Painted Lady Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii) Indoor Care, Propagation and Problems

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Botanical name: Echeveria derenbergii
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae

Description

Painted Lady Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii) is an evergreen perennial succulent which bears a dense basal rosette of pagoda-shaped, frosted, bristle-tipped, silvery-green fleshy leaves.

Echeveria derenbergii bears bell-shaped yellow flowers with red tips which look-like they have been painted and hence the common name, 'Painted Lady'.

It is a short plant which grows to a height of about 4-6 in. only and is easy to grow even for a beginner plant parent.

Painted Lady Echeveria 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.

Origin

Echeveria derenbergii is endemic to Mexico and is named after Atanasio Echeverría Godoy, a botanical illustrator.

Toxicity

Painted Lady Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii) like other Echeveria are non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated 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 in. long and each popular species or variety has its own distictive feature.

Some common varieties of Echeveria include Plush Plant (Echeveria harmsii), Echeveria amoena, Echeveria carnicolor, Peacock Echeveria (Echeveria desmetiana) and Painted Lady Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii) among others.

Some Echeveria Plants are low growing as flattened rosettes and others grow as rosette-topped trees.

Where to Buy

If you would like to add Echeveria to your collection, they are readily available online at Etsy.

Buy Echeveria Plants online from Etsy

Echeveria derenbergii Care Indoors

Painted Lady Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii) flourishes in bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Echeveria derenbergii 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 and tidy as well as discourage pest and disease infestations. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.

Light Requirements

Painted Lady Echeveria grows best in bright light with some direct sunlight. It can also grow under grow lights where natural light is not adequate. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Avoid exposing Echeveria derenbergii to too hot sunlight before acclimatizing it as it can get sun scorched.

Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth.

Watering

Water Painted Lady Echeveria thoroughly during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.

Lessen watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.

Avoid wetting the center of the rosette as it can lead to rotting; watering from the bottom is safer.

Use water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the plant as it can result in reduced growth.

Ensure 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 between 16-28⁰C during the growing season is ideal for Painted Lady Echeveria. Protect it from cold draughts to avoid sudden changes in temperature.

Average room humidity is ideal for Painted Lady Echeveria. It has no need for high humidity. Ascertain good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Potting Soil

The best soil for Painted Lady Echeveria 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 for these plants. Buy quality Cactus and Succulents Soil online from Etsy.

Fertilizer

Feed Painted Lady Echeveria every 2 weeks during the growing season with a succulents fertilizer for lush growth. Do not feed during the dormancy stage (cold season) as growth is minimal at this time.

Repotting

Painted Lady Echeveria have a small root system so frequent repotting is not necessary. Repot 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. Check out these succulents pots available on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning Painted Lady Echeveria is easy. Remove dead or diseased leaves as they act as a breeding ground for pests and diseases.

If the Echeveria derenbergii 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

Painted Lady Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii) 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 Painted Lady Echeveria from offsets

Carefully seperate the Painted Lady Echeveria offsets from the mother plant and allow the offsets to dry (callus) for 1-3 days before potting. Select an offset which has several leaves.

Pot each offset in its own pot in moist, free-draining soil and ensure that each pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

Place 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 offsets be well established after which you can begin routine care.

How to propagate Painted Lady Echeveria from leaf cuttings

The leaf cuttings root easily and have no need for a rooting hormone.

Take leaf cuttings from a healthy Painted Lady Echeveria 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 leaf cuttings 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 Painted Lady Echeveria plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.

Echeveria derenbergii Problems

Painted Lady Echeveria (Echeveria derenbergii) 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.

Sudden leaf loss

One cause of sudden leaf loss in Painted Lady Echeveria is watering with very cold water.

Always water the Painted Lady Echeveria with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking this tropical plant.

The second cause of sudden leaf loss in Echeveria derenbergii is underwatering.

Water the plant liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 in. 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

Overwatering during the cold period is the cause of wilted and discolored leaves in Painted Lady Echeveria.

Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.

Also, make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil drains easily to prevent it from getting soggy.

Rotting base and stem collapse

Rotting plant base and stems collapse in Painted Lady Echeveria is an indication of basal stem rot disease which is brought about by overwet conditions.

At this point, the plant is far gone and cannot be saved, therefore, use the upper stem to propagate new plants and discard the infected parts.

Elongated stems

Elongated stems and misshappen in Painted Lady Echeveria is caused by too little light as it grows best in bright light with some direct sunlight.

Where the light is too little it will cause the plant to grow weak, elongated stems in an attempt to reach the light source.

Ensure to place the plant in bright light with some direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.

Brown leaf tips

Brown leaf tips in Painted Lady Echeveria are due to underwatering. Water the plant thoroughly during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings.

Cut down on watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is reduced at this time.

Brown, soft leaf spots

Brown, soft leaf spots in Painted Lady Echeveria are an indication of leaf spot disease which is enhanced by overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

Avoid wetting the center of the rosette and improve air circulation for the plant to discourage disease infestation.

Isolate the affected plant and treat it appropriately for the leaf spot disease.

Diseases

The other common disease in Painted Lady Echeveria is powdery mildew which is prevalent in damp conditions.

Avoid wetting the leaves or water from the bottom instead. Also improve air circulation for the plant.

Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the powdery mildew disease.

Pests

Common pests in Painted Lady Echeveria are Scale Insects, Mealy Bugs and Spider Mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests. Read on how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.