What should you do if the succulent plants you bought have grown tall and ugly?

A gardening friend said, I bought a few pots of succulent plants, Bai Mudan (Graptoveria 'Titubans'), earlier and they were quite cute, but now they have grown tall like weeds. I originally thought that when succulent plants grow up they get bigger and fatter, so why have they grown tall? They look really ugly. How should I deal with them? From your description, it might be that you watered too much. Generally, succulent plants do not grow very tall, and they grow very slowly. For your Bai Mudan that has already grown tall, you can behead it and take cuttings. This will not only stop it from growing taller, but also make it look cuter.

From now on, reduce the amount of watering, give it the longest possible sunlight exposure every day, and if conditions allow, you can artificially increase the light. Increase the temperature difference between day and night. The succulents grown this way will not have the problem you mentioned; they will be very plump and cute, and the color will look better too. You can also use this method on Bai Mudan.

There is no way to remedy the parts that have already become leggy; you can only prevent it from continuing to grow leggy in the future. If you are really dissatisfied with the leggy plant, you can behead it to get a plant that does not look leggy. The specific method for beheading is: wait until the spring and autumn growing season, cut off the top, let the wound dry, and then insert it for cuttings. You can also break off the excess leaves and use them as leaf-cutting material.

With fewer main leaves on the stem cutting, it is more conducive to re-rooting and propagation. Be sure to remember to give it plenty of sun (except at noon in summer). If you cannot guarantee sunlight, control watering a bit more. The main measures to inhibit succulent leggy growth are: first, more sun exposure; second, control watering. Because lack of sunlight, overly dim light, and relatively more watering will cause succulents to lose their originally short and sturdy shape, and the stems and leaves will stretch out frantically, which is the "leggy growth" phenomenon.

Succulent leggy growth is actually caused by an uncoordinated care environment leading to vigorous growth of the succulent plant. The direct manifestation is growing toward a height, with the plant becoming thin and weak, and the color changing from the previous various jelly colors to green or white. If succulent leggy growth has already happened, you can consider appropriately controlling water and returning to a suitable care environment (increasing light). The parts that have already become leggy cannot be changed, but the new leaves growing from the top growth point can still return to being compact and plump. At this time, you can consider continuing to grow it. As time passes, it will develop its own unique shape.

Usually, the leggy parts have slightly poorer stress resistance and are more prone to pests and diseases, so do not expect too much to get a fast-track old stump through this method. You can also consider cutting off the top growth point in normal growing condition for stem cuttings, while the leaves on the leggy parts can be broken off for leaf cuttings.

This is a gathering place for succulent plant lovers, sharing succulent care tips. You are welcome to follow and exchange ideas.