P34 – Echeveria Rain Drops

Echeveria ‘Rain Drops’ is a small succulent that forms a rosette of spoon-shaped pale green leaves with reddish margins and a spherical blue-green bump in the middle of each leaf toward the tip developing with age. The rosette grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter, usually solitary but may form a few offsets. Not all young specimens have bumps, but they will develop with time.

The flowers are bell-shaped, pinkish outside, yellow inside, and appear on branched inflorescences that rise well above the rosette in summer.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Most common Echeveria species are not complicated succulents to grow, provided you follow a few basic rules. First, be careful never to let water sit in the rosette as it can cause rot or fungal diseases that will kill the plant. Additionally, remove dead leaves from the bottom of the plant as it grows. These dead leaves provide a haven for pests, and Echeverias are susceptible to mealy bugs. Finally, as with all succulents, careful watering habits and plenty of light will help ensure success.

Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a succulent, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots. Treat any cuts with a fungicide.

Most Echeverias can be easily propagated from leaf cuttings, although a few are better from seeds or stem cuttings. To propagate a leaf cutting, place the individual leaf in potting soil for succulents and cover the dish until the new plant sprouts.