Echeveria
Echeveria elegans
Other names: Mexican snowball, white Mexican rose
Echeveria elegans grows tight, silvery blue rosettes that multiply into a low mound. In late winter and spring it sends up slender pink stems with small pink and yellow bell flowers. It is pet-safe and well suited to shallow bowls and sunny sills.
How to grow echeveria
Light
It needs at least six hours of bright light a day, including some direct sun. Indoors, a south-facing window is best. Without enough light the rosette opens up and stretches.
Watering
Soak the soil, then let it dry out completely. Water every 10 to 14 days in spring and summer, and about once a month in winter. Water the soil directly so the rosette stays dry.
Soil and feeding
Use a mix that is at least half grit, pumice or perlite. Shallow terracotta pots suit the fine roots. Feed once in spring with a diluted fertilizer.
Pruning and upkeep
Pull away dead lower leaves, which can shelter mealybugs. If a plant has stretched, cut the rosette off with 1 in (2.5 cm) of stem, let it dry and replant it.
Propagation
Detach offsets and pot them up. Whole leaves twisted cleanly from the stem and laid on dry mix will sprout roots and a new rosette within a few weeks.
Common problems
- Tall, stretched stem with gaps between leaves
- Not enough light. Move to a sunnier spot and behead the rosette to restart it.
- Mushy, see-through leaves
- Too much water. Remove the affected leaves and let the plant dry.
- White cottony patches
- Mealybugs. Dab them with cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol and repeat weekly.
Questions about echeveria
Can echeveria grow indoors?
Yes, on the sunniest windowsill you have or under a grow light. It stays compact only with strong light.
Why are the bottom leaves drying up?
This is normal. The plant reabsorbs its oldest leaves as it grows. Remove them once they are papery.
Plant details
| Botanical name | Echeveria elegans |
|---|---|
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Native range | Semi-desert of Mexico |
| Plant type | Succulents. Evergreen succulent |
| Soil | Very gritty cactus mix |
| Flower color | Pink, yellow |
