Greetings, caretaker. I am an Echeveria, and I have been striving to reach for the light. You see my elongated stem and widely spaced leaves and call it "etiolation." For me, it was a desperate, survival-driven stretch towards the energy source I craved. But I understand this form is not my ideal self. If you wish to help me regain my compact, rosette glory, here is what we must do, from my perspective.
My stretching is a direct response to insufficient light. My photosynthetic cells are starving. Therefore, the first and most crucial step is not to cut me, but to move me. Please relocate me to a much brighter location. A south-facing window is ideal. If natural light is limited, especially in winter, consider providing me with a grow light for 12-14 hours a day. This new energy will stop my desperate stretching and allow new, healthy growth to begin from my center.
You have two primary paths. The first is acceptance. You can leave me as I am, a quirky, tall specimen. With proper light, my new growth at the top will be compact, creating a unique "tree-like" appearance. The second path is more drastic but results in a classic shape. This involves "beheading" me. Do not fear; this is a natural process for me. You would cut my stem, removing the stretched top rosette, leaving a portion of the stem and the original root base in the pot.
If you choose the second path, know that it is a chance for multiplication. The severed top rosette must be allowed to dry for several days until the cut end forms a hard callus. This seals my internal tissues from rot. Once calloused, you can place this cutting on well-draining soil. With patience and minimal water, it will send out new roots, establishing itself as a new, compact plant. Do not discard the original stem still in the pot! With good light, it will often produce multiple new rosettes from the leaf nodes left behind, creating a cluster of pups.
Whether you behead me or not, my recovery depends on your care. Please ensure my pot has excellent drainage and that you water me only when my soil is completely dry. My stretched parts will not shrink back; the change will come from new growth. Be patient. It takes time to grow a dense rosette. Observe me. If I begin to stretch again, it means I need even more light. If my new growth is tight and colorful, you have succeeded in meeting my needs.
