How to Grow and Care for Echeveria carnicolor Indoors
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Echeveria carnicolor prospers in bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.
Echeveria carnicolor is one of the popular Echeveria varieties bearing a very flat rosette with gray-purple leaves with a whitish margin and the flowers are orange-red.
The leaves in Echeveria carnicolor are pointy, long, and thin; about 4 inches long and 1.2 inches wide. It is a compact plant which grows to a height of 4-5 inches and about 5 inches wide.
One of the most notable feature in Echeveria carnicolor are the dark-green leaves which turn slightly darker when stressed. The plant produces numerous offsets (pups) at the base of the plant which can be used to propagate new plants.
Botanical name: Echeveria carnicolor
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Origin
Echeveria carnicolor is endemic to Veracruz, Mexico.
Echeveria Varieties
Many gorgeous hybrids have been developed and there is a wide selection to choose from. Each popular species or variety has its own distictive feature.Some Echeveria are low-growing plants which grow as flattened rosettes and others grow as rosette-topped trees.
Some common varieties include Echeveria harmsii (Plush Plant ), Echeveria derenbergii (Painted Lady Echeveria), Echeveria desmetiana (Peacock Echeveria), and Echeveria amoena among many others.
Toxicity
Echeveria carnicolor like other Echeveria are non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. They are safe to grow indoors.
Where to Buy
Would you would like to add Echeveria carnicolor to your collection? You may acquire them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Echeveria carnicolor Care Indoors
Echeveria carnicolor blossoms in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, average warmth of 16-280C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.
Echeveria carnicolor only requires repotting when it has become 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 achieve them.
Light Requirements
Echeveria carnicolor grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight to enhance leaf color. Too little light will result in a leggy plant (elongated stems).
It can also grow in full sunlight but do not expose it to hot midday sunshine before acclimating it as it can get sun scorched.
Echeveria carnicolor can also grow under grow lights where natural light is not adequate. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and also prevent lopsided growth.
Watering
Water Echeveria carnicolor 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.
Decrease watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Only water the plant with 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; water from the bottom is safer. Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent it 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 carnicolor. Keep it away from cold drafts to avoid sudden changes in temperature inorder to maintain a constantly warm temperature.
Moderate room humidity of 50-55% is ideal for Echeveria carnicolor. It has no need for extra humidity. Ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal disease infestations.
Fertilizer
Feed Echeveria carnicolor every 2 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer for lush growth. Stop feeding during the dormancy stage (cold season) as growth is reduced at this time.
Potting Medium
The best potting soil for Echeveria carnicolor should be rich in organic matter, loose and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. Cactus and succulents potting mixes are ideal for these plants.
Repotting
Echeveria carnicolor 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 and be careful not to bury the stems to prevent rotting. Take a look at these succulents pots on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Echeveria carnicolor is easy. Remove dead or diseased leaves to keep the plant neat and tidy as as well as discourage pests and diseases.
If plant 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 carnicolor 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 carnicolor from offsets
Carefully seperate the Echeveria carnicolor offsets from the mother plant and allow the offsets to dry (callus) for 1-3 days before potting to avoid rotting.
Select an offset which has several leaves to increase chances of establishment and enhance faster rooting.
Pot each offset in its individual pot in moist, free-draining soil and ensure each pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to avoid rotting.
Position the set up in bright light 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 new plants to be well established after which you can begin routine care.
How to propagate Echeveria carnicolor from leaf cuttings
Take leaf cuttings from a healthy Echeveria carnicolor while ensuring that you are using the complete leaf as leaves whose base is broken may not root. The leaf cuttings root easily and have no need for a rooting hormone.
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 Echeveria carnicolor 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 carnicolor plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.
Echeveria carnicolor Problems
Echeveria carnicolor 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
The common pests in Echeveria carnicolor are spider mites, scaless and mealy bugs. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as indicated by the manufacturer.
Diseases
Echeveria carnicolor is also prone to powdery mildew which is prevalent in damp conditions. Avoid wetting the rosette of leaves and water from the bottom instead. In addition, improve air circulation to discourage disease infestations.
Brown, soft leaf spots
Brown, soft leaf spots in Echeveria carnicolor are an indication of leaf spot disease. Avoid wetting the center of the rosette of leaves and improve air circulation to discourage disease infestation.
Rotting base, stem collapse
Rotting plant base and stems collapse in Echeveria carnicolor is an indication of basal stem rot disease which is enhanced 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
Elongated stems and misshappen in Echeveria carnicolor is caused by too little light. Move the plant to 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 carnicolor are due to underwatering. Water the plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to maintain the soil moderately moist. Lessen watering in the cold period to maintain the soil slightly 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 carnicolor is due to two possible causes. One possible cause is watering it with very cold water. Only water the plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking this tropical plant.
The second possible cause of sudden leaf loss in Echeveria carnicolor is underwatering (too little water in the soil). Water the plant thoroughly during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Cut down on watering in the sold period but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
Wilted and discolored leaves
Wilted and discolored leaves in Echeveria carnicolor are due to overwatering (excess water in the soil) during the cold period. Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is reduced at this time therefore, the plant does not require much water. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-drained to prevent it from getting soggy.
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