How to Grow and Care for Echeveria amoena Indoors
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Echeveria amoena require bright light with some direct sunlight, moderate warmth, average humidity and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, succulents 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 which 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.
Toxicity
Echeveria amoena like other Echeveria are non-toxic to humans and pets as outlined by ASPCA. They are safe to grow indoors.
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 include 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).
Echeveria amoena Care Indoors
Echeveria amoena flourishes in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, moderate warmth of 16-280C, average 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
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.
Echeveria amoena will also thrive under grow lights where the natural lighting is not sufficient. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth.
Watering
Water Echeveria amoena thoroughly during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Use water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the plant as it can result in reduced growth.
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 to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.
Temperature and Humidity
Average warmth of 16-280C during the growing season is ideal for Echeveria amoena. Keep it away from cold drafts to avoid sudden changes in temperature inorder to maintain a constantly warm temperature.
Moderate humidity of 50-55% is ideal for Echeveria amoena. It has no need for extra humidity. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Echeveria amoena every 2 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer but do not feed during the dormancy stage (cold season) as growth is minimal at this time.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Echeveria amoena should be rich in organic matter, loose and free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. Cactus and Succulents soil is ideal as it drains easily and does 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 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. Take a look at these succulents pots available on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Echeveria amoena is easy. Remove 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.
Propagation
Echeveria amoena can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from offsets (pups) which form at the base of the plant or from leaf cuttings.
How to propagate Echeveria amoena from offsets
Carefully seperate the Echeveria amoena offsets from the mother plant and allow the offsets to dry for 1-3 days before potting. Use only an offset which has several leaves.
Pot each offset in its individual pot in moist free-draining soil.
Water the offsets sparingly, only when the soil is dry and avoid soggy soil as it can lead to rotting.
How to propagate Echeveria amoena from leaf cuttings
The leaf cuttings root easily and have no need for a rooting hormone. Take leaf cuttings from a healthy Echeveria amoena 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 Echeveria amoena plants are well established after which routine care can begin.
Echeveria amoena Problems
Echeveria amoena problems include leaf loss, wilting, leggy growth, rotting, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Pests
Common pests in Echeveria amoena are Mealy Bugs, Scale Insects and Spider Mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as recommended by the manufacturer.
Brown, soft leaf spots
Brown, soft leaf spots in Echeveria amoena are an indication of leaf spot disease which is enhanced by overwet conditions and poor air circulation. Avoid wetting the center of the rosette and improve ventilation to ensure good air circulation for the plant. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it for the disease.
Diseases
Echeveria amoena is also prone to powdery mildew which is prevalent in stuffy, damp conditions. Take care not to wet the leaves or water from the bottom instead. Also improve air circulation to discourage disease infestations. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it for the disease.
Rot at the base followed by stem collapse
Rotting plant base and stems collapse in Echeveria amoena is an indication of basal stem rot disease which is brought about by overwet conditions. 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.
Elongated stems and misshappen
Elongated stems and misshappen in Echeveria amoena is caused by too little light. 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. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Brown leaf tips
Brown leaf tips in Echeveria amoena are due to underwatering. Water the plant thoroughly during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist. Cut down on watering in the cold period to maintain the soil barely moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Sudden leaf loss
Sudden leaf loss in Echeveria amoena may be caused by watering with very cold water. Very cold water will shock the plant causing sudden leaf loss. Only water the plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking this tropical plant.
Another cause of sudden leaf loss in Echeveria amoena is underwatering. Water the plant liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Decrease watering in the cold period to keep the soil slightly moist but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
Wilted and discolored leaves
Wilted and discolored leaves in Echeveria amoena is due to overwatering during the cold period resulting in too much water in the soil. Lessen watering in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil drains easily to prevent it from getting soggy.
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