An echeveria plant is among the easiest succulents to grow indoors. This plant is so easy to care for, propagate, and help flourish in any indoor space. Not only is the echeveria plant simple to care for, but it will also be one of the most beautiful succulents in your collection. 

There are endless varieties of echeveria to choose from. This allows you to create a selection that is personalized to fit your exact style. Lula’s Garden has a ton of information so you can learn all about echeveria. 

 Where To Begin With Your Echeveria 

The echeveria plant has so much to offer. They provide quite the gorgeous plant to look at, as well as endless varieties to choose from. Plant care has never been easier than it is with the echeveria. 

The echeveria is known to be tender to the touch, so you cannot be rough with this plant as you touch it, carry it, or propagate it. Always use a gentle approach when interacting with the echeveria.

Additionally, these plants are not frost tolerant whatsoever. In general, the echeveria plant makes a wonderful indoor plant. They look precious inside your home and they are protected from the harsh cold when kept indoors. That being said, they can thrive outside if the temperatures are adequate! Just as long as you watch for the cold weather, the echeveria can succeed beautifully outdoors.

Echeveria leaves are succulent in nature. This means they can get plump, or “juicy” in appearance. They often are a deep or jewel-toned green. Other variations can range from a blue-gray to a green-gray color. 

Sometimes, there have even been purple tones noted in the succulent’s coloring. Oftentimes, the echeveria's shape resembles a flower in bloom. The ends of these flowers have brilliant spikes. All of these traits provide each echeveria with stunning shades and patterns, making no two echeverias the same. 

As the echeveria continues to grow, rosettes emerge at the center, giving the echeveria a regal and stunning appearance. 

Echeveria grows rather slowly, so do not fear if they are not growing as fast as your other plants. But how big do echeveria grow? Well, this gorgeous succulent rarely grows larger than one foot tall. 

Something that is important to remember about echeveria is that, while they are fragile to the touch, they are actually incredibly drought-tolerant. These plants are also perennials, which means they only bloom at certain times of the year. The flowers bloom in the summer and are a brilliant bell shape. The flowers are located in clusters at the top of tall stems.

The echeveria can be located in the southern regions of America. These places include Central America, Mexico, and Northwestern South America. 

This plant thrives in desert conditions. The echeveria and each of its variations love full sun and bright light. For these reasons, the echeveria is incredibly durable in heat and exceptionally drought-tolerant. 

The echeveria plants are beautiful in rock gardens, as they thrive in soil conditions that imitate rock or gravel conditions. 

 An Endless Echeveria Selection 

The options for echeveria are truly endless. You will never run out of choices, making it so easy to find an echeveria that fits your exact style and needs. The patterns that emerge within the leaves of echeveria are stunning and unique. During their blooming seasons, flowers emerge in a variety of colors which create a new feature to look forward to every year. 

Some of the most popular echeverias to choose from are:

• Echeveria elegans (Mexican snowball, Mexican gem, Pearl echeveria, and White Mexican rose) 
• Echeveria agavoides (Molded wax agave)
• Echeveria lilacina
• Echeveria “Afterglow”
• Echeveria  “Perle von Nurnberg”
• Echeveria “Black Prince”
• Echeveria nodulosa (Painted echeveria)
• Echeveria pulvinata (Chenille plant)
• Echeveria “Violet Queen” (Hens and chicks)

Each of these echeveria variations provides a different appearance, but all with the same ease of care.

The echeveria elegans is known for its blue-green colored leaves that resemble the shape of several spoons. The compact rosettes provide a stunning look with unique patterns as they fit together. If this variety is put in full sunlight, the leaves turn a gorgeous pink! This plant has several nicknames, but the most popular being “Mexican snowball.” 

The echeveria agavoides is also incredibly unique! This echeveria plant has another interesting nickname. It is commonly known as the “molded wax agave.” This plant’s shape is also fascinating to watch develop as the echeveria grows and matures. 

One singular rosette forms. This rosette is rather dense and has triangular leaves. The leaves are a gorgeous green. Yet, once put in the sunlight, they have the ability to turn a phenomenal red.

Another extremely popular echeveria variety is the “Violet Queen.” This echeveria succulent is also known as “hens and chicks.” This variety, unlike the others, has the capacity to grow very fast. They can reach diameters up to six inches. Once put in full sunlight, the once silver leaves can turn pink.

One of the most brilliantly unique aspects of the echeveria plant is the fact that their leaves have the ability to change color if placed in full sunlight. This feature makes the echeveria different from any other succulent. When you buy your echeveria, its appearance as you own it might change before your eyes. This is an incredibly unique quality. 

 How To Care for Echeveria 

Echeveria is so easy to take care of. Just like most succulents, there are some general tips and tricks to follow. 

Light: Put your indoor echeveria by a window to get as much sunlight as possible. This will also encourage the leaves to change into different colors as mentioned before.

Temperature: To recreate echeveria’s natural desert habitat, avoid cold or humid temperatures. Dry room temperatures around 70 degrees will allow your echeveria to thrive. 

Water: Watering echeveria is similar to watering other succulent plants. Overwatering can lead to pests like mealybugs or root rot. To avoid this, soak your echeveria’s soil with water, avoiding the plant itself. Once the soil is completely dry, you can water your echeveria again. Give your echeveria great drainage. Terra-cotta pots are best for echeveria.

Repotting: Repotting is only necessary once your echeveria has outgrown its pot. Try to repot your echeveria in the spring at the beginning of its growing season. Just remove the plant, clear soil from its roots, and replace it in a new container with fresh soil.

It is important to give your echeveria the proper attention. They are not a high-maintenance plant, but they do require care. 

How to Propagate Echeveria

Considering the echeveria can be fragile to the touch, you might be wondering how to propagate your echeveria carefully. 

Rosettes: Simply cut off the rosette as it grows. Replant the excess rosette stem right into a pot of soil.

Stalks: Cut the extra growth off. Lay the cut-off pieces flat onto the top of a bed of soil. From the end of each piece, new growth will emerge.

Leaves: The newest growth happens when you cut leaves off. Remove the leaves carefully from the rosette. Lay the leaves on top of a bed of soil. They will dry as they rest there, but new growth will emerge after about a week.

 Add an Echeveria to Your Home Today

Owning and growing a succulent has never been more simple than it is with the echeveria. Propagation is so easy, you will have several new echeverias in no time. Options are endless with all the varieties to choose from. You do not want to miss out on this unique addition to your succulent family! Almost all of our gardens have an echeveria included! Shop one here.

Sources:

Echeveria Plant Care Indoors | Horticulture

Mexican Snowball (Echeveria elegans) in the Echeverias Database | Garden.org

Propagating Echeveria - Fact Sheets | Gardening Australia

Echeveria Care Guide: How to Grow Echeveria Plants - 2021 | MasterClass