right remedy and better avoid succulent etiolation~

Lack of light, too dim lighting

Ultraviolet rays in sunlight have the effect of inhibiting auxin. This effect is directly proportional to light intensity and duration. The greater the light intensity and the longer the duration, the greater the effect of inhibiting auxin.

Glass can block most ultraviolet rays. When succulents cannot absorb enough ultraviolet rays, etiolation or flattening out like a big pancake will follow.

Solutions:

1. Give succulents plenty of sunlight. In summer, when the temperature in the morning or evening does not exceed 30°C, let the succulents bask in the sun for a while.

2. Open windows more often so that scattered sunlight and ultraviolet rays can come in, which helps ease succulent etiolation;

3. If natural sunlight conditions truly cannot be met, grow lights can be used;

4. For succulent lovers growing plants in enclosed environments, try to avoid buying succulents that were grown outdoors;

Overwatering

Watering is not the direct cause of etiolation. Rather, when plants lack light, if the amount of water given is still very large, it will accelerate cell division and thereby worsen the formation of etiolation.

In other words, the amount of water should match the amount of sunlight. Proper watering will not cause etiolation. Instead, it will make them grow fuller and rounder. But if you water whenever you are free and also let them get rained on all the time, then the editor-in-chief takes back what was just said.

Solutions:

1. Before watering, be sure to check the weather forecast. When cloudy and rainy weather comes, do not water the succulents for now;

2. Water according to their condition and adopt the principle of "better dry than wet." You can water when you observe that part of the succulent leaves is slightly wrinkled;

Plant phototropism

During the growing period, if succulents are planted too densely and shade each other, then in order to strive for more light and space, the succulents will work hard to grow upward to greet the first ray of morning sunlight. In this way, etiolation also appears.

Countermeasures:

1. Adjust the placement of the succulents and try to ensure that all of them can naturally receive light;

2. If there is not enough space, then within an appropriate distance you can only remove the excess succulents and keep the robust varieties.

Too much fertilizer

Too much fertilizer and water (especially nitrogen fertilizer) will cause nutrient excess in plants and weaken root vitality. If the temperature is relatively high and the light is weak at this time, the succulents are very prone to etiolation and become very frail.

Now that we know the causes of succulent etiolation, we should actively take measures to nip etiolation in the bud. After all, this is an irreversible process, so we must pay attention!

Solutions:

When fertilizing, be sure to choose special fertilizer for succulent plants from a legitimate manufacturer and apply it according to the instructions. Try not to use fertilizer meant for other flowers on succulents.

It is not recommended to use the chemicals commonly used in greenhouses to control etiolation, such as growth hormones like chlormequat. If chlormequat is used in excess, it will cause harm to the succulents for a very long time.

I believe the succulent lovers who have read this far have suddenly understood, but unfortunately the succulents have already become etiolated. What should be done?

Although the editor-in-chief has said that succulent etiolation is irreversible and it is impossible to restore the previous appearance, we still cannot leave our beloved succulents unattended! Please accept the following few small methods~

1. Be sure to place them somewhere with more sufficient light than before, and preferably keep putting them outdoors once a week for a sunbath. Pay attention to proceeding step by step, and do not directly expose etiolated succulents to strong sun.

Even less should they be placed under strong light, as that will cause sunburn, making the leaf surface form scab-like marks, and these injured areas will not regenerate, leaving ugly scars.

To avoid sunburn, first choose a cloudy day to place the treasures by the window, let them gradually get used to sunlight, and only then take them out to bask in the sun.

2. You can behead them for stem cuttings. After choosing the position to behead, cut it off;

Remove the 2 to 4 leaves at the base of the cut-off head so that the cut head can be inserted into the soil and take root easily. Leave the base after cutting the head in the original pot without moving it;

After trimming, place it in a ventilated spot to dry the cut; then insert the head, once the wound has healed, into new soil, and the head will regain its compact beautiful appearance.

3. The leaves that are twisted off are used for leaf propagation. Each leaf nurtures a new life.

Leaf propagation has requirements for the moisture of the potting soil. If it is too wet, the leaves easily rot. If it is completely dry, it is not conducive to rooting, and after rooting it is also not conducive to root growth. So it can only be kept slightly relatively moist, especially the surface soil. Generally, before leaf propagation, use a spray bottle to moisten the surface soil.

Regarding the placement of the leaves, if it is moist soil in the pot, it is not very recommended to insert them directly into the soil, because the leaves have no root system. Generally, rooting takes about a week. During this period, soil that is too moist may cause the leaves to rot. Laying them flat is enough for them to take root and sprout.

After rooting, they can be inserted obliquely into the soil. During leaf propagation, generally watering once a week is enough. This also depends on your choice of soil and flowerpot. One principle is that if the soil is too dry, you can water it appropriately, but do not water too much.

Then just quietly wait for the succulents to grow strong and healthy~

After reading this, do you still have any questions about succulent etiolation? You can say them in the comments. If you have different views, you are also welcome to share~

*Some information in the article comes from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact the editor-in-chief in the backend to delete it.

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