Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Echeveria Pulvinata is a plant that has beautiful polka dots on its leaves. It can grow up to 12 inches tall and is a perfect addition to any flowerpot or garden. The echeveria pulvinata originates from Mexico but was first discovered in 1882 by Georges Lemaire. It thrives best in environments with high humidity levels – which makes it the perfect plant for indoor plants!
Chenille plants are a type of echeveria, which is a genus in the Crassulaceae family. Echeveria pulvinata gets its name from the fur-like texture of its leaves and stem. It also has bright-colored spots that make it an eye-catching plant for any garden or home!
They are a beautiful echeveria that has been described as “the eye-catching polka dot plant”. It can be an excellent addition to any collection of echeverias and will make a wonderful houseplant. In this blog post, we will explore echeveria pulvinata’s unique qualities, as well as provide care instructions for this beautiful plant.
Origin and description
Echeveria pulvinata is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae. It was first described by Adrian Hardy Haworth and it bears the common name polka dot plant, because of its distinctive round leaves with pale to vivid red spots or blotches arranged in patterns that resemble traditional polka dots. An evergreen succulent, it is a stemless or low-growing rosette plant reaching heights of only about four inches.
The origin for this species name comes from the Latin word ‘pulvinus’ which refers to the cushion. This name reflects the fact that certain parts of echeveria are swollen and fleshy when they stored water in them.
Echeveria pulvinata propagation
Echeveria pulvinata are propagated by stem cuttings. They grow slowly to produce new leaves in a few years’ time. Seeds are tiny and difficult to collect when they do not form on flowers like most succulents. Instead, echeverias develop their seed capsules along the stems when humidity is high enough to produce them.
Echeverias are slow-growing. They grow on the ground, not in trees or on rocks as some succulents do. Their growth rate is about one new leaf every few years. The best way to propagate echeverias is via stem cuttings because they can be rooted easily under a microscope and developed into adult plants quickly.
Seed germination is another option, but Echeveria seeds are tiny and difficult to collect or find in the first place since they do not form on flowers like most succulents; instead, echeverias produce their seed capsules along the stem. Only a very small portion of these will have any viable seeds inside them. Echeveria seeds are also very small and slow-growing.
Stem Cuttings
To grow the Chenille Plant from stem cuttings, use a pair of scissors or a sterilized sharp knife. The stem can then be removed from the main plant and leave it for some days to callous before putting it in well-draining soil.
Watering can be done anytime the soil has looked totally dry.
Leaves
To propagate echeveria pulvinata from leaves, a leaf is twisted from the mother plant. Make sure that none of the leaves stays on the stem, or the chance to succeed will be very small.
Leave the for some days to callous, and after that put it on well-draining soil. Watering can then be done when the soil looks completely dry to touch.
Chenille plant care
Echeveria pulvinata, or the chenille plant, is a succulent plant with blue-green leaves and white polka dots. It has an upright habit, but can also be prostrate. In the fall, it will produce pinkish/red flowers on long stems that reach up to three feet tall.
This echeveria prefers bright, filtered light and porous soil with excellent drainage. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Let it drain completely before watering again or keep it on a moisture retainer until springtime, then resume regular watering habits.
Taking care of Echeveria pulvinata succulents is fairly simple. Their requirements are the exact same as any other succulent type.
Echeveria pulvinata, or the Chenille Plant, adds color and height to succulent plans. Some ranges grow taller than others. Its flowers bring in hummingbirds.
Here are some caring suggestions for these captivating plants.
Foliage
On long stems, green leaves succulent grow in little rosettes, that are not bigger than 3 or 4 inches across.
Echeveria pulvinata leaves are covered heavily with white hairs (comparable to Echeveria setosa) which help safeguard them from the extreme rays of the sun.
Ecological tensions such as low or high heat or remarkable quantities of direct sunshine trigger Ruby Blush Echeveria to establish tints of red along the leaf margins.
Where to Plant
“Chenille Plant” is not cold sturdy, this means if you reside in a zone that colder than 20°F (-6.7°C ), it is a good idea to plant this succulent in a container that can be taken indoors anytime. It can succeed in partial to full sun.
The succulent should be planted in an area of your garden that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. So if planting the succulent indoors, place it in near a southern-facing window (if you live in the Northern Hemisphere), that gets a lot of sunlight every day
Light requirements
This plant prefers bright, filtered light and will scorch in direct sunlight.
Similar to most echeveria species and hybrids, ‘Pulvinata’ can tolerate a good deal of shade but needs some sun for the brightest colored leaves.
If grown indoors under artificial lights or outdoors on a sunny patio, provide it with four to six hours of bright light.
It is very important to avoid too much direct sunlight, as this can cause its leaves to burn.
Soil/potting mix
Cactus-potting mix is ideal for an echeveria pot, but any well-draining potting soil or mixture will suffice.
It can handle light pruning to remove dead leaves (just be sure not to cut into the fleshy parts of the plant) and older plants may need root division every few years to ensure optimal growth.
Make sure you allow the soil a couple of weeks to dry out between waterings, as this plant is particularly sensitive to moisture and rot.
If you notice buds dropping from your echeveria pulvinata, do not worry – it simply means that it has reached its flowering stage! Once these seeds have been pollinated and fertilized, the plant will die.
Watering
This plant is particularly sensitive to overwatering, so it’s important that you water sparingly.
Water deeply once or twice a month in the absence of rainfall (depending on your climate) and only during its growing season from spring until fall.
Let the soil dry out well before watering again – if left soggy, the leaves will begin to rot.
In the winter months, water only once every month or two – if you don’t receive any rainfall during this time, mist with a spray bottle and let it drain well before watering again.
If your echeveria pulvinata begins dropping leaves or loses its coloration, then it is likely that you are overwatering it.
Echeveria pulvinata is a succulent that can live for decades if properly cared for, making it an excellent choice as a long-term houseplant!
Fertilizer
Fertilize every couple of months during the spring and summer growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
Be sure to water well before applying any fertilizers – as always, do not allow it to sit in moist soil for extended periods of time!
This is particularly important if you notice buds dropping from your plant – if you fertilize after buds have already dropped, it can cause the plant to rot.
If your echeveria is dropping leaves or losing its coloration, then this likely means that it needs more fertilizer, so be sure to feed them regularly!
Temperature
This plant can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (further if overwintering indoors) but will be happiest when kept at 60-75 degrees.
Do not let it experience prolonged exposure to cold drafts or below 50% humidity, and avoid exposing the leaves immediately after watering with cold water – this could cause them to rot!
Humidity
As with most succulents, echeveria pulvinata prefers dry conditions and will drop leaves if subjected to too much humidity.
This plant can tolerate low levels of humidity but does best when kept in a humid environment – you could place it on a tray filled with pebbles and water or mist the foliage regularly (avoiding the crown of the plant).
Do not mist it right after watering with cold water, as this can cause its leaves to rot! An ideal humidity range is between 30-50%.
Pruning
As previously mentioned, this plant can tolerate light pruning to remove dead leaves – just be sure not to cut into the fleshy parts of the plant.
If you wish to propagate new echeveria pulvinata plants from your old one (or any other succulent), then simply leave it out in direct sunlight for several weeks in a well-draining soil mixture.
Once the leaves have dried out, gently remove them from your plant and place it in a pot with moist soil – new roots will form where the leaf previously was attached!
When to repot
When your echeveria pulvinata is in a pot that seems too small, it may be time to repot.
Take the plant out of its old soil and ensure you have enough room for new soil around the roots – this should allow space for them to spread without getting root-bound.
New succulent plants often come with a small amount of soil still attached to their roots, so if your old pot is dirty, simply rinse it out and allow the plant to dry before planting.
Just like with propagation, you can use this opportunity to trim away dead leaves or stems from your plants in order to shape them up a little bit!
Dormancy
While these plants are not true perennials, they do have a tendency to go into dormancy over the colder months.
This means that your echeveria pulvinata will stop growing in order to preserve energy throughout winter when conditions become too harsh for it outside.
As long as you keep them well-watered during this period, your plant should bounce back and start growing again as soon as conditions improve in spring!
Flowers & Fragrance
While these plants are often grown for their leaves, they also have the potential to flower during summertime.
The flowers of your echeveria pulvinata will typically be blue or white in color and grow from small stems on top of each leaf – this is a great way to propagate new plants!
Just keep them well-watered and indirect sunlight until they have flowered.
Once the flowers of your echeveria pulvinata die down, you can cut them off to keep things neat!
Growth rate
As far as the growth rate goes, these plants are moderate.
If you keep your echeveria pulvinata in a pot that is too small for it to grow into freely, you will likely find out its roots have begun growing through the drainage holes and this can cause them to become root-bound!
This means they may begin to stunt or stop growing, which will only be exacerbated if you continue to keep them in a too-small pot.
As long as your echeveria pulvinata is given the right sized container it should grow at an average rate – just ensure that its roots are not becoming rootbound and unable to spread!
If this seems to be happening, replant your echeveria pulvinata and leave it out in direct sunlight for a few weeks – this should allow any roots that have become trapped to grow freely again.
Once you know what to look out for and how to keep your echeveria pulvinata happy, it should grow at an average rate with minimal maintenance required – perfect!
Toxicity
While these plants are non-toxic, they can still cause issues for pets.
If your pet eats any part of the plant (even just a leaf) you should take it to your veterinarian immediately.
They will likely induce vomiting or give them other treatment depending on the severity of their condition – regardless, this is not something that should be approached lightly!
As an added note, if you are pregnant or suffer from various illnesses, then it would be wise to seek advice before keeping any succulents of this type in your home.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Echeveria pulvinata is hardy in USDA Zone 13 – 15.
Zone 13 and above means that your echeveria pulvinata should be able to tolerate temperatures of down to 20°F (-17.78°C).
This does not mean you cannot grow it outside, but it means you should not attempt to take it outside during winter and leave it exposed – make sure the plants are protected from frost if grown outdoors!
Zone 13 – 15 covers most of the United States, so this plant is great for those who live in a colder climate.
If your echeveria pulvinata does begin to die back, you can bring it inside and keep it in a sunny window to ensure that the cold weather does not kill it.
Pests and diseases
These plants are not prone to disease or pests, but that does not mean they do not need treating when identified!
If you notice any spots on your echeveria pulvinata leaves, then this is likely a sign of mealybug infestation.
Mealybugs look similar to small pieces of cotton wool and can be hard to spot at first.
You can remove these with some rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud, but you must be careful not to damage the plant in doing so!
Mealybugs are more likely when your echeveria pulvinata is kept inside, as humidity levels can become quite high and encourage them to breed.
If you notice the mealybugs becoming more than just a few, it would be best to remove your echeveria pulvinata and give it a good clean before re-potting in fresh compost.
These plants do not suffer from many pests or diseases but if they are correctly cared for, then you should never have an issue!
Pairs Well With
Conclusion
As you can see, your echeveria pulvinata is a low-maintenance plant that requires very little water and only moderate sunlight.
If cared for correctly, then it should grow at an average rate with minimal signs of damage – great news if you are looking to liven up any room or outdoor space!
As long as your echeveria pulvinata is grown in an appropriate-sized container, it should remain healthy and beautiful for years to come.
Any issues that do arise can be dealt with swiftly – all you need are the right tools!
