Echeveria pulvinata help?? (Cactus/succulent type!)
 

Hey there!

Has anyone got any experience/knowledge about caring for E. pulvinata? I have one growing in my window, but have no idea what to do with it. You see, it's grown an extra branch, which was lovely and exciting at first, but now it has managed to grow to such a sideways length that we're fearing for the plant's life.

I'll try to attach a photo.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks so much for reading!

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...ps26ye7ivh.jpg


Update!!! ...only maybe an hour after original...
Out of sheer panic (and the contribution of some effort to stall studying for finals just a few minutes longer), I gave in and went ahead and "repotted" the plant.
(I was afraid it was going to break, as it has leaned considerably more aggressively in the past day or two.)
I didn't disturb the root ball at all. I basically just pulled it out of the original pot, stuck in some extra media underneath at an angle, and reinserted plant and rootball back into original pot (as I read they like to be tight-fitted?) at a new angle. I've put the whole thing into a larger pot around it just to try and give some extra weight balance (it's still rather precarious-looking!).

I don't know if this was the right thing to do... :/

Please advise if you know anything about these!

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...sjger23xc.jpeg

Get back to studying!

You didn't need to repot it. It's so easy to grow, it doesn't matter how it's oriented. Just give it as much sun as you can and let it get dry between waterings. The fact that the leaves are growing smaller and smaller means it isn't getting enough light, but then again you live in Scotland and it's winter.

Echeverias are mostly cloud forest plants that grow in near-full sunshine (through the fog and clouds.) This one should do fine outside for you during warmer weather in as much sun as you can manage, then bring it in when frost threatens.

I second all that... but yes it not only are the leaves small because of low light, it also shows in those long branches... in full sun it grow far more compact, so definitely try to get it even more light. however if you don't I'm sure it'll make to summer... and don't be afraid if it breakts, these things just keep sprouting new growth as long as it's keep on dry side (rot is the enemy) and as much light as possible... just as a stem with no roots, or even leaflets will sprout.

That is a lovely plant. I would not have repotted the entire plant, but instead, would have chopped off the overgrown stem, let it callus and then repot those cut off parts. That is what I usually do with any of my echeverias. It will slow down a bit as it adjusts, but it will rebound nicely again.

As suggested already, when conditions go warmer on your side, bring it out to enjoy more sunshine, it loves sunshine.:)

I would add more pumice or perlite to that media too to keep it very well draining and open.

Thank you!
 

So sorry for the delay in response--refused to allow myself online until exam season was over and done with!

Thanks so much for all of the advice and reassurance--greatly appreciated! I'll tweak the potting medium soon, as suggested, and won't panic next time it looks like it's about to snap!

Unfortunately, I live in a flat that has no outside area, but the window it's sitting in now gets a whole heap of beautiful sunshine when the sun is actually out. (Long days of Scottish summer doesn't necessarily mean it's bright often...) If I can safely, I'll open the window to let as much direct light in as possible. (This is, unfortunately, the best window in the house!)

Thanks again!

Hope you aced your exams.