How to Grow and Care for Echeveria amoena Indoors
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Echeveria amoena require bright light with some sunlight, moderate warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.
Echeveria amoena is an evergreen, perennial, compact, succulent plant with a stem of about 8 cm long and grows in the form of a compact rosette, with fleshy, full-margin and accumulated apex leaves.
Echeveria amoena's inflorescence is simple, reddish zinc, with several alternate ascending, succulent, green, reddish or pink-orange bracts.
Echeveria amoena is among the popular Echeveria varieties and grows to a height of about 4 inches only and is easy to grow even for a beginner.
Echeveria amoena like other Echeverias rapidly produces a colony of small offsets (pups) at the base of the plant which can be separated from the parent plant for propagation purposes.
Botanical name: Echeveria amoena
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Origin
Echeveria amoena is endemic to semi-arid areas of the Mexican states of Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz and was was described by Edward Morren in 1875.
Is Echeveria amoena poisonous?
No. Echeveria amoena like other Echeveria are non-toxic to humans and pets as outlined by ASPCA. They are safe to grow in a home with children, cats, dogs and other pets.
Echeveria Varieties
Many gorgeous hybrids have been developed and there is a wide selection to choose from. Their leaves are 1-3 inches long and each popular species or variety has its own distictive feature. Some Echeveria Plants are low growing as flattened rosettes and others grow as rosette-topped trees.
Other common varieties of Echeveria are Echeveria harmsii (Plush Plant ), Echeveria derenbergii (Painted Lady Echeveria), Echeveria desmetiana (Peacock Echeveria) and Echeveria carnicolor among others.
Where to Buy
If you would like to add Echeveria amoena to your collection, you may get them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to Care for Echeveria amoena Indoors
To care for Echeveria amoena indoors, provide bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, warmth of 16-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.
Echeveria amoena does not require regular repotting as it has a small root system, therefore, repot it only when root-bound. Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat as well as discourage pests and diseases infestation. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.
Light Requirements
Does Echeveria amoena need sun or shade?
Echeveria amoena grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of morning of late afternon sunlight to enhance the leaf color. Avoid exposing the plant to too hot midday sunlight before acclimating it as it can get sun scorched.
Inadequate light for Echeveria amoena will result in leggy growth, yellowing and leaf drop. Where the natural lighting is not sufficient, you may use full spectrum grow lights to supplement it.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth to prevent lop-sided growth.
Watering
How often should I water Echeveria amoena?
Water your Echeveria amoena thoroughly in spring and summer and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf loss.
Reduce watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.
Use water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the plant as it can result in reduced growth and leaf fall. Ensure that the water is free of chlorine and other chemicals to prevent staining and browning of leaf edges.
Avoid wetting the center of the rosette of leaves as it can lead to rotting; watering from the bottom is safer. Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is fast-draining to prevent waterlogging as it can lead to rotting, yellowing and death of the plant.
Temperature & Humidity
Echeveria amoena thrives in a warmth of 16-280C during the growing season. Keep it away from sources of drafts to avoid stunted growth, yellowing and leaf drop.
Moderate humidity of 50-55% is ideal for Echeveria amoena; it has no need for extra humidity. Ensure good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Echeveria amoena with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks in spring and summer but do not feed in the dormancy stage (fall and winter) as growth is minimal at this time.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Echeveria amoena should be loose, free-draining and rich in organic matter. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. Most Cactus and succulents mixes are ideal as they drain easily and do not hold excess moisture.
Repotting
Echeveria amoena have a small root system so frequent repotting is not necessary. Repot the plant at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), only when it becomes crowded in its current pot.
Use a pot 1 size larger and one that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting. Use a shallow pot for repotting and be careful not to bury the stems to prevent rotting. Check out these succulents pots on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Echeveria amoena involves removal dead or diseased leaves as they act as a breeding ground for pests and diseases.
If the Echeveria amoena is straggly with a nice rosette sitting on top of a long woody stem; cut off the rosette, allow it to dry (callus) in dry potting soil and it will root and grow into a new plant.
The woody stem can also be used for propagation where plantlets will form at the top of the stem. These plantlets can then be seperated from the stem when about 4-6 leaves have formed and grown in their own pots.
Echeveria amoena Propagation
Echeveria amoena is propagated from offsets (pups) which form at the base of the plant or from leaf cuttings. The best time to propagate is at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) when in active growth for faster establishment.
1. Propagating Echeveria amoena from offsets (pups)
- Carefully seperate the offset from the mother plant. Use only an offset which has several leaves.
- Allow the offset to dry (callus) for 1-3 days before potting to prevent rotting.
- Fill a small pot one thirdway with well-draining soil. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging.
- Position offset in the center of the pot and cover the root base with the soil.
- Place the set up in a well-lit spot away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching.
- Water the offsets sparingly, only when the soil is dry and avoid soggy soil as it can lead to rotting.
- Allow the offset to be well established after which you can begin routine care.
2. Propagating Echeveria amoena from leaf cuttings
The leaf cuttings root easily and have no need for a rooting hormone.
- Take leaf cuttings from a healthy plant while ensuring that you are using the complete leaf as leaves whose base is broken may not root.
- Allow the leaf cuttings to dry (callus) for 1-3 days to promote rooting and prevent rotting.
- Lay the leaves on moist soil and do not allow the cut end to touch the soil.
- Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist by light misting.
- Roots should grow into the moist soil and soon after, new plants will develop from the base of the leaf cutting.
- Carefully lift the new plants and pot in individual pots while taking care not to damage the delicate roots.
- Maintain the soil slightly moist until the new plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.
Echeveria amoena Problems & Remedies
Echeveria amoena problems are leaf fall, yellowing leaves, wilting & drooping leaves, leggy growth, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Leaf fall
Why are my Echeveria amoena leaves falling off?
Your Echeveria amoena leaves are falling off due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, cold drafts, insufficient light, or use of cold water.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining soil.
Cold drfats: Keep the plant away from sources of cold drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units among others.
Insufficient light: Position the plant in bright light with 4-6 hours of sunlight or use a grow light if you do not have enough light in your home.
Use of cold water: Only water the plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking this tropical plant.
Yellowing leaves
Why is my Echeveria amoena turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves on Echeveria amoena is caused by too little light, soggy soil, inconsistent watering, drafts, nutrients deficiency or aging.
How to fix it
Too little light: Position the plant in bright light with 4-6 hours of sunlight or use a grow light if you do not have enough light in your home.
Soggy soil: Use well-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Drafts: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, AC units, hot surfaces, windy doors among others.
Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks in spring and summer.
Aging: This is a natural process. As the plant matures the lower leaves turn yellow and drop off.
Wilting & drooping leaves
Wilting and drooping leaves on Echeveria amoena are due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress or salts buildup.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out and never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil drains easily.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, hot surfaces, windy doors among others.
Salts buildup: Regularly flush out excess salts by running water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage hole. Let it run for 5-10 minutes to get rid of as much salts as possible.
Leggy growth
Leggy growth (elongated stems and misshappen) on Echeveria amoena is caused by too little light.
How to fix it
Position the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate.
Brown leaf tips
Brown leaf tips on Echeveria amoena are due to underwatering.
How to fix it
Water the plant when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Pests
Common pests on Echeveria amoena are mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites which are prevalent in extremely dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.
- Treat the plant with a horticultural oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.
- Maintain a good air circulation to discourage the pests infestations.
Diseases
Echeveria amoena is prone to the following diseases:
1. Powdery mildew which is prevalent in stuffy, damp conditions.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.
- Spray the plant with neem oil as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Take care not to wet the leaves or water from the bottom instead.
- Improve air circulation to discourage disease infestations.
2. Leaf spot disease which is enhanced by overwet conditions and poor air circulation. It is characterized by brown, soft leaf spots.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.
- Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Avoid wetting the center of the rosette during watering.
- Improve ventilation to ensure good air circulation for the plant.
3. Basal stem-rot disease which is brought about by overwet conditions. The disease is characterized by a rotting plant base and stems collapse.
How to fix it
- At this point, the plant is too far gone and cannot be saved.
- Use the upper stem to propagate new plants and discard the infected parts.
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