Last updated on October 30th, 2023 at 10:30 pm
Echeveria Blue Atoll (Echeveria Coolvue) is a beautiful succulent plant with deep blue leaves edged in white and pale green foliage that really catches the eye. However, it’s not just beautiful to look at, it’s also easy to care for and doesn’t need much attention to maintain its lush form!
Echeveria Coolvue can be difficult to find at the local nursery or garden center, but it makes an excellent houseplant and is well worth the search. It is also called Echeveria Blue Atoll because of its distinctive blue-green leaves and plump blue-green stems.
Origin and distribution
Echeveria Blue Atoll are succulent plants native to Mexico and South America that belong to the Crassulaceae family of plants. Members of this family have thick, fleshy leaves and stems, which store water in order to survive long periods of drought or extreme heat.
Echeveria plant care includes some specific tips to help you keep your plant healthy and provide it with the best environment possible for thriving. It has long been cultivated in tropical areas of Central and South America and may have naturalized in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Echeveria Blue Atoll was first described by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel (1811-1871), a German botanist who specialized in cacti and succulents. He named it Echeveria coolvue after his friend, Charles Thomas Coolidge (1821-1905), a horticulturist who worked for many years at Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum.
In 1887, American botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954) published a monograph on echeverias in which he reduced some of Miquel’s species to synonyms under Echeveria pulvinata var. roseiflora and added two new varieties: var. tricolor and var. alba.
However, because Bailey did not provide detailed descriptions or illustrations of these varieties, they are considered invalid today. As a result, Echeveria Blue Atoll remains a monotypic species consisting only of the type specimen.
Echeveria Blue Atoll propagation
Echeverias are relatively easy to propagate. They root readily from stem cuttings. However, propagating echeverias isn’t always as simple as just cutting off a piece of it and sticking it in some soil.
In general, there are two ways to propagate an Echeveria Blue Atoll: propagation by leaf-pulling or propagation by division.
When propagating by leaf-pulling, start with a healthy adult plant with at least one flower stalk or one new rosette of leaves. The best time to do propagation is during spring and summer when temperatures are warm and echeverias are actively growing.
Take your echeveria outside to a shady area where it will receive plenty of light but not too much direct sunlight. You can also take it into your home if you want to be able to control temperature and humidity levels more closely.
Using clean gardening shears, cut off one of its leaves near its base. Make sure that there are no flowers on your echeveria before cutting off a leaf—the last thing you want to do is accidentally cut off an entire flower stalk! Place your newly cut leaf on top of some moistened soil. Cover it with plastic wrap and place something heavy on top like a rock or brick.
Keep checking on your echeveria every few days until you see roots forming from underneath its stem. This could take anywhere from two weeks up to three months depending on how quickly your particular species of echeveria roots itself. Once you see roots starting to form, remove the plastic wrap and continue monitoring for another week or two until you see new growth sprouting out from under its stem.
Echeveria Blue Atoll care information
Echeveria Blue Atoll plants are not that difficult to grow and do not require much special care. They need bright sunlight but can withstand shade well. Place your Echeveria in a slightly sandy medium, such as potting soil or cactus mix, and ensure that it stays evenly moist at all times. Water when soil is dry to touch and be sure to empty out any water standing in saucers under your plants so they don’t get waterlogged.
Light requirement
They love full sun or bright light; no direct sunlight. Light is needed to maintain coloration. Echeveria Blue Atoll does not tolerate low-light conditions, which will result in leggy growth and stretched leaves.
Many gardeners prefer to use fluorescent lights for their Echeverias, as these lights provide good light without harming plants. In spring and summer when days are longer, an east- or west-facing window may be used to supplement artificial lighting for healthy growth.
Soil/potting mix
While most succulents do well in well-draining soil, Echeveria Blue Atoll grows best when potted in a soil mixture high in organic material such as peat moss or perlite. While you can use soil to grow echeverias, potting them in pure soil without some sort of additive means they’ll likely dry out quickly. The best potting mix is one that provides excellent drainage while still holding onto enough moisture so your plant doesn’t suffer from a lack of water.
Watering
Water Echeveria blue atoll regularly and never allow it to completely dry out. The soil should be allowed to become completely dry between waterings, however, it’s best to use a pot with drainage holes to prevent over-watering. Over-watering can lead to root rot – a potentially fatal disease that attacks and kills off Echeveria roots.
Fertilizer
Add fertilizer to your potting soil when repotting Echeveria Blue Atoll. If you are using a commercial potting mix, it probably contains enough fertilizer to last for one season. In addition, echeverias will also take up nutrients from fertilizers sprayed on their leaves from time to time. All fertilizers should be diluted before use and should have an N-P-K ratio of about 5-10-5 or 10-10-10.
Apply fertilizer every two weeks during active growth periods in spring and summer, but only once per month during fall and winter. Use a water-soluble fertilizer that is low in nitrogen during late fall through early spring because too much nitrogen at that time can lead to new growth that is susceptible to cold damage. This can cause unsightly brown tips on new growth or even plant death if temperatures drop below freezing.
Temperature
Echeveria Blue Atoll plants can handle a wide range of temperatures, from 45 to 95 degrees. They are tolerant of many lighting conditions and low-light conditions.
If you notice new leaves wilting under direct sunlight, move your plant indoors or turn off its light for a few hours.
Humidity
Echeveria blue atoll thrive in high-humidity environments, so it’s a good idea to mist them with a spray bottle once or twice a week. The key is to not allow their soil to dry out between waterings; an easy way to check for the moisture is by sticking your finger about 1 into your potting mix and feeling dampness.
For best results, wait until nightfall and water after most of your plants have closed up for the day.
The ideal humidity level is between 60 and 80 percent. If your home’s humidity levels are too low, you can purchase a humidifier or a room-humidifying product to help boost your plants’ comfort levels.
Pruning
Since succulents are drought-tolerant, Echeveria Blue Atoll can be easily over-watered. If you notice your Echeveria is shrinking or drooping and generally not looking perky, it could mean that you’re giving it too much water.
In these situations, prune away dead leaves or stems immediately to encourage fresh growth and a bushy plant.
It’s also important to keep in mind that some plants will actually grow better when cut back; for example, if you have an echeveria with long, spindly stems, try cutting them back by half after about six months of growth. You may end up with more compact, fuller plants!
When to repot
Repot your Echeveria Blue Atoll succulents every two years to keep them healthy and strong. If you’re new to growing echeverias, repot them every year for two or three years before allowing longer intervals between repotting.
Be sure to take proper care of echeverias in pots during their active growing seasons: March through June and September through November. It is during these times that they will be producing new leaves and will need extra water, fertilizer, and light.
Dormancy
Echeveria Blue Atoll, like many succulents, requires a dormancy period each year to flower and produce healthy foliage. During dormancy, plants may lose their leaves and need less water than usual. If you live in an area with mild winters, your echeveria can remain outside without any problems.
However, if temperatures fall below freezing for more than a few days at a time during the winter months, bring your plant inside until spring arrives. If you live in an area with cold winters that last longer than two months, it’s best to bring your echeveria inside before winter sets in.
Echeveria Blue Atoll flower & fragrance
Echeveria is a succulent with blue-gray leaves that are striped in dark pink. The color combination of Echeveria Blue Atoll makes it one of the most striking members of its genus.
In addition to its showy foliage, Echeveria ‘Blue Atoll’ bears unique star-shaped flowers that have rosy purple petals with prominent yellow stamens, which appear in summer and fall. Many gardeners grow it just for its flowers.
Growth rate
Echeveria Blue Atoll grows to be about 1 inch in diameter at a rate of 2 inches per year. Keep in mind that if you are planting in a container, they will grow larger than they would if they were planted in soil because their roots will not have access to water beyond what is held by their immediate container.
Toxicity
Despite its beauty, Echeveria coolvue is not without its dangers. Some people have reported that they have experienced contact dermatitis from handling or touching the plant.
This can be caused by a number of different things, including too much sun exposure, an incorrect watering schedule, or being allergic to something in your soil.
USDA hardiness zones
Echeveria blue atoll thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9-11. In zone 9, it can be grown outdoors year-round. In zone 10, it can be grown outdoors from October to April. In zone 11, it can be grown outdoors from March to September.
It is generally recommended that echeverias are kept indoors during the winter months and brought outside for summer display. The key to success with echeverias is a protected location where they will receive bright light without being exposed to full sun all day long.
Pests and diseases
There are a few pests and diseases that can cause trouble for echeverias, including Bacterial or fungal leaf spots, stem rot, and root rot. Because of their rather delicate nature, these plants should be grown in pots with drains and kept in well-drained soil.
The roots will not tolerate soggy soil or waterlogged pots for long periods of time. To help prevent bacterial and fungal infections, use a sterile potting mix when repotting your plant. It’s also important to note that Echeveria coolvue is not drought tolerant, so make sure you keep it evenly moist at all times.
Conclusion
The Echeveria genus is one of over 1000 genera included in Crassulaceae family, a massive plant family that contains an incredible variety of plants, including cacti and other succulents. While it’s possible to propagate
Echeveria Blue Atoll grows from stem cuttings and leaf cuttings, it’s usually better to wait until you have more mature plants with multiple rosettes. This way, you’ll be able to propagate more easily and quickly.
