Naomi, not sure what kind of pictures you want but I trust this may answer some questions you may have and if not, just ask some more questions. This is Echeveria imbricata, one of a couple I have that is in desperate need of a whack job! It should have been pruned last fall but.... well, no need to go there! The several arms and head are becoming etiolated from insufficient sun and short days of winter here in Michigan. There are the usual accumulation of dead brown leaves which need to be removed. Whether you have a single stem or multiple stems as in this case, the procedure is simple and the same. Use a pruning shear or some cutting device with substance so you make a clean cut without crushing the stem. Leave yourself enough stem on the cutting to plant after you have allowed it to callous in a shaded area. Remove any dead leaves and any that might be yellowing because they don't offer anything to the plant and will have to be removed anyway. I will allow the larger cutting to the right to callous for at least a week while the smaller ones possibly less time; for the most part whether it is 4 days or 8 days, it isn't life threatening! When you are ready to plant, select a mix that works for you in your area and growing conditions. DO NOT place it in sun afer planting; light shade or filtered light works until new growth begins. DO NOT SOAK the mix after planting. A bit of moisture is OK but most people wait until there is new growth. Echeveria can wimp out, if kept too dry. As I said, these are general thoughts and should work for most, not all, succulents. Another example is this Euphorbia decaryii v decaryii that I cut yesterday. I will allow it to callous for a week to 10 days before planting and I will have 3 new plants that should send out new rhizomes later this summer.

I wish I had a larger collection to share! I'm so jealous of everyone else's. As it is I'll just keep sharing more pictures of the same plants haha. This echeveria seems to be having the most issues. I'm not sure what's nibbling it or how to find out--and I didn't spot it while taking the picture, but is that green spot an aphid? Some time after taking pictures I did mist the plants to wash the leaves a little bit, and I just checked and it isn't there so it must have been knocked off. You can see another shriveled leaf under the two in the front. Anyone know anything I can do about this?

Thanks for all your interest on Mrs Laui guys, but I'm sad to say she's a goner. I don't think I have any intention any time soon to acquire anymore of these "rarer" more finicky echeverias. I just don't have the time/capacity and environment to provide the sufficient care and attention these delicate plants need. I snapped some photos of the devastating final moments, perhaps this can become a learning reminder. Aztc - I've read that their natural habitat, they grow on very high altitude environment, ie side cliffs on hills/mountains of Oaxaca in Meixco City with general dry arid weather and low humidity. The plant mostly extract water from morning dew and or night condensation, very rarely from rainfall. I genuinely believe my sudden treatment to abruptly reduce watering and stale air, with constant intense light cause the demise of the plant. Marguerite - I've read online that Laui have varying species too. Mrs Lauii generally originate from Mexico; and Mr Laui is a different breed that is identified as "narrow" leaved. http://www.bcss.org.uk/foruma/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=156997&start=0 I guess we'll see when Mr Laui has more mature leaves grown down the line..

flowerlilies It is difficult to find mix like that for sale, there is some places-people that sell something like that but unfortunately I don't know who and where. And I am in Canada...but hopefully someone that knows will post. In the meantime, lets hope that mix you purchased will work - as I said, it is difficult to tell from just a small photo. You can try and contact the seller and ask for the ingredients in that mix, once you know - it would be easier to adjust anything if necessary. Sorry that I can't tell you about exact care for your plant - I don't have any experience with it. But for all succulents, light and good drainage are important. Do you have enough natural light where you plan on keeping it? During winter, I have to supply extra lights for my succulents, otherwise they grow very 'leggy'. What zone/general area are you in? I think your plant needs more light, the leaves seem to be quite far apart. All photos I have seen show more compact rosettes, as most Echeverias are. From what I read, this Echeveria is branching - like a small shrub, and develops woody stems. And if it doesn't have enough light, I would think it gets really 'leggy'. But if so, pruning should help. Best time for taking cuttings is apparently April - July. Beheading is very common with many similar succulents, leaving original stem in the soil, it will grow new buds. Cut off the rosette with a piece of stem, callus and pot. It should root quite easily. Rina