This Graptoveria succulent is a stunning indoor plant that is hardy and easy to grow. Its flower stem is delicate and will attract butterflies, making it perfect for indoors or on your patio or terrace. Keep reading for more info about Graptoveria Plant care and tips.
About Graptoveria
Graptoveria is a succulent plant that grows in the form of a rosette. It is made up of thick, fleshy leaves which have pointed tips and are often colored purple, red, or pink. By crossing Graptopetalum with Echeveria you can create hybrids that combine the best characteristics of both plants.
The new Graptoveria plant has leaves that are densely packed together on a stem, forming a beautiful rosette similar to that of an echeveria. The compact shape of the rosette makes it an ideal succulent for any garden or container, whether it is indoors or outdoors.
Graptoveria is a group of succulents that have been crossbred from Echeverias and Graptopetalums. You can say that they are the first generation hybrids of these two plants, or in simple words, the children born to these parents are called the Graptoverias.
Graptopetalum is the parent plant of the Graptoverias. It has thick, fleshy leaves and usually grows in clusters.
Graptoverias are not only easy to grow but also easy to propagate, they are low maintenance plants which makes them perfect for beginners, or for those who don’t have time for the intensive care required by other houseplants like orchids.
Growing Graptoveria
Graptoveria plants are drought-tolerant succulents that can be grown in pots or on the ground, and they can tolerate a wide range of conditions. Graptoveria plants grow best in full sun, but they can be grown in partial shade as well. They’re easy to care for, but their roots don’t like to be disturbed once established.
Planting Graptoveria Outdoors:
Step 1
Use potting soil that drains well. Mix it with sand and peat moss to make soil that will remain well-drained throughout the year. Graptoveria plants do not like to sit in wet soil.
Step 2
Choose a location that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. This will give your Graptoveria plant the best chance to thrive.
Step 3
Plant your Graptoveria plant at the same depth as it was growing in its pot. Space is six inches away from other plants if you’re planting multiple Graptoveria plants together, or leave 18 inches between plants for adequate space for growth.
Caring Graptoveria
The Graptoveria plant has special needs that you’ll need to accommodate if you want to make sure it thrives. There are different types of Graptoveria plants, so the exact steps you need to take will vary depending on your specific variety and region. Let’s take a look at how you can plant and care for your Graptoveria plants!
Like most succulents, Graptoveria tends to be fairly slow-growing—but it still needs plenty of sunlight. It will survive in shade, but it won’t grow as well. It also needs plenty of drainages. Since they’re used to desert environments, they don’t do well in soggy soil or with excess water.
Graptoveria doesn’t need much water, you’ll only need to water it about once a week, or even less during the winter months. If the soil dries out completely before your next watering, the leaves will start to shrivel. If the leaves are soft and limp, that means the plant has had too much water. To avoid this, make sure you use soil that drains well and that your pot has a drainage hole at the bottom.
To encourage blooms, the plant needs a dormant period in winter with no fertilizer. When grown indoors, keep the plant near an east or west-facing window or under artificial light. It can also be grown outside in U.S. Department of Agriculture zone 9b or higher where temperatures don’t drop below 25 degrees F (-3 C.).
Propagating Graptoveria
Graptoveria plants are propagated by their leaves, which often fall off the plant. To start to propagate your Graptoveria plant, cut off a stem of the plant and remove the bottom leaves. Leave at least two leaves on the stem.
Next, you will want to prepare your soil to plant your Graptoveria propagation. Mix potting soil and perlite in equal parts and add some sand or pumice to create more drainage. Place a layer of the mixed soil in a small pot. Then, make a hole in the middle of this layer with your finger or a small stick.
Place the Graptoveria propagation into the hole so that at least one leaf is below the surface of the soil. Cover it with another layer of mixed soil and pat it down lightly around the base of your leafy cutting. Water your plant until there’s water coming out of the drainage holes in its pot. The soil should be consistently moist but not soggy or wet.
In about four weeks, small roots will start growing from your cutting. Once these roots have grown, you can transplant them into a larger pot if desired.
Pest and Disease Control
Graptoveria plants are known for their easy care, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to pests and diseases. Here’s how to know if your plant has a problem—and what to do about it.
Pests
The pests most likely to bother your Graptoveria are mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects. If you notice areas of discoloration on the leaves of your plant, or if you notice a cottony layer on the stems or leaf nodes, these can be signs that mealybugs have moved in. Because they hide in crevices and on the undersides of the leaves, they can be hard to detect until they grow into an infestation. If you see them early, wipe them off with an alcohol-dipped rag. But if they’ve become too numerous to manage by hand, use a commercial insecticidal soap.
Spider mite infestations also appear as patches of discoloration on the leaves, and can sometimes cause the foliage to drop prematurely. Spider mites are tiny creatures that love dry conditions—watering your plant more frequently will usually do the trick. But if the mites have already done damage to your plant, you may need to treat it with neem oil.
Diseases
Graptoveria plants are not usually affected by fungal disease. However, if they are over-watered, they can become prone to root rot, which will cause the leaves to fall off. When this occurs, you should report the plant in dry soil and allow it to dry out before watering again.