Echeveria succulent

Echeverias are one of the largest group of succulents to choose from. Colour, texture, flower colour and size are so varied you could do an entire garden just with Echeverias.

They are tough plants that are forgiving and can handle a bit of absent-mindedness. This is a plant you will only kill with too much love and attention.

Favoured varieties of Echeveria are ‘Dark Prince’ with the deep rich colour, ‘Bumps’ or ‘Rain Drops’ where the leaves have raised area in the middle and are so eye-catching. Echeveria Peacockii with the blue hue in the leaf, is wonderful when planted with other colours in the leaf such as ‘Afterglow’ or ‘Romeo’. The perfectly formed rosettes of Echeveria imbricata, elegance or derenbergii are just so flawless, and their texture in the leaf can be just as appealing as their flower or colour.

The flowers of Echeveria appear on long stakes, with vividly coloured flowers of pinks, reds, yellows or orange. When not in flower, the foliage and textures of the leaves make them worthy plants to grow.  Look around your local nurseries and take a closer look at the Echeveria, plant two or three in a pot together and they will form a potted display that will be the envy of your green-thumbed friends.

Being a succulent, a few basic principles apply, plus one surprising one. Number one is excellent drainage, so use a potting mix specifically designed for their needs. Searles Cacti & Succulent Mix is fantastic for use in pots or the garden. Number two is air circulation; a well-ventilated room or growing area is a must. An area where the air is still, and high humidity will bring on disaster. The surprising fact is they do not always do well in the hot western sun during the height of summer. They can lose a lot of their lustre and can look dull or washed out. Echeveria make spectacular pot plants; the sun does not have to hit the leaves but the brighter the area the better, and the higher the light the more flowers. Never over fertilise. Use one specific to their needs like Searles Robust for Cacti & Succulent. Echeveria often gets its best leaf colour in autumn, and flowers regularly appear in spring and summer, giving you a handsome plant year-round.

During Winter. cut back on the watering, and in the growing time of spring and summer increase the frequency. Watering requirements will vary in different climate zones, but the quickest way to kill them is to overwater them or have them standing in saucers of water.  The majority that perish have usually started with root rot from being too wet, and from there, insects like mealybug and scale can appear and cause damage. Every pest likes to kick a plant when it is down.