Growing Echeveria

Echeveria are easily grown succulents, ideal for dry garden plantings. The following information is intended to help the nurseryperson and gardener to get the most out of growing Echeveria.

Light: Echeveria look their best only when given adequate light levels, and ideally should be grown outdoors in full sun. Generally speaking, the more light a plant gets the better it will display its colours and shape. However, when moving plants from lower light conditions into full sun, be wary of sun scorch resulting from too rapid a transition into intense summer sunlight, most easily avoided by ensuring plants are well-watered before moving them on a cloudy day. High light levels are critical to enhancing the growth habit and colour of Echeveria, so plants that look pale or tilt to one side or do not show their proper colouration should be moved to a position where they receive more light. 

Water: Echeveria are able to tolerate extended dry periods and survive drought without the need for watering, but they will grow stronger if they receive adequate moisture during their growing season. During winter when the plants are not actively growing, they require very little moisture, but be aware that potted plants grown under cover may require an occasional watering to keep them looking in good condition during winter. Although they are extraordinarily tolerant of dry conditions, Echeveria will grow strongly only while their growing medium is keep sufficiently moist during spring and summer, and they can even tolerate brief periods of total saturation during the growing seasons. Once adequate attention is paid to light levels, the growth and condition of Echeveria can most easily be manipulated and maintained by regulating the amount of moisture available to the plants.

Soil/Media: Echeveria grow well in most soils as long as good drainage is provided. Use raised beds in soils with poor drainage, or where the soil is likely to become saturated by frequent rain in winter. Echeveria are shallow rooted plants, and therefore benefit from good levels of organic matter in the soil. Echeveria in pots likewise prefer a potting mix with a reasonable level of organic matter, but the mix also needs plenty of sand and gravel to ensure adequate drainage. 

Nutrients: Although Echeveria respond well to an abundance of nutrients, water and warmth by growing rapidly, plants grown in such conditions usually do not show their full potential in terms of colour, leaf bumps (where applicable) and good shape, and are more tender and susceptible to damage from sun-scorch, hail, disease and rough handling. Slow release fertilisers incorporated into the potting mix are usually adequate for the spring and summer growing seasons of Echeveria, and additional fertiliser applications would not normally be required until spring. To maintain good specimens of established plants, use fertilisers with a low to moderate nitrogen content, and avoid using liquid fertilizers which leave residues or markings on the leaves, the key ornamental feature of Echeveria. 

Air: Good air movement is important for minimising pest and disease risks in Echeveria, and avoiding excessive humidity in cool winter conditions is important to successfully growing Echeveria in the nursery environment. Avoid overhead watering under humid conditions, especially during winter.

Temperature: Echeveria occur naturally in high altitude environments (1000m to 4000m) in Central and South America, and most cultivars can tolerate light frosts. However, the ideal temperature range during the summer growing season is 5-25°C, with the cooler autumn temperatures tending to make their foliage colours become more intense than those of the active summer growing season. When grown in climates that experience heavy frosts or freezing conditions, plants should be protected by being grown or brought under cover, grown against a wall or under the eaves of the house, or be covered during extreme weather. Hail will cause leaf damage and can ruin the appearance of Echeveria specimens.

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