Stretched & Stressed
The Gardener|March 2019

Echeverias are so popular with everyone, but sometimes things go sideways…

Anna Celliers
Stretched & Stressed

You see a fat and full echeveria with glowing leaves sitting in its pot on a nursery shelf and decide then and there to take it home. The plant, which is not actually a houseplant, is then proudly displayed indoors or on a shaded patio for all to admire. It will be happy for quite some time, but will then start changing its behaviour and growing out of shape.

What happens?

The once robust rosette will become smaller and lose its symmetry;

A long and lanky stem will form;

The plant will start growing towards any available light, with long pieces of stem between leaves;

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