etiolation on Aeonium
Quick answer
If your Aeonium has etiolation, the most likely cause is: Aeonium 'Zwartkop' rosettes elongate and turn green instead of holding their deep burgundy color when light is too low, producing open, straggly rosettes as the plant reaches for sun it cannot find indoors, with light deficiency causing leaves to elongate and the centers to lose their dark pigment.
Start here:
- 1. Situate the plant in maximum light all year, including the sunniest south-facing window in winter, and supplement with a fluorescent grow light on a timer if natural light drops below what the rosette needs to hold its compact form.
- 2. Rotate the pot 180 degrees once a week so growth remains even, and move the plant outdoors in summer for direct sun to restore the dark, compact rosette form before leggy stems set permanently.
Why Aeonium gets etiolation
Aeonium
Aeonium 'Zwartkop' rosettes elongate and turn green instead of holding their deep burgundy color when light is too low, producing open, straggly rosettes as the plant reaches for sun it cannot find indoors, with light deficiency causing leaves to elongate and the centers to lose their dark pigment.
How to reverse etiolation on Aeonium
- 1
Situate the plant in maximum light all year, including the sunniest south-facing window in winter, and supplement with a fluorescent grow light on a timer if natural light drops below what the rosette needs to hold its compact form.
- 2
Rotate the pot 180 degrees once a week so growth remains even, and move the plant outdoors in summer for direct sun to restore the dark, compact rosette form before leggy stems set permanently.
Keep etiolation off this Aeonium
Choose a spot with the strongest available indoor light year-round for Aeonium 'Zwartkop' or grow it outdoors in full sun where direct rays prevent elongation from the start.