Echeveria is a plant belonging to the family Tolstyankovyh, which is remarkably grown as a houseplant. The echeveria flower arrived in Russia from Mexico and quickly gained popularity among flower growers, especially among those involved in succulents. The popular name of the plant is a stone rose. Also, by mistake, he is often confused with the young man due to external similarities. Beginning flower growers should not be afraid to start this plant, since the care of the echeveria flower at home is quite simple. She is picky, unusual and interesting.
The main varieties of echeveria
Under natural conditions, botanists described 150 species of this plant, but only some are grown at home.
Echeveria graceful
The main characteristics of the species are fleshy, light blue leaves, 5 cm long and 2 cm wide, flat rosette, straight shoots that stretch to the ground with age and are capable of independent rooting. In an adult plant, the rosette can reach 17 cm in diameter, its young processes are located on long stems of a pinkish or yellow color.
Echeveria
Echeveria Agavoidis
It is represented by a single outlet that reaches more than 25 cm in diameter. Short young shoots most often do not appear at all. The leaves of a triangular shape grow up to 9 cm in length and 6 cm in width. Coloring green with a red fringing. Blooming look. Inflorescences of orange color are located on a high peduncle.
Agave-shaped variety
Echeveria Lau
Succulents with a rosette about 20 cm in diameter, leaves up to 6 cm in length. Feature - plaque on the leaves, due to which the plant looks almost white. Another difference from other varieties is large, up to 2 cm long flowers, located on wide inflorescences of a bright orange hue.
Sort Lau
Echeveria bristly
Shrub species, which, as a rule, is not typical for this species. Rosettes are spherical in shape, on each of them there are up to hundreds of bright olive leaves up to 9 cm long and up to 3 cm wide. Flowering period is summer. It got its name thanks to fluffy leaves covered with small setae.
Echeveria bristly
Echeveria Desmet
Perennial with a compact outlet, leaves of a bluish tint. Over time, the escape begins to spread along the ground. Blooms in mid-summer with yellow-orange flowers.
Echeveria Miranda
Its main feature is the unusual color of the pointed leaves. They can be bluish, red, pink, yellow. Outwardly resembles a lotus.
Grade Miranda
Echeveria Shavian
Outwardly similar to a head of cabbage. It is characterized by a short stem and less strong fleshy leaves than other representatives of the species. Leaves end with wavy edges laid in a tight outlet. It blooms in mid-summer. During dormancy, it discards most of the crown.
Shaviana variety
Echeveria humpbackflower
It is a small shrub with an upright stalk, the rosette of which is formed from large gray-green foliage. The inflorescence is bright large. It can have from 30 to 60 small red flowers. Among the succulent breeders, its hybrids are also popular - echeveria Pearl of Nuremberg and Metallic.
Note! In flower shops, a mix of echeveria is most often sold, combining several different varieties. And together they can form an unusual, original composition.
Echeveria: home care
Subject to certain rules, a stone rose will be able to decorate any window sill, grow in places that most plants do not like (for example, on the south side), and even please with annual flowering. For echeveria care is minimal, and the result will please flower growers for many years.
Temperature
Succulent eheveria, like many of its other relatives, is undemanding to the temperature regime. In summer, during the growing season, it can withstand temperatures up to 27-30 ° С, in winter, 10-12 ° С is considered the best option. In the winter, this will help lay powerful flower stalks for next year. But room temperature is also suitable if there is no way to clean the plant in a cool room.
Lighting
Very photophilous flower. For its cultivation, southern windows are excellent, which many indoor flowers avoid. However, young plants should be accustomed to bright light gradually to avoid sunburn. But later it was in the sunshine that they feel the best, the leaves acquire an interesting burgundy border, and the resulting flowers are a real miracle. And to bloom in sunny hot weather, this succulent will be more magnificent, brighter and longer. Despite the fact that this plant is considered picky to daylight hours, you should make sure that at least during the period of active growth it should be at least 10-12 hours. For this, many in the summer transplant it from home to fresh air, to that side of the plot with the most sunlight.
Important! This plant perfectly adapts to the open area and decorates any alpine hill in the garden.
Alpine slide with stone roses
Watering
The plant perfectly tolerates dry air, so you can not spray it from the spray gun in any case, with excess moisture, leaf decay is possible. In the warm season, watering is necessary only as necessary, when the earthen lump is completely dry. When planting on the street, watering is necessary only in the case of a dry summer. In winter, at a low air temperature, you need to water once every two weeks, at ordinary temperature - as necessary, only with stagnant water. Watering only basal so as not to get on the outlet.
Spraying
Spraying should be avoided even in the hottest weather, as this Mexican plant is adapted to dry air, but does not tolerate moisture accumulation on the leaves. To remove dust, the leaves are wiped with a slightly damp cloth.
Important! You can not even wipe the plants if they have villi or plaque on them. For such varieties, this can be fatal.
Plant growth in the wild
Humidity
Echeveria does not like rooms with excessive humidity, preferring dry. Also, soil moisture does not play a big role for it. She calmly endure even a small period of drought.
Priming
An excellent option for the soil will be a ready-made substrate for cacti or succulents. There, plants grow and develop beautifully. But for those gardeners who prefer to make the soil mixture on their own, there is the following option:
- clay-turf land (3 parts);
- leaf rotted earth (1 part);
- coarse river sand (1 part);
- brick chips (1 part).
Important! It is imperative to prepare drainage, as expanded clay is best suited for it, without it it will be difficult to grow a plant.
Top dressing
A stone rose is fed during the growing season; in winter, the crusts are completely canceled. You need to make mineral fertilizers for succulents or cacti, sold in stores. Organic fertilizers are not needed. An excess of nitrogen should also be avoided, this can lead to the development of some fungal diseases. You can’t feed the plant too often, because excess fertilizer can damage the delicate roots of the plant.
Important! If the top layer of the substrate is regularly replaced, subcrusts can be omitted altogether.
How echeveria propagates
There are several ways to propagate echeveria. Germination from seeds is the most difficult. The simplest are leafy cuttings and daughter sockets.
Seed germination
In late February - early March, planting material is planted in a mixture of peat and sand. Cover with cellophane or glass. The temperature in the room should not be lower than 20 ° C, but not too high. Periodically aerate the greenhouse to avoid the formation of mold, and water from the spray gun. After about two weeks, each seed will germinate.
After 2-3 leaves appear on them, you can dive in separate small pots with a mixture of sheet soil and sand (2: 1). After growing outlets to 2-3 cm, they can be transplanted into pots corresponding to their size.
Rooting cuttings
Before planting cuttings, it is necessary to prepare pots with a diameter of about 10 cm and fill them with river sand or compost. Before planting cuttings (both leafy and stem), they are left a little to lie down, so that they wilt. As a rule, this method of propagation is always effective, and all cuttings are rooted. The best time for reproduction in this way is the spring period, but can be done in the summer before the end of the growing season.
Propagation by cuttings
Reproduction by rosettes
The easiest way to echeveria propagates through the use of daughter sockets. Most of its species in the spring form small rosettes that can easily be planted in a pot and grow a new plant. Sockets are planted in small containers filled with soil for adult plants. Their complete rooting in a new place is very fast.
Note! Several young specimens can be planted in one pot at once, resulting in an interesting composition.
Reproduction by rosettes
Transplant after purchase
Newbie growers often do not know how to care for echeveria after a purchase. They transplant her into a new pot right away. Yes, a transplant is necessary, because the substrate in which the plant is sold is unsuitable for long-term cultivation, since there are practically no nutrients in it. But transplantation is not necessary immediately, a quarantine period of about two weeks is mandatory. The plant must be placed on a separate window sill so that it adapts to new environmental conditions. It must also be checked for diseases and pests. After that, the stone rose is transplanted into a composition for adult plants, laying a drainage layer of at least a quarter of the pot.
Important! It is worth replanting a plant purchased in the winter only in the spring at the beginning of the period of active development.
Possible problems in growing echeveria
The most dangerous for the plant are an excess of moisture, its accumulation in sockets, as well as excessive mineralization of the roots. This is something to avoid quite simply. But there are other problems.
Echeveria leaves fell off
Many, especially inexperienced, flower growers often wonder why this unpretentious flower has fallen off leaves. Full leaf fall, as a rule, does not occur, but only the socket on the bare stem remains. The main reason is rotting of the roots due to excess moisture. This problem is especially relevant in the cold season. Do not despair. First, fallen leaves can be rooted if they are healthy. Many young plants will grow from them. Secondly, it is worth drying the earthen lump, you can get it out of the pot, carefully cut the rotten roots and plant a stone rose in new soil.
Echeveria is growing up
With improper care, echeveria can stretch out. In science, too much succulent growth up is called etiolation. This occurs when there is a lack of light, which is especially common in winter.
Important! Waterlogging and too high a temperature also complement this process. To slow down growth, you need to put the plant in a cool place, arrange illumination for it and reduce watering.
If the stone rose has already stretched, you need to cut and root the elongated crown or plant all the children, processes and root the cuttings. If the crown is extended, and there is no normal outlet for rooting yet, it is worth waiting until it appears. But only in suitable conditions specified above.
Echeveria (stone rose) - a beautiful and unusual succulent, undemanding and unpretentious in care. It is certainly worth bringing to those who love to grow representatives of this flower group, it will decorate any alpine hill. It can be practiced by beginners, it will delight lovers of floriculture, they will be proud of this plant at any time of the year.
