There should not be any space between the leaves. It all should be one tight rossette. The plant is stretching because it’s trying to reach more light. If it doesn’t bother you, you can leave it, but etiolated growth is weak growth.

You can behead if you want, leaving an inch or so of stem. Let the cutting callus over for a couple days in a cool shady spot. Once a callus has formed you can repot in a fast draining mix like 50% rinsed strained perlite or pumice and 50% cactus mix. Pots should always have a drainage hole:).

In my experience during the summer roots can take a week or two to pop out. If it takes longer that’s completely fine:). No water or direct sun till roots form. Once roots form you can water and start slowly acclimating to stronger light.

Lastly, Echeveria and most other succulents need good sun/light to grow compact. If your Echeveria recieves the same amount of light as before it’ll become etiolated again. Goodluck;).

You may also keep the bottom of the Echeveria after you behead because that can give you little baby echies. Just treat like a regular Echeveria.

Here are a couple of good beheading posts to check out.

[Behead1[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/beheading-plants-dsvw-vd~4611851?n=119)

[Behead2[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/beheading-plants-2-dsvw-vd~5420311?n=51)

Thanks for your input, Kara! Any advice on how much light on average an echevaria will need? I've tried it in 2 different windows, one that gets afternoon sun, and one that gets morning sun, though both are bright throughout the day. It seems happiest with the morning sun. I think the etiolation might have happened because of having it in that other window first. Maybe I'll try beheading it and see what happens.

Growing Echeveria inside can be a huge struggle when it comes to getting enough light. No matter how much light is coming through that window, there’s none coming from the other side. Unless you can put outside, you may always have a little etiolation. Depending on how deep you want to get into the hobby;), you could get a little grow light. But if this is your only succulent I can see why you wouldn’t;). Spinning the Echeveria around may help. At least keep it from leaning one way.

I would say your strongest window is best. Make sure it’s acclimated to that window because for example let’s say you’ve had it in a north facing window and then move it to a south facing window, your little echie could burn.

Is there any way you could put it outside?