Succulent help needed!

Kara S.
by Kara S.
What is wrong with my succulent? It seems to be happy since it has grown so long and is sprouting off at the base. I'm not sure what the white part in the middle is or how to help it. Any insite?



  13 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 05, 2017

    It is getting leggy which means not enough light.Trim it down and place the cutting directly in succulent soil.Give it time and it should take hold on its own.Also remember succulents store water in the leaf structure so it is very important to take precautions with that as well.

    • See 1 previous
    • Chickchoc Chickchoc on Apr 06, 2017

      Remember not to overwater. These plants are adapted to very dry conditions. Also, you can root the leaves of a Jade plant like this. Just pull the leaves off and let them "harden" the stem end for a day or so. Lay the leaves on the soil and barely cover the cut end. Be patient and within a week or so you might start to see tiny leaves. This method works well with Xmas cactus too.


  • I would do exactly as Janet suggested. It will be fine.

  • Elaine Elaine on Apr 06, 2017

    You need a larger pot. There is not enough soil to maintain this size plant. You can probably bury some of the stem in the soil when you repot. Also make sure the pot has a hole so that excess water can come out. Otherwise the soil will remain wet and the plant will rot.

  • Mary Ann Clayton Mary Ann Clayton on Apr 06, 2017

    I'm not positive from the picture, but the white spot on the leaf looks like a mealybug. Jade plants can get them. A qtip dipped in alcohol will remove them if only a few.

  • Barbara Barbara on Apr 06, 2017

    Jars make poor growing conditions for plants; it needs drainage, and it needs to have new growth pinched off so it can grow into a bush shape. Each place new growth is pinched off, it will grow two stems instead of just 1. Ask a good gardener or plant nursery attendant show you how. I would cut off that woody section and root the remaining stem by cutting it into several sections, laying each on a bed of slightly damp soil. Jades need to callous over on their cut ends, but will eventually send out a root, and can then be planted. Don't overwater a jade. Give it at least a half-day of sun.

  • Kim Kim on Apr 06, 2017

    where the white is on the plant i would cut the plant in half and root it again

    the taller it gets the weaker that place will become it needs to get bushy instead

    of leggy and spindly

  • JUDIE JUDIE on Apr 06, 2017

    USE REGULAR FLOWER POTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DRAINAGE HOLES. PUT A HAND FULL OF SMALL PEA GRAVEL IN THE BOTTOM AND THEN FILL WITH POTTING SOIL. BREAK OFF THE LEAVES AT THE STEM AND JUST PUT THEN IN THE POTS. DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE POT WILL DETERMINE HOW MANY TO PUT IN. WATER OCCASIONALLY AND THEY WILL TAKE ROOT AND THEN YOU CAN PUT THEM IN LARGER POTS AND HAVE A LOT OF PLANTS. DONE THIS MANY TIMES AND HAVE HAD TO GIVE A LOT AWAY BECAUSE I HAD SO MANY. GOOD LUCK!

  • Brenda Brenda on Apr 06, 2017

    Larger pot, less water, and pinch it back

  • Elaine Elaine on Apr 06, 2017

    There is nothing actually "wrong" with your plant; it's fine. It is simply growing and is, therefore, getting "leggy". The stem can easily be cut down to a less leggy appearance and repotted. All of the other readers' advice here is good. Give it plenty of light and don't overwater.

  • Don22068818 Don22068818 on Apr 06, 2017

    Janet is right, not enough light when it elongates.

  • Cat Cat on Apr 07, 2017

    terra cotta planter, with sandy soil.

  • Brenda Brenda on Apr 07, 2017

    Pinch about half of then it will grow other chutes from the bottom and be fuller

  • Janie Janie on Aug 08, 2020

    It's grown long because of lack of light. First of all, if you're a beginner, avoid growing succulents in glass. If you still want to do so, make sure the soil level is not too low - the leaves should be outside the glass, not inside. And be a little stingy with watering as there's no way for the water to run out from the glass.