Normal growth or too leggy?
My tree aeonium is getting really leggy. Is this normal/should I trim/replant the rosettes? Or is this normal growth. The internet is giving me too much conflicting advice.
I also know this isn’t the right kind of pot. I was gifted the plant in this and plan to repot in terra cotta. (Is it getting too close to dormancy, and should I wait til fall?) #TreeAeonium
I also know this isn’t the right kind of pot. I was gifted the plant in this and plan to repot in terra cotta. (Is it getting too close to dormancy, and should I wait til fall?) #TreeAeonium
2ft to light, direct
5” pot without drainage
Last watered 2 weeks ago
4
Mature aeoniums do branch out, and even younger plants don't have the same super compact growth as other rosette succulents (echeveria for example). But...yours is definitely leggy from insufficient light. The rosettes should be much closer together, which is why it looks so odd with those skinny little stems. Although they are entering dormancy for the summer, you can repot anytime, especially if it's an indoor only plant. Indoor plants don't subscribe to the same seasonal restrictions as outdoor plants since they're in a controlled environment. So go ahead and move to a terracotta pot with very gritty soil (equal parts cactus soil and perlite). Then you'll need to find a spot that gets a LOT more direct sunlight. At least 4-6 hours, preferably in the afternoon (PM sun is stronger than AM sun). If you don't have a window that gets that much light, you'll need to get grow lights for it to thrive indoors. All my aeonium are outdoors, because it's just so hard to give them the light they need indoors.
If it were me, after repotting I'd chop every one of those offsets and stick them back in the soil. Once it's getting proper sunlight, it will start to grow normally. Also, be sure to reduce watering significantly during the summer while they're in dormancy. The rosettes will close up on themselves and look pretty rough, and growth will screech to a halt, so they only need to be watered once every month or two.
If it were me, after repotting I'd chop every one of those offsets and stick them back in the soil. Once it's getting proper sunlight, it will start to grow normally. Also, be sure to reduce watering significantly during the summer while they're in dormancy. The rosettes will close up on themselves and look pretty rough, and growth will screech to a halt, so they only need to be watered once every month or two.
@DaringDodder & @stephonicle - Here’s one of mine for an example 😊
I don’t have it in a terracotta pot at the moment so I’m really easy on the water, but it’s outside in the summer, inside on a west window sill in the winter.
When I first got it, it was solid bright green. The sun is bringing out that pretty maroon like color (sun stressing) 🥰
I don’t have it in a terracotta pot at the moment so I’m really easy on the water, but it’s outside in the summer, inside on a west window sill in the winter.
When I first got it, it was solid bright green. The sun is bringing out that pretty maroon like color (sun stressing) 🥰
Thanks for all of the helpful replies. Going to get to work and see if I can help Elvis thrive. 😉 I’ve never mastered succulents so I’m sure I’ll have more Qs along the way!
