echeveria elegans

La echeveria elegans It is one of the most popular non-cacti succulents: the striking bluish color of its leaves, the magnificent appearance it acquires, reminding us of artificial roses, its decorative flowers, ... all this makes any patio, terrace or garden look much more cheerful.

In addition, its growth rate is quite fast, and as if that were not enough, it can be easily multiplied by cuttings. If you want to know more about this species, continue reading  .

How is it?

echeveria elegans is the scientific name of a succulent plant native to the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. It was described by Alwin Berger and published in North American Flora in 1905. It is popularly known as alabaster rose or echeveria del chivas, although it could also be called elegant echeveria  .

It is characterized by form rosettes of fleshy leaves, stemless, bluish in color and up to 10 centimeters in size. It tends to remove stolons, thanks to which it forms more or less dense groups that can occupy a pot of about 20cm in diameter. It produces orange flowers.

What are their cares?

Maintaining this beautiful plant is very simple, and it is not in vain that it can be found in practically all collections of this type of plants  . The thing is that there are things that must be taken into account, otherwise we could lose it as quickly as we acquired it. So let's see how to take care of it below:

Location

La echeveria elegans It can be both indoors and outdoors:

• Interior: we will place it in a room where a lot of natural light enters, better if it is in an interior patio.
• Exterior: it will grow well in full sun, but if it has been protected from it in the nursery, we will have to accustom it little by little to prevent its leaves from burning.

Earth

Whether it is in a pot or in the garden the earth it must have very good drainage, since it does not tolerate waterlogging. So, if we want to have it in the ground, we will make a planting hole of about 50cm x 50cm, and we will fill it with black peat mixed with perlite in equal parts; on the other hand, if we intend to enjoy it on the balcony, patio or terrace, we will use universal growing substrate mixed with perlite, claystone or similar, also at 50%.

Irrigation

From the outset, you have to know that we will water more in summer than during the rest of the year, but the frequency of irrigation will depend on the climate and the location. For example, if we have it at home we will do it a maximum of twice a week during the warmest season, and every 15 or 20 days the rest; However, if it is out we will water it about 2 times / week, and every 20-30 days the rest.

In winter, especially if there is a risk of frost, we must control the watering a lot because we could lose it if the soil or substrate is wet. If we have doubts, we will check the humidity with a digital meter or by inserting a wooden stick (if it comes out practically clean when removing it, we can water if there is no forecast of rain or frost).

Subscriber

From early spring to late summer It can be paid with fertilizers for cacti and other succulents, following the instructions specified on the package. Of course, important, if we have it in a pot, we will use liquid fertilizers; otherwise we can use the granules. In this way, we will avoid having problems related to drainage.

Multiplication

It multiplies by seeds, stolons, and leaf cuttings in spring or summer. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

You have to follow this step by step:

1. First, we will fill a seedbed (flowerpot, seedling tray, milk container, ... or whatever suits us best as long as it has or can make holes in the bottom) with universal growing substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts.
2. Then, we water consciously and place the seeds on the surface.
3. Next, we cover them with a thin layer of substrate and water again, this time with a sprayer.
4. Finally, we will place the seedbed outside, in semi-shade.

If all goes well, we will see that the first will germinate in 2-3 weeks.

Stolons

Stolons are like suckers. When they are of a size that is easy to handle, we will cut them and plant them in individual pots. In about 10 days they will root.

Leaf cuttings

We just have to take some leaves that are healthy, and put them in pots with universal growing substrate. If we want, we can cover a little the end where the roots will come out (which is the same that kept them attached to the mother plant).

After about 7 or 10 days they will emit their own rootlets.

Planting or transplanting time

La echeveria elegans it is planted in the garden in spring, and if it is potted, it is transplanted every two years.

Plagues and diseases

It is quite resistant, but you have to watch the molluscs (snails and slugs) because they enjoy feeding on it.

Rusticity

From experience I can tell you that it resists weak and specific frosts of up to -2ºC, although it needs protection against hail.

What did you think of echeveria elegans? Do you have it at home?