What's going on when succulents "wear skirts" and "spread out like a big flatbread" in summer?

Succulents "spreading out like a big flatbread" refers to when succulents (especially Sedum-type ones) change from a relatively compact, cupped form into a more spread-out shape. Compared with the layered, mountain-range beauty of the cupped form, the spread-out leaves are less favored, so it is jokingly called "spreading a big flatbread." Usually, succulents spreading out like a big flatbread refers to the following three situations:

1. Variety:Among succulents, Echeveria glauca, Sempervivum tectorum, Echeveria runyonii, Pachyveria 'Blue Bird' and so on have many leaves and a lotus-like shape. As soon as the weather gets hot, the older lower leaves tend to wilt, and naturally they curl downward.

2. Too much water and too little light:In summer the sunlight is too strong, and many gardeners do not dare let their succulents get any sun. When they see the soil is dry, they want to water, and the moisture in the succulent leaves cannot evaporate, so the leaves tend to droop.

3. Too little water and drought:Too little water can also cause "wearing a skirt," but this is more like normal metabolism: the old leaves gradually dehydrate and droop, then slowly dry up.

Summer is the gate of hell for succulents. For the gardeners who love their succulents dearly, every signal they give off must be paid attention to, otherwise they will not survive the dog days of summer!

Succulents look like a big flatbread

Method 1: Give sun in the morning and evening, and control water properly

Once you notice the leaves of your succulents at home curling downward, quickly find the cause: has it not gotten sun recently? Or has it been watered too much? After finding the cause, start by correcting your care routine.

The morning and evening sun in summer is still fine for succulents. At noon, just shade them or move them indoors for a while. Gardeners who do not know how to control water can insert 2 bamboo skewers near the edge of the pot. Be careful not to get close to the succulent's roots, to avoid injuring them.

Pull out the bamboo skewers once every 1-2 days and look at how dark the part near the roots is and how much soil is sticking to it. If it is less than 1 cm, it means the pot is almost completely dry and you can water; if, as shown in the picture below, it is more than 1 cm, then there is no need to water.

This method is the gentlest, and it usually takes effect in about a week. Look at Huahua's Echeveria, aren't all the leaves standing up?

Method 2: The wrap-and-shape method

If your succulent used to be a little bun and suddenly spreads out like a big flatbread, then you need to be on guard. Once it loses its shape, it is very hard to restore later, so you must take drastic measures!

Use the waterproof tape from home that is meant for wrapping water pipes, and gently wrap the succulent. Note: if your succulent's leaves are loose and falling, do not keep trying this. Keeping it alive is more important!

You can also wrap it with toilet paper, which is more breathable and works just the same.

After wrapping for about a week, it will mostly hold its shape. Once you have finally fixed it back into a little bun, you must care for it carefully afterward!