Greetings, plant enthusiasts. We are the Echeveria, a diverse genus of rosette-forming succulents. To see us thrive, you must understand our fundamental needs, which are rooted in our native high-altitude, arid habitats. While cultivars like 'Lola' and 'Perle von Nurnberg' have been selectively bred for their stunning colors and forms, our core requirements remain the same. Here is our guide to optimal care.
We are solar-powered beings. To maintain our compact shape and vibrant stress-colors—the lilacs, pinks, and blues we are prized for—we demand abundant, direct sunlight. A minimum of six hours of direct sun daily is ideal. A south-facing window is often sufficient, but in northern climates, we may become etiolated (stretched and pale), begging for a grow light. We enjoy warmth but are not fond of extreme heat. More critically, we abhor the cold. Temperatures below 7°C (45°F) are dangerous, and frost is fatal. Please bring us indoors before the first chill of autumn.
Our plump, water-filled leaves are our survival mechanism. The most common cause of our demise is overzealous watering. You must follow the "soak and dry" method. Drench the soil completely until water flows from the drainage hole, then allow the potting mix to dry out entirely before even considering watering again. In winter, when we are semi-dormant, you may only need to water us once a month or less. Always water the soil, not our rosette, as sitting water in our crown can lead to a fatal rot.
We require a home with excellent drainage. Standard potting soil suffocates our roots and holds far too much moisture. You must provide us with a specialized succulent or cactus mix. For even better results, amend this mix with additional perlite, pumice, or coarse sand (a 50:50 mix of potting soil and perlite is a good start). The pot itself is equally important; it must have a drainage hole. Terracotta pots are excellent as they are porous and help wick away excess moisture from the soil.
We are not heavy feeders. A diluted, balanced fertilizer formulated for succulents or a low-nitrogen fertilizer applied once in the spring and once in the mid-summer is ample nourishment. Over-fertilizing will cause weak, leggy growth. As for continuing our lineage, we offer you simple ways to propagate. You can gently twist off a healthy, plump leaf, allow the end to callous over for a few days, and then place it on top of soil to grow a new plantlet. Alternatively, you can remove and replant the offsets, or "pups," that many of us produce at our base.
While our needs are universal, some varieties have particular traits. 'Lola' often displays a beautiful, powdery coating called farina. This epicuticular wax protects us from sunburn and moisture loss. Please avoid touching our leaves, as it removes this coating permanently. 'Perle von Nurnberg' is renowned for its spectacular pastel colors, but these only develop under strong light conditions. Without sufficient light, it will revert to a dull green and stretch out, losing its iconic form.
