Last updated on September 22nd, 2023 at 05:59 pm
Echeveria care is not difficult, but it is important to have the knowledge before acting. Echeverias are a genus of succulent plants that are popular in the houseplant trade. They are native to Mexico, Central America and South America. They live dormant for much of the year before blooming during rainy seasons from May through October, and their flowers can be purple, pink or white with up to 20 petals.
Echeverias are succulent plants and they need bright light for the majority of the day (up to 12 hours), especially when leaves start growing in spring. They also like warm temperatures all year long – above 50 degrees Fahrenheit during winter months.
In this article, we will talk about echeveria care tips, what to do when echeverias get too much water, how often to fertilize echeveria, and more!
What Are Echeverias?
Echeverias are a genus of flowering plants that is native to Mexico. There are over 100 different species, most of which have been given common names based on their specific traits or appearance. Echeverias come in many shapes and sizes, with colors ranging from light green to dark purple to reds and whites. Some echeveria varieties even change color as they age!
They are popular for their ease of care, and echeveria care is very straightforward. They require a lot of water, but not too much, they will wilt if they get too much moisture at one time (too little can also cause problems). The soil needs to be dry for about an inch before you should water it again; this helps the plant thrive by preventing root rot. Part of echeveria care also includes fertilizing every two weeks in the spring, summer, and fall with a water-soluble fertilizer diluted by half.
Common types of echeveria
The most common type of echeveria is the spider echeveria (aka red edge). It grows into dense clumps of thick fleshy gray-green leaves edged in silver at their bases and decorated with red lines on the surface; it blooms orange flowers from April through October.
- Echeveria ‘Perle Von Nurnberg‘ (aka Jeweled Echeveria) is a hybrid echevaria that originated in Germany. It has thick, fleshy leaves and the flower spikes are lavender with rose-purple bracts.
- Echeveria gibbiflora (aka Mexican Hens and Chicks) is a rosette echevaria. It has turquoise-blue flowers that bloom in the summer to early fall.
- Echeveria ‘Blue Curls’ or E. pallida variegated, has curly blue leaves with pink tips and white margins; it blooms small yellow flowers on short spikes from late spring until frost.
- Echeveria pulidonis grows quickly into large clumps of fleshy green leaves flecked with purple markings, which are edged in silver near their bases. The plant produces fragrant cream colored flowers during the growing season, typically April through August. Because it is native to Mexico, echeveria pulidonis prefers dry conditions.
- Echeveria ‘Royal Robe’ grows into a rosette of gray-green leaves that are edged in silver near their bases and decorated with red details on the surface; it blooms yellow flowers from April until October. This plant enjoys cool temperatures but can survive brief periods up to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or more during the growing season.
- Echeveria verschaffeltii (aka Verschaffelt’s Echeverias) has fleshy green leaves arranged in rosettes topped by clusters of pale pink flowers before they die back completely in winter; this echevaria needs full sun and will keep its showy blooms on long, wiry stems if watered regularly.
- Echeveria eisenii or E. decumbens grows in rosettes of green leaves with reddish-brown tips and edges that turn to silvery pink near their bases; it flowers from late winter until spring and needs a dry environment for best performance. This echevaria is native to Mexico as well but has an easier time growing in humid environments than echiverias pulidonis or verschaffeltii do.
- Echeveria ‘Lola’ or echiveria pachyphylla (aka Lola’s echeverias) has gray-green leaves that turn reddish near their bases and produces yellow flowers in springtime. It can grow outside of its native Mexico, but prefers dry climates and partial shade set at a height of about 12 inches off the ground.
- Echeveria-laui is one of the most common echeveria species found in Southern California. Echeveria laui is a low growing, succulent ground cover that thrives well in poor soil and dry conditions; especially when grown outdoors as it gets plenty of natural sunlight during the day
- Echeveria miranda is also one of the common types of echeveria. It is light green and has a wide, flat rosette shape with pointed leaf tips. echeverias are frost-safe plants that can be grown indoors or outdoors in pots or directly in the ground outside of zone ten
- Echeveria ‘Afterglow’ is a echeveria hybrid, which is very popular as it has an attractive appearance. This echeveria plant likes to be kept in bright indirect light and would do well with some water whenever the soil starts to dry up.
How to propagate and care for Echeverias
There are 2 ways to propagate Echeveria plants. Echeveria plants can be grown from new parts of the plant. For example, you could take a new part of the plant (offsets) and separate it from a mother rosette. You could also take leaf cuttings from an Echeveria plant for propagation.
Offset
Echeveria plants produce offshoots that can easily be detached and grown separately. Gently pull the small rosette away from the mother plant, then replant it in a small pot. Fill the bottom of the container with cactus mix and add topsoil on top to promote better drainage.
Cuttings
Gently remove a leaf from the mother rosette by wiggling it side to side until it comes off. Remove any leaves and flowers you do not plan on replanting, then place the cutting in a pot of soil and put the pot in an area that receives bright indirect light. The new plant will be sensitive to too much sunlight, so keep it out of direct sunlight for the first few months while roots develop. Wait until roots have developed before watering.
Echeveria care
Echeverias are low-maintenance plants. They need little attention after they have been planted.
Echeveria care includes providing them with a well-draining soil. Mix cactus potting soils with perlite and coarse sand to improve drainage.
Plant echeveria in a ceramic or glazed pot with drainage holes. This will help dispense excess water and keep your roots safe from overwatering.
Many succulents, like the Echeveria plant, require large amounts of direct sunshine to properly develop. Place your echeveria in a place that receives six hours of sunlight each day so that it can grow properly. The shape of your echeveria is an indicator as to whether or not it is receiving enough light: if it’s stretched out and reaching for something or its leaves are curving toward a sunnier spot on the ground below, it then there’s probably not enough sun in its current location. Consider moving it to a new spot during warmer months when you’re experiencing more daylight hours and better weather outside.
As part of the echeveria care, you should avoid overwatering them. Overwatering can lead to root rot and attract mealybugs, so you should only keep the soil moist but not wet when watering them.
When it comes to caring for your echeveria, make sure that the plant’s environment is appropriate. Echeverias work best in dry environments and should not be exposed to cold temperatures. The optimal temperature range for these plants (approximately 70 degrees) will generally match with most household temperatures.
When your echeveria has outgrown its pot, it is time to feed and repot it. Echeverias produce new roots in the springtime, so do not be alarmed. Most of these plants require little-to-no maintenance throughout the year.
