Echeverias are little jewels: rosette-shaped leaves in many colors and, in spring or summer, delicate flowers. To keep them healthy for a long time and even get them to bloom, they need above all plenty of light, well-draining substrate and sparing watering. Here you will find the most important care tips at a glance.
The right location
Echeverias love it bright and dry. An ideal spot is a bright window, preferably facing south or west. Do not suddenly expose them to too much direct sun, though, because the leaves can burn otherwise. Get the plants used to full sun slowly.
In summer Echeverias may also go outdoors, to a sheltered, sunny spot. Bring them in when it rains, because they cannot tolerate waterlogging at all.
Substrate and pot
Echeverias need a well-draining, mineral soil. Special cactus and succulent soil is ideal. You can also mix it yourself by blending normal potting soil with quartz sand, perlite or lava rock. More on this in our article The Perfect Soil for Your Succulents.
- Pot with a drainage hole, ideally made of clay or ceramic, because they let the substrate dry out better
- The pot should be slightly larger than the root ball, but not too large
- Empty the saucer after watering
Watering and fertilizing
| Topic | How to do it right |
|---|---|
| Watering in summer | Only water once the substrate has dried out – in practice often about every one to two weeks. |
| Watering in winter | Much less often, the plant is resting. More on this in the article Overwintering Succulents. |
| How | Water directly onto the substrate and keep the leaves dry so that no fungal diseases develop. Water until a little water runs out of the drainage hole. |
| Fertilizing | In spring and summer every four to six weeks with cactus or succulent fertilizer. Not at all in winter. |
Repotting and propagating
Echeverias grow rather slowly. You only need to repot them every two to three years: put the plant in a slightly larger pot and fill up with fresh substrate. For propagating, our detailed guide How Do I Propagate an Echeveria? will help you. Offsets, rosettes and leaves can be left to callus and then planted in fresh substrate.
Diseases and pests
Echeverias are robust, but not invulnerable. Regularly watch out for these signs:
- Discoloration or spots on the leaves: Often too much moisture. Water less and keep the leaves dry.
- Wilted or shriveled leaves: Can mean thirst, or with too much water point to diseased roots. Check the substrate first.
- White flakes or cobwebs: Usually mealybugs or spider mites. Isolate affected plants and treat them specifically.
For diseases, repotting into fresh substrate often helps. Also do not over-fertilize, because over-fertilizing makes the plants more susceptible.
Getting Echeverias to bloom
With the right care, Echeverias show their delicate flowers in red, pink or yellow in spring or summer. For this they need above all plenty of light and a cool rest period in winter.
Do not cut off the flower stalks while they are blooming. Let them fade in peace so the plant can recover. Only when the stalk has dried out completely do you remove it at the base.
Conclusion
A bright location, mineral substrate, sparing watering and a cool winter rest: that is usually all Echeverias need to stay healthy and bloom. Enjoy your favorites!
