Perhaps you’re familiar with the Echeveria plant by its other common names – Mexican Snowball, Ghost Echeveria, or Hens and Chicks. This small succulent has origins in Mexico and Central America. It was aptly named in honor of a botanical artist – Atanasio Echeverria y Godoy.
Characterized by fleshy, rosette-shaped leaves that are mixed with various colors such as gray, pink, and purple, admiration for this low-maintenance plant continues to increase.
After all, what’s not to love? You water it occasionally, it’s easy to propagate, inexpensive to purchase, and has a cute appearance. This is one of the best indoor plants for beginners. No green thumb is required.
Table of Contents
Snapshot
| Botanical name | Echeveria |
| Light | Bright, direct |
| Water | Water thoroughly and sparingly |
| Potting Soil | Well-draining |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Basic Care Tips
Light Requirements
Your echeveria needs light to flourish. Bright, direct light is best for this plant.
Indoors, place your plant where it will get about six hours of bright light each day, such as on a south-facing windowsill.
Echeverias that do not get enough light will eventually become leggy, stretching towards an area of light.
Watering Needs
Your echeveria prefers an occasional, thorough watering. Therefore, give your plant a deep drink – enough to flow out of the container’s drainage holes.
Remember to pour out any water that collects in the drainage tray, so your plant is not sitting in water. And the soil should be fully dry before watering your plant again.
Soil Requirements
When selecting potting soil, opt for one that is well-draining, as this provides the ventilation that enables the plant’s roots to have sufficient room to grow.
Cacti potting soil is a good option for your echeveria.
Temperature
Typical indoor temperatures between 65 °F and 76 °F (18 °C and 25°C) are ideal.
And cold temperatures are a no-no. Keep this plant out of temperatures lower than 40°F (4°C).
Humidity Preference
Your echeveria prefers average humidity levels between 30% and 50%.
So, high humidity areas like the bathroom or kitchen are not ideal spots for this plant.
Fertilizing Needs
This plant remains small and is not fast-growing. That being said, fertilize your echeveria every 1 to 2 months during the growing season (spring and summer). Use either a liquid fertilizer that will need to be diluted or one specifically for cacti/succulents.
Pruning Needs
As previously noted, the echeveria is a small plant that does not grow quickly. So, pruning regularly, is not required except for removing the dead leaves that collect at the bottom of the plant.
Propagating
It’s easy to propagate your echeveria and have more plants!
Take a look at this video demonstrating how to propagate your plant by removing the offsets that have developed around the base of the plant.
You can also propagate from leaf cuttings:
- Carefully remove several mature leaves by either clipping them off with pruning shears or by gently twisting them off with your fingers.
- Put well-draining potting soil in a shallow tray and arrange the leaf cuttings flat on top of the soil.
- Initially dampen the soil, and thereafter water occasionally, keeping the soil moist.
- Within about 4 weeks roots will develop as well as a small rosette at the end of each leaf
- When the rosettes grow a bit more, repot them into separate containers without removing the leaves. As time progresses, each leaf will dry up.
Repotting Needs
Your echeveria will seldom require repotting, particularly if you have a mature plant. As previously noted, the offsets that grow around the base can be easily removed to produce more plants.
In the case of repotting a plant that has not yet reached full maturity, select pots that have more width than depth, to avoid overwatering.
Common Issues
Overwatering
Overwatering tends to happen with plants, particularly with beginner plant owners. Your echeveria doesn’t need to be watered frequently. If you water your plant too much, root rot will develop. Inspect the roots and the stem. If they’re soft, mushy, and discolored, it’s likely that root rot has set in.
So, remember that the soil is to be fully dry between waterings.
Underwatering
Given that frequent watering is not required, you may not be watering your echeveria enough. Your plant’s leaves and the soil are a couple of indications of underwatering. If the leaves look shriveled and the potting soil is dry as dust, you need to water your plant right away.
Pests
Mealybugs can be problematic. Using rubbing alcohol in either a spray bottle or on a cotton swab, is an effective way of getting rid of these pests.
Toxicity
This is a non-toxic plant.
Types of echeveria
There are approximately 150 species of echeveria.
Here are a few of the popular types.
Echeveria agavoides
This echeveria has thin, pointy leaves that are green with a red tinge.
Echeveria ‘Black Prince’
This type of echeveria gets its name from the deep purple color of its leaves.
Echeveria elegans
Also known as Mexican Snowball, this type has leaves tinted with white and gray.
Echeveria ‘Topsy Turvy’
Characterized by green leaves that are twisted and curved.
Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’
Typified by its pinkish-white leaves.
Questions
Why is this plant commonly called Hens and Chicks?
The plant produces offsets otherwise known as “chicks” around the main plant, i.e., the “hen”. These chicks can be removed and transplanted to create new plants. Interestingly enough, there are several other plants that have the nickname Hens and Chicks including sedums
and sempervivums.
What is the average size of a mature echeveria?
Most mature echeverias will be about 6-12 inches tall and wide (15 – 30 cm).
Conclusion
So, if you’re looking for an indoor plant that is easy to take care of and won’t break the bank, the echeveria is a great option. Just be sure to give it plenty of light and water it sparingly – you don’t want to drown your little friend!
Follow the tips on how to take care of your plant so it can live a long and happy life indoors.
Is it time to add an echeveria to your indoor garden collection?