Echeveria Care: How to Keep Them Beautiful and Healthy

So you couldn’t resist.

It was so beautiful.

I know- they are gorgeous!

They look so good, they don’t even look real.

You promised not to bring any more home!

You bought one anyway.

I get it. Me too!

It’s hard not to.

They are addictive.

Just when you thought you had them all…a new one appeared at the local garden center, online, at the grocery store.

Echeverias.

They are some of the most beautiful, unique succulents that are available.

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The different colors are incredible- pastel shades of gray, blue, pink, purple, green, and two-tones.

And the leaf textures- some are fuzzy, others pearlescent, still others ruffled.

Each one shaped in a rosette form, resembling a rose- fascinating.

So here is the problem- You buy them and bring them home, but how do you keep them looking that good?

It is possible.

The good news is Echeverias are very easy to care for.

There are some easy steps to follow.

You can do it because I have.

 

Echeveria Care:

Light Requirements

One of the keys to maintaining a beautiful Echeveria is providing plenty of bright, indirect light.

Since Echeveria can’t survive cold temperatures, they are primarily a houseplant.

The goal is to give it consistent bright light year-round.

South and west-facing windows tend to receive more light than those facing north or east.

Echeverias are not fond of cold temperatures, so during winter keep the plant away from a cold window as this can damage them.

Another option is to place them under a desk or table lamp that is on throughout the day.

There are also many styles of desk-style grow lights that can provide plenty of light, especially during winter.

I highly recommend exploring grow lights.

They are essential to successfully grow many types of houseplants.

It’s important that Echeverias get a minimum of 6 hours of bright light in winter and 8-12 hours in spring and summer.

This will keep the plant compact and the leaf color true.

My husband and I live in Ohio. There isn’t much sun on a consistent basis in the winter, so putting plants near windows isn’t the best option.

Therefore, I like to keep my Echeveria in my office as I know that I will be there most days, all day with the lights on.

In the summer, I move them to my patio table.

The patio only gets a few hours of direct sun, but even in the shade, the bright daylight keeps the plants looking great.

An Echeveria will let you know when it needs more light as the stem will elongate and the rosette will not be as compact.

This is called “stretching.”

Once you have found a suitable spot, rotate the plant weekly so that it receives light evenly on all sides and maintains a balanced, symmetrical shape.

Watering

Another vital component of Echeveria care is proper watering.

Overwatering is the number one reason most houseplants die.

And this is especially true for Echeverias.

The thick, fleshy leaves enable it to store water for long periods of time.

Therefore, it doesn’t need to be watered as often as a traditional houseplant.

This is great news if you tend to be extremely busy or slightly neglectful of plants- the Echeveria will actually thrive on it!

If you tend to hover over your plants and smother them with watering love, you will definitely have to restrain yourself.

The rule of thumb is that it is much better to underwater than overwater.

One of the best ways to determine when to water is to gauge the weight of the container after watering so that you can feel when it becomes significantly lighter.

The goal is to allow the soil to dry before watering, but not become hard and compacted.

Watering frequency is more of an art than science and depends on the humidity and other environmental factors of your home.

I find that watering my Echeveria every four to six weeks in the winter and every 10-14 days in the summer is a general guideline.

I use either a watering can with a long spout or a pipette to direct water to the soil.

This prevents water from collecting in the rosette and keeps the leaves clean and pristine.

After watering, I check to make sure that there is no water sitting in between the leaves of the rosette.

If so, gently tip the pot to allow the water to drain away.

If the pot has a saucer, I make sure there is no standing water in it.

Echeverias are sensitive to rot and “sitting in water” is the primary cause.

To learn more about watering succulents, click here.

Containers and Soil

Florists and garden centers have done a great job of packaging Echeveria in adorable containers that make them irresistible.

However, many of these containers aren’t the best for growing plants long-term.

They don’t have drain holes, so they hold excess water- a sure-fire way to kill an Echeveria.

I highly recommend using a container that has multiple drain holes.

An unglazed ceramic or clay pot is ideal as it will allow airflow to the soil.

Echeverias’ roots don’t grow deep and since drainage is important, shallow containers are preferable to deep pots.

When re-potting, use a soil mix designed for succulents and cacti.

This is essential as regular houseplant soil mixes hold too much moisture and will cause the Echeveria to decline quickly.

Fertilizing

One of the positive attributes of Echeverias is that they aren’t fussy when it comes to fertilization.

They tend to grow and perform well whether they are fertilized regularly or not.

If you want to fertilize them, a water-soluble succulent fertilizer applied once a month during the spring and summer is sufficient.

It isn’t necessary to fertilize in the fall and winter as the plants aren’t actively growing and therefore don’t need the extra nutrients.

General Maintenance

Echeverias have very few diseases and pests.

I like to check my plants regularly just to make sure that no uninvited guests have taken residence.

Generally, keeping the soil and foliage dry between watering will prevent most pests and disease problems.

As plants age, some of the lower leaves may turn yellow or brown.

This is perfectly normal.

Simply snip them off at the stem.

Echeverias are an amazing group of succulents.

The colors and textures of the varieties make them irresistible and collectible.

They are gorgeous and sold everywhere- very tempting.

Although beautiful, they are easy to maintain and actually thrive on some neglect.

Displaying them in a spot that gets bright light and proper watering is the key to their care.

Knowing these simple care tips, you can now confidently bring them home to your indoor jungle and keep them looking as good as the day you bought them!

Click to buy Echeverias online through my affiliate partners Leaf & Clay, Succulent Box, and Amazon.