--- title: "So I have a pachyveria succulent that is underneath a grow light that…" description: "So I have a pachyveria succulent that is underneath a grow light that is on for 18 hours and it is still stretching as if if it’s not getting enough light. I…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/TkLVO2jTRIulStBTW0yyOw" community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle" author: "Angelfire" published: "2024-09-11T20:45:14.179727Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/theCactusAndSucculentCircle.jpg" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Cactus \& Succulent Circle](https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w.md) # So I have a pachyveria succulent that is underneath a grow light that… _Posted by Angelfire on 2024-09-11_ So I have a pachyveria succulent that is underneath a grow light that is on for 18 hours and it is still stretching as if if it’s not getting enough light. I know I need to cut it and propagate to deal with current stretching but any tips for preventing it from stretching again? ## 12 comments ### Angelfire commented on 2024-09-11 Most recent photo of the elongation ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/US4OCKu0t_-W2Za8BtUuQA5VHtGntB4IgcCln3vuwnI/tEJ57jNbSfuEDfQSrGcWWQ.webp?size=large) ### Kades commented on 2024-09-11 What’s the wattage/output of your grow light? If you know #### Angelfire replied on 2024-09-11 10 watts #### Angelfire replied on 2024-09-11 It’s this one from Walmart. As far as I am aware it is set as bright as it can be and the longest setting besides me just turning it on and off myself or leaving it on all the time is 18 hours. All my other plants seem to be doing fine with it. Even some plants that I’ve previously killed due to overwatering. I just don’t have a good window for a succulent so was hoping a grow light would work. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/US4OCKu0t_-W2Za8BtUuQA5VHtGntB4IgcCln3vuwnI/TreqKFwPRVGXXoE9GyDWOw.webp?size=large) #### Rosie replied on 2024-09-17 The wattage doesn’t actually dictate the effectiveness of a grow bulb, since that just indicates how much energy is used per hour. It’s the lumens per hour that dictates if it is affective as well as the type of light - succulents need full spectrum cold light (6500 kelvins) offering 2000 lumens an hour so a blurple light is useless as it won’t be able to absorb any light from it ### Kades commented on 2024-09-11 I would try to get another grow light if you can. One that can be directed like within a foot over the pachy. I also live in a super dark house and for my succulents I have to stack lights. #### Angelfire replied on 2024-09-11 Ok. Thank you. #### Kades replied on 2024-09-11 I also forgot to mention that most succulents thrive in the 10k-30k lux range. There’s a few apps that can help measure the output you’re getting ### Cherrybergher commented on 2024-09-12 Get a light meter to measure your light quality. My grow lights put out at least 1000 foot candles, that is usually enough to keep the etiolating to a minimum. ### DanishGramma commented on 2024-09-12 Go to Sansi dot com 😁 ### Heather B commented on 2024-09-14 Over time, I’ve learned that most echeveria or veria hybrids need a ton of light. I have mine now under 2 24w barrina and that seems to be doing the trick to stop the stretching. ### Rosie commented on 2024-09-17 You have the wrong light. They need full spectrum, 6500 kelvins, 2000 lumens, PPFD 75-200. Buying the wrong grow light means no matter how long it’s on it will fail - it also needs 8 hours of darkness so 18 is too much. With a light meeting the requirements above 8 hours is all that will be required --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_