When Succulents Get Leggy

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When succulents get leggy it usually means one thing; too little light. Succulents are famous for their thick waxy leaves, their usual compactness and how juicy they look. Many types of succulents grow flat, some grow tall but they don’t normally look leggy and when they do it can be an indication that something is seriously wrong in their environment. In their natural habitats succulents often grow in warm regions with little rain fall and full sun.

Succulents have relatively similar needs to a cactus and suffer when kept in cool, wet or low light conditions. All three of these environments can cause a series of problems for your plant and when succulents get leggy, it usually has something to do with light. The stems of succulents start to elongate and you may notice that they’re growing in the direction of the nearest light source. This is an indication that they aren’t in the right place for them at all and you need to move them immediately.

If you’re able to then place your succulent as close to a west or south facing window as possible. (IMPORTANT! If you live somewhere incredibly sunny and notice reddish colouring or burn marks on your plant then it is possible they are receiving too much sun and you need to move them back a bit – it really can be a balancing act) Once you have placed your plant in a brighter spot you should notice that the plant starts to grow in a more regular shape for it’s species and the legginess stops.

What If I Don’t Have Good Light?

When succulents get leggy they need more light there’s no question about it. And if you don’t have a window you might want to consider using grow lights to prevent your plant from growing in adverse conditions. Grow lights aren’t just used for industrial purposes, many people use grow lights in their homes if their light is dim but they want to grow succulents, cacti and other plants that like lots of light. And because they’re now available on a smaller scale you can them relatively cheap from places like Amazon.

Should I Trim Leggy Succulents?

When succulents get leggy they can look unsightly and even after you’ve moved them to a brighter spot or put them underneath grow lights this won’t undo the damage already done. Your plant will start putting out new even growth but the legginess that occurred from poor lighting will still be there. The good news is that with most type of succulents you can propagate them by taking a cutting.

Cut away the leggy parts of the plant with a pair of sharp clean scissors. Be careful not to cut too much of the plant in one go to avoid putting your plant into shock.You can cut these segments further into individual leaves or stems and leaves. After this it’s important to let the fresh cuts dry out. If you plant them too soon they will suck up too much moisture in the soil and start to rot. You can usually leave them sitting on a windowsill for a few days. Once the ends have healed over try inserting them in soil and you should see these leaves start to sprout roots after a few weeks and eventually grow into their own plants. So what started out as a problem with leggy succulents can become a way to get many more plants.

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