What To Do When Succulents Get Too Tall?

Succulents are a popular choice for home and garden decor, but what do you do when they get too tall? While succulents can be incredibly low-maintenance, understanding what to do when your plant is getting out of control is important. In this article, we'll discuss the steps you should take in order to keep your succulent plants healthy and looking their best.

We'll cover identifying what type of succulent you have while understanding its growth pattern. Also about pruning or trimming back the plant to encourage new growth. When to move your plant into a larger pot and  providing support for tall stems with stakes or trellises. This article contain as well how to reduce watering and fertilizing when plants get too tall. When to considerpropagating cuttings from taller stems and replanting them in a new pot. 

Step 1 in What To Do When Succulents Get Too Tall: Identify your succulent

When you notice that your succulents have grown too tall, the first step is to identify what type of succulent it is.

• Different species of succulents grow differently. The key it to know what species is your succulent for respondinf differently to pruning and trimming your plant.
• Many succulents are identified by their foliage, such as aloe vera, with its distinct pointed leaves.
• Other common types are jade plants, which have thick stems and green or variegated oval-shaped leaves. Echeveria, which has flattened rosettes of fleshy leaves. Crassula, which also has rosette foliage but are more elongated. Kalanchoe, with its scalloped fan-like leaves.

Once you've identified what type of succulent you have, it will be easier to care for it's needs. This way you'll be better equipped to deal with a plant that has gotten too tall.

Step 2: Understand the growth pattern of your succulent

When it comes to understanding the growth pattern of your succulent, it is important to know what type of species you have.

• Different types of succulents grow differently and may require different methods of care. Some common types such as aloe vera, jade plants and echeveria grow in a rosette pattern meaning they produce leaves in a circular shape.

• Other types such as crassula and kalanchoe typically have more elongated leaves that may look like fans or scallop-edged foliage.

• It's also important to note what kind of environment your succulent needs in order to thrive. Knowing what environment you are providing for your plant can help you determine what kind of growth pattern it is likely to follow.

Understanding what type of succulent you have, what environmental conditions it prefers, and how those conditions affect its growth pattern can be key when your succulents get too tall.

Step 3: Prune or trim back your succulent

When your succulents get too tall, regular pruning or trimming is important to encourage new growth and keep them looking their best. It's recommended to do this every few months if needed.

• Pruning can be done with either sharp scissors or a special plant cutter designed for succulents. When cutting, make sure to cut cleanly just above a node on the stem as this is where new growth will occur.
• Make sure not to leave any stubs as these can cause disease. Cut back only what is necessary, as over-pruning can cause more harm than good by reducing the photosynthesis area of the plant and potentially stunting growth.
• It's also important to avoid cutting the central stem if possible as this will reduce nutrient flow from the base of the plant up towards its tips.
• Finally, it's beneficial to dip your scissors in rubbing alcohol before pruning in order to sterilize them and prevent transfer of any fungi or bacteria which could harm your succulent plants. 

Step 4: Move your succulent to a larger pot if necessary

When the succulent has grown too tall, it may be necessary to move the plant to a larger pot. This is important because if the root system is not large enough for the amount of foliage, it can cause stress and eventual decline in health.

It's best to choose a pot that is slightly wider than what you currently have, as this will allow room for future growth. Make sure that your new pot has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom as well as an appropriate soil mix that drains well.

Once you have chosen a new pot, gently remove the succulent from its original container and place it into the new one. Make sure to lightly water around the base of the succulent before repotting in order to make it easier for roots to break free from their old environment.

After repotting, let your succulent settle in for about a week before watering again and making any additional pruning or trimming. 

Step 5: Provide support for tall stems with stakes or trellises

When your succulents get too tall, it may be necessary to provide support for their stems with stakes or trellises. This can help provide stability and prevent the plant from becoming top heavy and falling over. When choosing what type of stake or trellis to use, consider what kind of environment your succulent is in and what is best suited for its needs.

For example, if you are growing a succulent indoors, then wooden or plastic stakes can work well as they are lightweight and easy to manage. However, if you are growing outdoors then metal stakes may be a better option as they are more durable and resistant to weathering. When putting in your stakes or trellises, make sure to insert them into the soil around the base of your succulent at least 5 inches deep so that they are stable and will not topple over.

Additionally, wetting the soil before inserting your support can help ensure that it won’t shift when pressure is applied. Additionally, wrapping a soft material such as burlap at the base of the stem can help protect delicate foliage while supporting taller stems.

Step 6: Reduce watering and fertilizing

When succulents get too tall, it is important to reduce the amount of watering and fertilizing they receive. This is because when a plant grows taller it requires more nutrients and water than what was originally needed in order to sustain itself.

Too much fertilizer can cause burn on the tips of leaves, discoloration, growth of algae and fungi on the soil surface, and can also lead to root rot. Furthermore, overwatering can cause root rot which can eventually kill your plants if left unchecked. To prevent these issues from occurring it's best to adjust your watering schedule according to what is necessary for each individual plant's size and needs.

For succulents that have become tall and leggy, you should reduce the frequency of watering by about half what you were doing before and make sure not to water them until the soil has completely dried out between sessions.

Additionally, you should reduce or stop fertilizing altogether as this will encourage new growth within existing stems instead of blindly trying to foster additional ones. For those succulents that may be suffering from lack of nutrition due to reduced fertilization, gently scratch away some of the topsoil with a fork every few months and replace it with fresh compost or cactus mix that contains low levels of nitrogen. Doing so will help provide necessary nutrients without overloading them with fertilizer which could harm their health in the long run.

Step 7: Consider propagating cuttings

When succulents get too tall, it can be difficult to figure out what to do.
You don't want the plant to become top heavy and fall over. Also you don't want to reduce watering or fertilizing too much which could harm its health in the long run.

One option is propagating cuttings from the taller stem and replanting them in a new pot. This will help keep your succulent healthy while allowing you to control its height. Trimming back any excess growth that may occur as a result of propagation. Additionally, this method can help create more plants for you if desired! With careful attention and regular maintenance, you'll have beautiful succulent plants that will last for many years to come!

Conclusion

With following these tips and understanding what type of succulent you have and what kind of environment it needs. You'll be better equipped to deal with a plant that has gotten too tall. With proper pruning techniques, repotting, and regular maintenance, your succulents can stay healthy and looking their best!