Echeveria Care Guide: How to Grow Echeveria Plants

The echeveria (Echeveria spp.) is a slow-growing, drought-tolerant succulent that rarely grows larger than one foot in height or diameter. A member of the Crassulaceae family, echeverias are native to Central America, Mexico, and northwestern South America, and they thrive in full sun and desert conditions.

The numerous echeveria varieties are generally blue-gray or gray-green in color. The waxy leaves of echeveria plants can also be green or purple, with some types developing stunning patterns. Most varieties bloom in the summer with clusters of bell-shaped flowers on tall stems.

With approximately 150 types of succulent plants in the Echeveria genus, you can easily find one that fits your taste.

1. 1. Molded wax agave (Echeveria agavoides): The molded wax agave forms a singular, dense rosette of triangular leaves and a terminal spine. The leaves are green but can turn red in full sunlight. Pinkish-red to orange flowers bloom in summer on 12-inch-long cymes.
2. 2. Echeveria 'Afterglow’: Recognizable for its wide lavender leaves with pink edges, the ‘Afterglow’ grows up to 16 inches in diameter. This is a popular plant for succulent gardens, with flowers that range in color from orange to red that form below the lower leaves.
3. 3. Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’: The ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ is known for its fleshy leaves that change from blue-green to red or sometimes purple. The leaves are rounded with sharp points and feature rosettes that span up to eight inches in diameter.
4. 4. Echeveria ‘Black Prince’: The ‘Black Prince’ produces clumps of rosettes with dark, triangular leaves. In the late fall or early winter, the ‘black prince’ blooms dark red flowers on short stalks.
5. 5. Mexican Snowball (Echeveria elegans): The Mexican snowball is known for its compact rosettes made up of blue-green leaves shaped like spoons. When grown in full sunlight, the leaves can take on a pinkish color. From late-winter to mid-summer, its slim pink stems bloom flowers of pink to red coloring with yellow tips.
6. 6. Painted Echeveria (Echeveria nodulosa): This plant features multi-branched stems that form rosettes of dull green leaves with red markings. The stems grow up to eight inches tall, while the slightly concave leaves reach two inches long. The flowers appear in summer and are red with yellow tips.
7. 7. Chenille plant (Echeveria pulvinata): The chenille plant is a shrub that grows up to one foot tall and several feet in diameter. Its rosettes are made up of green leaves with red margins covered in silvery hairs. In late winter to early spring, this plant blooms yellow, bell-shaped flowers.
8. 8. Violet Queen Hen and Chicks (Echeveria 'Violet Queen’): This fast-growing plant forms rosettes that grow up to six inches in diameter and are made up of long, narrow, silver-green leaves. The leaves develop hints of pink when planted in full sunlight.

Echeverias are low-maintenance plants that require little attention after planting.

• Plant echeveria plants in well-draining soil. Most cactus potting soils work well for echeverias, as they allow for proper drainage. You can also add perlite and coarse sand to potting mix to improve drainage.
• Plant echeveria in an unglazed pot. A terra-cotta or unglazed pot with drainage holes will help to absorb excess moisture and keep the roots safe from overwatering.
• Ensure that your plant receives full sun. Like many succulents, echeverias require a large amount of sunlight to properly develop. Place your plant in an area that receives approximately six hours of direct light per day. The shape of your echeveria is a good indicator as to whether or not it is receiving appropriate sunlight, as it will elongate or stretch toward the closest light source if sunlight is inadequate. Consider moving your echeveria outdoors during the warmer summer months.
• Avoid overwatering your echeveria. Echeverias are highly sensitive to overwatering, which can cause root rot and attract mealybugs. When watering, thoroughly soak the soil, then allow it to dry completely before watering again.
• Make sure your plant’s environment is the appropriate temperature. Echeverias thrive in desert-like conditions and are intolerant of cold temperatures. The plants should be grown in a dry space, as too much humidity can lead to root rot and cause them to perish. Generally, the average household temperature (approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit) is appropriate for echeveria plants.
• Repot your echeveria when it has outgrown its home. Most echeveria plants do not require repotting very often. If you notice your plant has outgrown its container, gently remove it and clear away soil from its roots before placing it in a new container with fresh cactus potting mix. Spring is the best time to repot plants in the Echeveria genus, as it is the beginning of their growing season.

Echeveria plants can be propagated by separating new offsets from a mother rosette or with leaf cuttings.

1. 1. Offset: Echeveria plants produce offsets that can easily be removed and grown separately. Gently pull the small rosette away from the mother rosette, and replant it in an unglazed pot. Use cactus potting soil mixed with sand.
2. 2. Cuttings: Gently remove a leaf from a mother rosette by wiggling it side to side until it comes off. Place the leaf in a pot of soil, and put the pot in an area that receives bright indirect light. The new plant’s tissues will be sensitive to too much sunlight, so keep the pot out of direct sunlight for the first couple months. Wait to begin watering the new plant until roots have developed.

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