What to do about leggy succulents? Three easy home gardening tricks to fix it

Sometimes when you see your succulent plant shooting up like crazy, don't get too excited too soon - it might be leggy growth. This abnormal development makes the plant weak and prone to falling over, ruining its shape and possibly affecting its health.

A leggy succulent has thin, tender stems, sparse and narrow leaves, and stands crookedly every which way. Some say leggy growth in succulents is as bad as ruining their looks, and it's really disheartening.

Causes of leggy growth in succulents:

1. The plant's own phototropism. When light is insufficient or glass blocks most of the UV rays, the succulent's phototropic response triggers leggy growth.

2. Overwatering. When water accumulates in the pot, the succulent's roots struggle to breathe, excess water is stored in the stem, and organic matter is concentrated on building stem cells, resulting in leggy growth.

3. Too much nitrogen fertilizer. Most compound fertilizers for plants are nitrogen-based. Nitrogen speeds up cell division in succulents, and if photosynthesis can't keep up, leggy growth occurs and the plant easily falls over.

Solutions for leggy succulents:

1. Remove old leaves. Promptly remove leaves that have been growing for a long time. Remove only the leaf blade, leaving the petiole to dry and fall off naturally to avoid leaving scars. Move the succulent to a spot with light, which helps quickly develop a mature stem (old trunk). While the wounds haven't healed, place it in a rain-sheltered, well-ventilated spot and do not water.

2. Behead the succulent: cut off the top part of the plant. After some time, side shoots will grow, turning it into a clustered potted plant. The cut-off leaves and stems can be used for cuttings and propagation.

3. Leggy growth in succulents is irreversible and happens very quickly once it starts. To avoid it as much as possible, you need to control light and water. Let the succulent get plenty of sun every day (except at noon in summer). Don't water too much normally - follow the principle of watering only after the soil dries out completely, and never water if it's not dry. Pay attention to ventilation.