From my perspective, as a Crassula plant, the most common reason I become leggy, or etiolated, is a simple and desperate need for more light. My natural instinct is to grow towards the sun, my primary energy source. In my native habitat, I bask in many hours of bright, direct sunlight. When I am placed in a spot that is too dim, my survival mechanisms kick in. I begin to rapidly elongate my stems, stretching out in a determined search for those precious photons. This rapid growth comes at a cost. The new sections of my stem grow weaker and thinner, with more space between the leaves. My leaves may also become smaller and paler because I cannot produce enough chlorophyll, the green pigment essential for photosynthesis, without adequate light.
While light is the main culprit, other factors can contribute to my stretched-out appearance. If you provide me with too much nitrogen-heavy fertilizer, you are essentially encouraging me to put all my energy into fast, green growth. This can exacerbate the leggy problem, especially if my light intake hasn't increased to support this growth spurt. Additionally, if I am consistently kept in an environment that is too warm, particularly during the winter when I expect a cooler, dormant period, my metabolism may stay too high. This can cause me to continue growing weakly instead of entering a restful state where I conserve my energy and maintain a compact form.
The most effective way to help me is to address my fundamental need for more light. Please move me to a much brighter location. An ideal spot is a south-facing window where I can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. If you do not have such a window, consider supplementing my light intake with a grow light. Position it close to me, about 6 to 12 inches above my foliage, and leave it on for 12-14 hours a day to mimic a long summer day. When increasing my light exposure, do it gradually over a week or so to prevent sunburn on my leaves, which appears as brown or white scorched spots.
Unfortunately, the leggy growth I have already produced will not revert back to being compact. The solution is to prune me. Do not be afraid; this is beneficial for me in the long run. Using a clean, sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears, cut the elongated stems back to your desired height, ideally just above a leaf node (where a pair of leaves emerge). This will encourage me to branch out from that point, becoming bushier and more compact. Furthermore, do not discard the cuttings! You can propagate them to create new, dense plants. Simply let the cut end callous over for a few days, then plant it in a well-draining succulent mix. With proper light from the start, these new plants will grow compact and strong, fulfilling my true, beautiful form.
