Echeveria Plants indoor Care, Propagation and Common Problems with Solutions
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Echeveria Plants require bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with regular feeding in the growing season.
Echeveria Plants are easy to grow and propagate succulent plants which form a rosette of short, beautiful, tightly packed leaves on short stems and the flowers are on short stalks (cymes) arising from the compact rosettes of leaves.
The leaves are covered with a white bloom, short hairs or a waxy coating making these plants a sight to behold which place these plants among the best plants for a study table or even perfect gift plants for mother's day.
The succulent leaves store water and allow these plants to survive well in drought conditions which makes Echeveria some of the best plants with low water needs for home growing.
Echeveria species are polycarpic that is to say they may flower and set seed many times over the course of their lifetime.
Echeveria bears numerous offsets (pups) at the base of the plant which give the plant the name hen and chicks although this name may also refer to other genera like Sempervivum.
Botanical name: Echeveria
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Origin
Echeveria is a large genus of flowering plants, native to semi-desert areas of Central America, Mexico and northwestern South America.
Varieties
Many gorgeous hybrids of Echeveria 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, 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), Echeveria amoena and Echeveria carnicolor. Check out these popular Echeveria succulents ideal for indoor growing.
Toxicity
Echeveria Plants are non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. They are among the pet friendly plants ideal for the home, office and other suitable places.
Related Plants
Echeveria are closely related to Sempervivum (Houseleeks) which form mats of tufted, rounded leaves with pointed tips in rosettes and Aeonium (Tree Houseleeks) which bear succulent, glossy, spoon-shaped leaves typically arranged on a basal stem in a dense spreading rosette.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to add Echeveria Plants to your collection, you may acquire these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Echeveria Plants Care Indoors
Echeveria Plants thrive in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, average warmth of 16-280C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.
Echeveria do not not require regular repotting as they have a small root system. Pruning is necessary to keep the plants 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
Echeveria Plants grow best in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. Do not expose Echeveria to too hot direct sunlight before acclimating them as they can get sun scorched.
Too little light will result in a leggy plant. Therefore, where natural light is not sufficient, you may grow Echeveria under a grow light. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and prevent lopsided growth.
Watering
Water Echeveria Plants 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 period to maintain the soil barely moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Take care not to wet the center of the rosette as it can lead to rotting. Water from the bottom instead. Use room temperature water to avoid plant shock and avoid soggy soil as it can lead to rotting.
Temperature and Humidity
Average warmth of 16-280C during the growing season is ideal for Echeveria Plants. Keep the plants away from cold drafts as they can cause reduced growth.
Moderate room humidity of 50-55% is ideal for Echeverias. They have no need for extra humidity. Make sure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Echeveria Plants with a succulents fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season. Withhold feeding in the cold period as growth is reduced.
Potting Medium
The best potting medium for Echeveria Plants should be rich in organic matter, loose and free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil. It should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. Cactus and succulents mixes are ideal as they drain easily. Check out these
Repotting
Echeveria Plants 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 on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Echeveria Plants is easy. Remove dead or diseased leaves to maintain the plant neat and tidy as well as discourage pests and diseases. If the plant becomes 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 be seperated from the stem when about 4-6 leaves have formed and grown in their own pots.
Propagation
Echeveria Plants 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 Plants from offsets
Carefully seperate the offsets from the mother plant by cutting with a sharp sterilized knife or pair of scissors.
Select an offset which has several leaves as it is more likely to root and establish faster.
Allow the offsets to dry (callus) for 1-3 days before potting to prevent rotting.
Pot each offset in its individual pot in moist, free-draining soil and water sparingly, only when the soil is dry.
Avoid waterlogging and ensure that there is adequate drainage to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.
Allow the offset to be well established before transplanting after which routine care can begin.
How to propagate Echeveria Plants from leaf cuttings
The leaf cuttings root easily thus there is no need for a rooting hormone. Allow the leaf cuttings to dry (callus) for 1-3 days.
Lay the leaves on moist soil and do not allow the cut end to touch the soil to prevent rotting.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out by light misting.
Roots from the cut end will grow into the moist soil and soon after, new plants will develop.
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 routine care can begin.
Echeveria Plants Problems
Echeveria Plants 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.
Brown, soft leaf spots
Brown, soft leaf spots in Echeveria Plants 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 for the leaf spot disease.
Rotting base followed by stem collapse
Rotting plant base and stems collapse in Echeveria is an indication of basal stem rot disease which is prevalent in overwet conditions. At this point, the plant is far gone and cannot be saved. Use the upper stem to propagate new plants and discard the infected parts.
Diseases
Another common disease in Echeveria Plants 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 plants and treat it for the powdery mildew disease.
Pests
Common pests in Echeveria Plants are scale insects, mealy bugs and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it for the pests. Read more on how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.
Elongated stems and misshappen
Elongated stems and misshappen in Echeveria Plants are due to 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 light is not adequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Sudden leaf loss
Sudden leaf loss in Echeveria Plants is due to watering with very cold water. Water the plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking this tropical plants.
The other cause of sudden leaf loss in Echeveria Plants is underwatering. Water the plant liberally and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist. Decrease watering in the cold period to maintain the soil slightly moist but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Brown leaf tips
Brown leaf tips in Echeveria Plants are due to underwatering. Water the plants thoroughly during the hot season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Lessen watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Leaves wilted and discolored
Wilted and discolored leaves in Echeveria Plants are due overwatering during the cold period. Cut down on watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. In addition, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-drained to prevent it from getting soggy.
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