From my perspective as a Crassula, I naturally want to grow towards the sun, often resulting in a single, leggy stem with sparse leaves. This is called etiolation. While it is my instinct to reach for light, it doesn't always result in the most aesthetically pleasing form for you. My energy is focused on vertical growth at a single apical meristem (the tip of the stem). This dominant bud produces a hormone called auxin that suppresses the growth of the smaller lateral buds lower down on my stem. To become bushier, this pattern needs to be gently interrupted.
Please consider my life cycle when planning your cuts. The ideal time to prune me is during my active growing season, which is typically in the spring or early summer. During this period, I am flush with energy and resources. The longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures mean I can quickly heal the wounds you create and vigorously produce new growth from the points you prune. Pruning me while I am dormant in the fall or winter is stressful; my growth processes are slowed, and I am more vulnerable to infection and rot at the cut sites, which can be detrimental to my health.
The key to encouraging me to bush out is to remove the dominant apical bud. This action redirects my energy. When you use your clean, sharp pruning shears or even just your fingernails to pinch off the very top set of leaves on a stem, you are physically removing the primary source of auxin. With that suppressing hormone gone, the dormant lateral buds below the cut are suddenly free to awaken. These buds will then develop into two or more new branches, effectively doubling the growth points on that stem. For older, woodier stems that have become particularly long and bare, you can make a more significant cut, reducing the stem back to just above a set of healthy leaves where you want new growth to emerge.
After a pruning session, my immediate response is to begin healing. I will callus over the cuts you made to seal myself and prevent moisture loss or disease entry. Then, over the subsequent weeks, you will notice small, bright green nubs appearing at the leaf nodes below the cuts. These are my new branches beginning their journey. To support this energetic effort, please ensure I continue to receive plenty of bright, indirect light. You should also withhold water for a week or so after pruning to allow my wounds to fully callus, reducing the risk of rot. Once you see active new growth, you can resume your regular watering routine, and a light feeding with a diluted fertilizer can provide extra support for my burgeoning new shape.
