How To Grow Echeveria Succulents
Echeveria is a genus of succulents belonging to parts of South America, Central America, and Mexico. Houseplant lovers and gardeners are now interested in echeverias due to low maintenance and easy to care properties. It can tolerate periods of neglect and likes to stay in dry environments, therefore making it an ideal choice as an indoor plant.
Light
Echeverias like plenty of light. Four to five hours of sunlight every day would be great for your plant, but ideally this could be up to six hours. If your echeverias are becoming leggy and elongated, this means they need light. In the summer months, you can also place your plant outdoors to help it thrive better.
Soil
A good drawing of porous soil is suggested to keep the moisture away from your plant's roots. Echeveria responds well to standard cactus soil mixes. Echeveria is an ideal indoor plant, but it also grows well in outside garden beds. Only the soil needs to be well-draining.
Water
Echeverias, similar to most succulent plants, don’t like too much water, but that doesn’t mean they love to stay too dry. The wrinkling of its leaves is a sign that your plant needs water. Underwatering is better than overwatering for your echeveria. Make sure that after watering your plant, the water drains out of the drainage holes completely.
Temperature and Humidity
Echeveria loves to grow in hot and dry conditions. They can't tolerate very cold drafts or temperatures well, and excessive humidity will cause root rot. Average humidity and temperature are fine for your plant.
Fertiliser
Echeveria has low fertilisation requirements as they can survive in nutrient-poor soil, making it susceptible to burn if over-fertilised. It's good to fertilise your plant in the spring and summer seasons occasionally. Liquid fertiliser, cactus fertiliser, or succulent fertiliser will work best.
Potting and Repotting
Before removing your echeveria plants from the container to repot in another one, make sure the soil is dry. If there is any excess soil on your plant, carefully remove it and place echeveria in its new container. Spring is the active growth period of this plant, so it's better to report your plant in this season. Wait for at least a week to water your plant as it will prevent root rot.
Propagating Echeveria
Echeveria can propagate through offsets, leaves, and stem cuttings. It can be easily propagated through its offsets. You can separate the offsets from the main stem and propagate it as a new plant. You can also use its leaves for propagation. Separate the plant's leaf carefully from its main stem. Place the plant's leaf on a tray to let it callus over for some days before you plant it in the soil. Mist the plant's soil and wait for roots to develop. After a month, you will see a small rosette at the leaf's end. The new succulents will soon grow, leaving behind the dead leaf. Stem cutting can also be used to propagate new succulents in spring. Allow the stem cutting to callus over some days, then add it to a pot containing new potting soil. Water it, and you will see new root growth soon.