ECHEVERIA PLANTS ARE A HIGHLY POPULAR SUCCULENT.
Echeveria plants are a highly popular succulent due to their easy-to-care-for nature, wide range of sizes, and availability in various colors. They can be used as landscape plants or houseplants, so it’s no wonder they are coveted by succulent lovers worldwide!
ECHEVERIA PLANTS HAVE MANY COMMON NAMES.
Echeveria care is easy. While they are not as drought-tolerant as some other succulents, they do not require much water or maintenance to survive. Echeveria plants have many common names that refer to their growth habit: Mexican snowball, Mexican gem, and hens, and chicks are a few of the most popular ones. These names all refer to the way echeveria grows. They form rosettes that grow clustered, with “chicks” growing around the “hen” in a manner resembling a chicken coop.
ECHEVERIA IS NATIVE TO SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN THE AMERICAS.
Echeveria grows in parts of Central and South America. They are native to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The name is from Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy, a botanical illustrator in the 18th century. An illustration he made of an echeveria plant can be seen on the right.
ALL ECHEVERIA REQUIRE WELL-DRAINING SOIL.
Echeveria prefers gritty, porous soil to help keep its roots from rotting. If the soil doesn’t drain well, they may develop root rot – especially if they’re overwatered. For this reason, it’s best to use a succulent or cacti potting mix or make your mixture of potting soil and sand with added perlite. Another option is to plant echeverias in clay pots with drainage holes in the bottom. You can also improve drainage by filling the bottom of your pots with rocks before adding potting soil. This allows excess water to drain out of the base while keeping your plants off the ground and preventing them from sitting in water which can cause root rot or mildew on their leaves.
SOIL
- Mix equal parts cactus mix and perlite. The cactus mix is the soil medium, and the perlite is to aid drainage.
- If you have or can find some organic material, add a small amount (1/4) of the total volume. This will help retain water. You can use a 1:1:1 ratio of potting soil, perlite, and organic material!
- Be sure your soil is well-drained! Echeveria plants do not like wet feet! Do not use potting soil as it will retain too much moisture, causing rot or root death.
- Using an unglazed pot creates good humidity around the plant; this is good for most succulents but especially important when growing echeveria indoors.
LIGHT
Echeveria needs bright light. Most types tolerate partial sun, but all will do better if provided with some shade, especially during the hottest part of the day. If you can give a few hours of direct sunlight, then all the better. Echeveria that lives in full sun often have thinner leaves than those grown in partial shade; many growers like the look of this and grow these varieties in full sun to achieve this effect. Others balk at the idea and prefer to keep their succulents out of direct sunlight much of the time. The important thing is not to let them get “sunburned.”
Whatever your preference, be sure you don’t place your echeverias directly in front of air conditioners or fans as they hate drafts and chilled air!
WATERING AND FEEDING
Echeveria is considered drought-tolerant succulents, but they will appreciate a little water after the soil has dried out. Water once every two weeks or so, and make sure that you allow the soil to become dry between waterings.
It is important to remember that Echeveria roots are shallow, so don’t let them sit in water! The best way to water them is from the bottom and allow them to soak up however much they need
Feeding with fertilizer is unnecessary as these plants grow quite well with only natural sunlight and air. You may find that your plant needs more food in certain climates and situations. If you choose to feed your echeveria, first make sure it’s healthy! Any unhealthy plant should be treated before being
Plant your echeveria outdoors in late spring after the danger of frost has passed, and bring them indoors in the fall before the first frost. Most echeveria varieties are hardy in USDA zones 10-11. Keep your plant out of drafts during their growing season and away from heat sources such as radiators or heating vents. In winter, indoor temperatures should stay between 55- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 26 degrees Celsius). If you grow echeveria outdoors, protect them from frost by covering them with plastic or sheets when cold weather threatens.
REPOTTING
Repotting is essential to the health of your echeveria. A plant that has “outgrown” its pot will get root-bound and start withering away. Don’t be shy—repot your plant as often as possible!
When to Repot
Generally, repot once every one or two years. It’s best to keep up a schedule: if you repot routinely around the same time every year, your echeveria will become accustomed to this and flourish in response (plants love routine!).
How Do I Repot?
It would be best to prepare for this day with plenty of new pots and potting mediums. If you’re bringing home an echeveria from the store, it’s recommended that you replace the soil immediately upon arrival. Make sure the roots are moist before removing them from their container not to damage them. Then go back into the store for more echeverias!
GROWING ECHEVERIA FROM SEED OR CUTTINGS
It’s not difficult to grow different types of house plants, but those that are considered tricky can be a little more challenging. While it may seem obvious, when growing succulents from seed, it is best to let the roots dry out for at least 48 hours after being sown on top of the soil with a bit of a mix of sand. Then you should mist the ground until it is damp and transfer the seeds into pots that you have moistened and filled with soil. This allows the germination process to go through more naturally.
On propagating cuttings, if you are starting with offsets (a new growth coming off the mother plant) and want them to be healthy enough to stick around in your pot without rotting or dying, then ensure that they have a nice layer of compost over them before putting them in your potting mix and planting them. The compost will allow them to thrive over time and give them light and air above and below their roots. Also, ensure you mist the soil with water until it’s clear, and then put the offset in their new home.
YOU CAN SUCCESSFULLY GROW ECHEVERIA IN YOUR HOME AND GARDEN.
Echeveria is a hardy plant that, like most succulents, has thick fleshy leaves that store water so they can survive drought-like conditions. Most echeverias are native to the semi-desert regions of Mexico, Central America, and South America, so they require rich, well-drained soil and bright light. However, many species will tolerate less direct sunlight than those grown outdoors when grown indoors. They need bright light to maintain their beautiful colors and compact rosette shape, but too much sunlight will cause them to burn.
Echeverias are not particularly fussy about their soil as long as it is well-drained yet still holds some moisture in the summer heat. If you want your plant to thrive for years, then use a fast-draining succulent or cactus mix or make your own by combining equal parts potting soil with sand or perlite (or another gritty additive). In addition, you can improve the drainage of existing soil by mixing in some fine gravel at a ratio of 2:1 (soil: gravel).
Echeverias also need regular watering from spring through fall but allow them to dry out between watering during winter months when growth is slower.