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Hi there, I rescued some echeveria from a wedding and they’re not doing too well.

When I got them (there are three) they were sitting in milk jars of water with long stems and no visible roots.

There is a rosette on top with spaced out leaves going down the stem.

I know little about succulents. I planted three of them in a large pot in a succulent potting mix and kept them in doors but in the light of a window.

I live in Los Angeles and the weather became hot a few weeks back and because they were reaching for the sun, I thought maybe I should put them outside.

I put them in a spot that would receive some sun to slowly acclimate them but one of my neighbors moved the pot into direct sun and before I realized it, the leaves were scorched and many proceeded to shrivel up and fall off.

I brought the plant back in doors. It seems to be doing better but it lost many leaves and still has quite a few burnt ones.

It is curving towards the sun still.

I was trying to trouble shoot and read that you said if the leaves burn it is best to behead the plant. I am not sure how to do this (or indeed if it is the best thing!).

Also when some of the leaves fall off, roots (?) emerge from the nodes.. and I am unsure about how often to water. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi Allyssa, you are on the right track! If it had not been for the helpful neighbor, your plant would be doing well; but yes, do behead it.

Once the stems get that long, you can re-make it by cutting off the tops, and they will form roots quickly to make a lovely new plant (or three).

The stems will root wherever they are showing the roots – yes, those are aerial roots, and that is a normal thing that happens when the plant gets too long, and falls over.

For watering, water as often as you need whenever the soil is DRY – do not overwater, these are not like other house plants. Keep going, you almost have it – be brave, you cannot possibly do any more harm to the plant, and it just might save it!

For more, see the Succulent Plant Propagation E-Book:


Learn how to root your own succulents: