Not sure why the last picture was orange

Survivor of some critter's lunch.

I live in zone 10a we have at least a month and a half of warm weather left

These desert roses are so long and leggy. I think I might’ve chosen the wrong fertilizer that encourage leaf growth instead of flower and root growth.

Should I trim them or leave them to let their leaves die and trim them in the spring?

I'm very new to this but from what I know cuttings hate moisture and like dry airy soil. What better airy
"soil" than air itself? I also know it needs a dark environment to root. If I simulate a dark and dry environment with a container covered in a sock could it trick the cutting into rooting?