Jeff is right, but I wanted to expand a bit on his answer. When Echies get too leggy it is good to behead them and re-root the rosette. In your case something has gone wrong in the roots, or the stem, resulting in all of those air roots that have formed because water and nutrients no longer pass through the stem because of fungal infection (the black areas on the stem). It is necessary to cut the stem above the infection, or the cutting will fail. Normally I would just say to cut below on those air roots, and you're good to grow, but in this case you need to be certain to cut above the level of the rot. I cut about two-inches or less below a rosette because roots will form faster on short stems, and because that leaves more beheaded stem that can be set aside in it's pot to wait for new rosettes (branches) to form. However, in your case, what remains can simply be composted. It will not grow because it's already dead. Make your first cut just below the mass of air roots, and keep cutting towards the rosette until the cross-section is clear, free of any dark colored infected tissue. Keep cutting in small increments until there is no more infection visible in the stem. Then set the rosette down somewhere in the shade (upside down is fine) for 3-5 days to let the cut callous over. Then place the beheaded rosette on dry soil that is 75% or more inorganic materials like perlite, pumice, gravel, etc. Do not water until you are certain the plant has grown some new roots. This may take a few weeks, so be patient. Normally, the best time to behead Echeverias is in early Spring because the plant is entering a major growing phase and the beheaded stems will produce more branches compared to beheading in the the fall. But in your case, there is no time to lose. You must take action now, or lose the plant. Correct any soil drainage problems you may have with a new, free-draining, soil mix. Brad

Hi Norma, a picture would really be nice, the price tag really stirs up my curriousity. Greg

Oh my...Thank YOU ladies for all the warm Get Well Wishes! I'm doing better...still fighting this 'bug'. Hopefully once the holidays are over, I will concentrate on getting some proper rest and getting rid of it completely. I think we've ALL had our share of - this and that - with colds and such...so I'm just one of the crowd. Anyway... Betty, Again, I want to tell you what a wonderful surpise to receive this ornament, you have no idea. You know you didn't have to 'repay' me for the bowls...I was only too happy for you to have them. That brought 'me' joy, cause I knew you wanted them so much...How could I not! lol Don't you think my new ornament looks great? It's very happy in it's new home..making friends with all the other ornaments!!! lol Thank you again. jane

Sorry, I should have explained better. The inside rows of leaves are mostly white. Only the outside leaves are green, and mostly all green with no white. It is in a white pot, so when I look at it, I mostly see pure white with just a few green leaves. It is a new plant for me, so I am not going to root leaves. I will just let it grow on its own to see what it does. It had a few blooms, but once I removed them, the effect is mostly of pure white. Joanne