Echeveria desmetiana (Echeveria peacockii) Care Indoors, Propagation & Common Problems

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Echeveria Peacockii (Echeveria desmetiana) grows best in bright light with some sunlight, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, well-draining soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Echeveria desmetiana can grow vibrantly indoors, adding a touch of natural elegance to any space. This guide will cover everything you need to know about caring for Echeveria desmetiana indoors, propagation methods, and how to prevent common problems.

Lets look at some facts about this plant. Echeveria desmetiana commonly called Peacock Echeveria or Mexican Peacock Echeveria is one of the popular Echeveria varieties and forms a rosette of short, beautiful, tightly packed leaves on a short stem and the flowers are borne on reddish stalk which arises from the compact rosettes of leaves.

The leaves are covered with a beautiful white to bluish bloom and they have reddish margins making this plant a sight to behold in any space which places this plant among the best plants for a study table or even a perfect gift plant for mother's day.

The succulent leaves store water and allow these plants to survive well in drought conditions which makes Echeveria desmetiana one of the best plants with low water needs for the home space.

Echeveria desmetiana was first described by De Smet. The species had previously been described and illustrated as Echeveria peacockii by T. Moore, with reference to the name Echeveria peacockii that had been used by Croucher.

Echeveria Peacockii like most Echeverias bears numerous offsets (pups) at the base of the plant which can be used to propagate new plants. It easily propagates by means of these pups.

Botanical name: Echeveria desmetiana
Synonym: Echeveria peacockii
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Common names: Peacock Echeveria, Mexican Peacock Echeveria

Origin

Echeveria desmetiana also called Echeveria peacockii is native to central and southwest Mexico where it is found growing on rocky outcroppings at higher altitudes.

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 species or variety has its own distictive feature. Some Echeveria Plants are low growing as flattened rosettes and others grow as rosette-topped trees.

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

Is Echeveria desmetiana toxic to pets?

Echeveria desmetiana like other Echeveria are non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. They are some of the pet safe plants for indoors.

Echeveria desmetiana benefits

• Forms a beautiful rosette: It adds a modern, decorative touch to homes and offices.


• Low maintenance: It requires minimal watering and care.


• Drought-tolerant: Stores water in its leaves, making it resistant to drought.


• Pet-friendly: It is non-toxic to cats and dogs

Where to Buy

If you would like to add these plants to your collection, you may acquire Echeveria Plants from Etsy (Link to Etsy).

How to Care Echeveria desmetiana Indoors

To care for Echeveria desmetiana indoors, give it bright light with 4-6 hours of sunlight, warmth of 16-28⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fast-draining potting soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in spring and summer.

Echeveria Peacockii 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.

Watering

How often should I water Echeveria desmetiana?

Water your Echeveria desmetiana liberally 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 as it can lead to rotting, yellowing and mushy leaves, and leaf drop.

Decrease watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry completely to avoid wilting, yellowing and leaf fall.

Be careful not to wet the center of the rosette as it can lead to rotting or water from the bottom instead.

Only use water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking your plant as it can result in reduced growth and leaf loss.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging as it can lead to rotting and death of the plant.

Light Requirements

Does Echeveria desmetiana need sun or shade?

Echeveria desmetiana thrives in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. You may grow the plant under direct sunlight but do not expose it to the hot sunshine before acclimating it as it can get sun scorched.

If the light is too low, it may result in leggy growth, yellowing and leaf drop. Therefore, move the plant to a brighter location or use grow lights if the natural light in your home is insufficient.

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

Temperature & Humidity

Echeveria desmetiana prefers a warmth of 16-28⁰C during the growing season. Keep it away from drafts to avoid sudden changes in temperatures which can lead to stunted growth, yellowing and leaf fall.

Echeveria Peacockii flourishes in a humidity of 50-55%; it has no need for extra humidity. Ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases. Avoid placing the plant near humidifiers, bathrooms, or kitchens, as excess moisture can cause rotting.

Fertilizer

Feed your Echeveria desmetiana with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks in spring and summer for a lush growth. Withhold feeding during the dormancy stage (fall and winter) as growth is minimal at this time. Avoid over-fertilizing, as excess nutrients can cause leggy growth and yellowing.

Every 1-2 months, leach 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 salt as possible.

Potting Medium

The best potting medium for Echeveria desmetiana is a rich, loose and free-draining soil. It should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. Most Cactus and succulents mixes are perfect for these plants.

Repotting

Echeveria Peacockii have a small root system so frequent repotting is not necessary. Repot 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 than the current one. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil drains easily to prevent waterlogging as it can lead to rotting and loss of the plant.

Select a shallow pot and be careful not to bury the stems to prevent rotting. Check out these succulents pots on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning Peacock Echeveria entails removal of dead or diseased leaves as they act as a breeding ground for pests and diseases.

If the 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.

Echeveria desmetiana Propagation

Echeveria desmetiana (Echeveria Peacockii) 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 for faster establishment.

1. Propagating Echeveria desmetiana from offsets (pups)

1. Carefully seperate the offset from the mother plant. Use only an offset which has several leaves.


2. Allow the offset to dry (callus) for 1-3 days before potting to prevent rotting.


3. Pot the offset in its individual pot in moist, free-draining soil. Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to avoid sogginess of the soil which can lead to rotting.


4. Place the set up in a brightly lit spot away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching.


5. Water the offset sparingly, only when the soil is dry and avoid soggy soil as it can lead to rotting.


6. Allow the new plant to be well established after which you can begin routine care.

2. Propagating Echeveria desmetiana from leaf cuttings

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

1. 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.


2. Allow the leaf cuttings to dry (callus) for 1-3 days to promote rooting and prevent rotting.


3. Lay the leaves on moist soil and do not allow the cut end to touch the soil.


4. Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist by light misting.


5. Roots should grow into the moist soil and soon after, new plants will develop from the base of the leaf cutting.


6. Carefully lift the new plants and pot in individual pots while taking care not to damage the delicate roots.


7. Maintain the soil slightly moist until the new plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.

Echeveria desmetiana Problems & Solutions

Echeveria desmetiana problems are yellow leaves, leaf drop, wilting & drooping leaves, brown leaf tips, diseases and pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Yellow leaves

Why is my Echeveria desmetiana turning yellow?

The main causes of yellow leaves on your Echeveria desmetiana are low light, soggy soil, inconsistent watering, drafts, nutrients deficiency or aging.

How to fix it

Low 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 a fast-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on schedule.

Drafts: Keep the plant away from 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.

Leaf drop

Why are my Echeveria desmetiana leaves falling off?

Your Echeveria desmetiana leaves are falling off due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, cold drafts 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.

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 adequate light in your home.

Cold drfats: Keep the plant away from sources of cold drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units among others.

Use of cold water: Only water the plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid cold shock.

Wilting & drooping leaves

Wilting and drooping leaves on Echeveria desmetiana are caused by 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 most of the salts.

Brown leaf tips

Brown leaf tips on Echeveria desmetiana are due to underwatering or salts buildup.

How to fix it

Underwatering: Water the plant when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out and never allow the soil to dry out completely for a prolonged period.

Salts buildup: Regularly leach out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage hole. Let it run for 5-10 minutes to get rid of most of the salts.

Diseases

Echeveria Peacockii is prone to leaf spot disease, powdery mildew and basal stem-rot disease:

1. 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

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.


2. Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.


3. Avoid wetting the center of the rosette during watering.


4. Improve ventilation to ensure good air circulation for the plant.

2. Powdery mildew which is prevalent in overwet conditions.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.


2. Spray the affected plant with neem oil as recommended by the manufacturer.


3. Take care not to wet the leaves or water from the bottom instead.


4. Maintain good air circulation to discourage the disease infestation.

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

1. At this point, the plant is too far gone and cannot be saved.


2. Use the upper stem to propagate new plants and discard the infected parts.

Pests

Common pests on Echeveria desmetiana are mealybugs, scales and spidermites which are prevalent in dry, stuffy conditions.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.


2. Treat the infested plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as recommended by the manufacturers.


3. Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Maintain a good air flow to discourage the pests infestations.

Conclusion

Echeveria desmetiana is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and visually appealing succulent. Whether displayed in a small pot, succulent arrangement, or terrarium, this plant thrives with minimal effort. By following the proper watering, lighting, and fertilization, you can enjoy a healthy and thriving plant for years.

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