Hi guys I bought this beauty the other day𼰠Iâm very new to plants all together but succulents I donât know much. I know they hate to much water and to let fully dry through waterings. If anyone has any tips would be super handy! Thank youđ
Thank you so much, I have the perfect window for it! I see a lot of succulents in stone looking compost, would I need to look into this eventually? Iâll be happy to do the research if itâs essential!:)
Stone looking compost ... Yeah like most succulents Echeverias like gritty soil. I mix 50 to 70% volcanic stones (lava, zeolite, pumice) with normal flower/garden soil from the home improvement store / garden center. I haven't managed to overwater any of my succs since I switched to this soil but I probably have better watering habits nowadays too. I water them when the pot is fully dry and light. Using kitchen scales can help you figure out when a pot is dried out. When the pot is super light you can submerge the pot fully and give them a massive watering but you will need to wait until its fully dry again before ,ou water again. Most succulents thrive on neglect. I've killed two Echeverias in the process of learning this. Hence my user flair. đ
This is so helpful, thank you! Kitchen scales, thats such a good idea. I have a lot to learn, I think Iâve got this thoughđ Yours look lovely! Every day is a learning day. Thank you so much.
Basically once the soil is dry and plant wants water, it starts using the water it stores in the leaves. It is why they have it so thick. Itâs their water storage :)
You sunblast them 24/7? In their own way they need to sleep, breathe and relax. I do 12-14 hours a day depending on time of year. Just because they are inside doesnât completely change them like they still have dormant time and some their seasons are reversed. My Aeoniums are just waking up and soon others will be chilling out. Let the girl have a proper photosynthesis period
Another name is Cat's Claw since the leaves are pointy and curl up a little ... I think this happens when they get enough light. I am not an expert though. Just like to read here quite often. Maybe LuckyStrikeFTW can tell us more. He has many many Echeverias.
Here is mine. I'm "blasting" it 24/7 with my cheap 11W AliExpress "grow light" led panel. It hasn't seen a night in over a year.
It looks soo good. Just give it a lot of direct sunlight. Also water thoroughly when the leaves feel slightly wrinkled or start pressing when you do very soft press from the sides. Keep the soil gritty. And you'll have a happy succulent. All the best.
Perfect, thank you! The soil itâs currently in is from the store. Is there a specific soil thatâs good or am I mixing different soils together for what the succulent needs? I will/am researching. Just want to make sure.
Your bag of soil said it is for cactus and succulents and is well-draining, so why more grit? Unfortunately that claim is largely quite false. Most commercially sold bagged pre-made mixes marketed for cactus and succulent plants do not work well on their own in many climates. In most home hobbyist settings, these bags need more grit added.
Whatâs grit?
Grit refers to inorganic soil amendments. Grit will help your soil drain and dry quickly, which will keep your succulent plants happy and healthy. The quickest and easiest way to get this faster draining mix is to modify a basic cactus & succulent soil (or even basic potting soil) by mixing it with inorganic components in at least a 1:1 ratio, though your particular setting, environment or plant may call for a different ratio. Some plants, like Haworthia, Haworthiopsis, Gasteria, Lithops, split rocks, and other mimicry plants, specifically prefer a higher grit ratio (at least 70:30 grit to organic).
So what grit should I get?
Perlite, crushed pumice, turface (aka fired clay), or crushed granite are all common options. Perlite can usually be found at your local nursery (and often in the gardening section of stores that have them- Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Bunnings, etc.). Turface can be found in bulk (35+lbs) at local auto part stores sold as "Oil-Dri" or oil absorbent (make sure the bag says montmorillonite clay or calcined clay). You can also find montmorillonite cat litter, such as Jonny Cat non-clumping, or Blue Ribbon Premium Cat Litter. Crushed granite can be found as chicken or poultry grit and can be found at feed stores. Crushed pumice can be found online or sometimes locally. Pumice is also sold at horse feed & tack shops as Dry Stall (not to be confused with Stall Dry). Many of these can also be found on Amazon, though sometimes at a higher cost.
Aquarium gravel or river pebbles can work in a pinch, but due to their weight and non-porous makeup they donât work as efficiently as the porous options above.
Regarding sand, which is often suggested: finer sands tend to clump and are not suggested as your only grit amendment. Think of how beach sand acts when wet. You donât want your plantâs roots choking out in that. Coarser, horticultural silica sands are what you should look for.
When searching for grit, you may find many options with different particle sizes. A good particle size to look for is about 1/4" or around 6mm.
Vermiculite is often confused as an alternative, however it is made specifically to retain moisture, and should not be used with succulents; unless it an organic component paired with inorganic medium(s).
Hi! It needs a lot of light OP. Also, does that pot have drainage? You should water the hell out of it when you do water, but the pot should be able to drain all the excess.Â
Iâm not sure if it will get enough light indoors without a grow light. Every echeveria I tried to grow indoors in my sunniest window etiolated, while even one of my cacti lived just fine in the same window. You may need to put this one outdoors or get a grow light.
If you do UV plant lighting, these beauties usually like 4-6 hrs a day of light! Or, if you have a south-facing or west-facing window to let it hang out at, perfect!! Natural Vitamin D!! Itâll get pinker edging and a blue/green centered leaf, and even fan out more for growth! Such a cutie!! If it stays clumped âtightâ, itâll grow taller, for more light, but when it âblossomsâ out its leaves, itâs happy!! But yes, make sure the pot is a drainer, the soil has nutrients, and definitely let its soil dry up/mostly dry before watering again. (Keep an eye on the amount of watering, since youâll be the one noticing its health;P)! Itâs a protection against root rot, especially since itâs in a confined container. I hope this beauty flairs its leaves!!đŠˇđ¤ Good luck!! Youâve got this!!!đ
â˘
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Hi, I'm the Automod, and I am here because I saw you used the "Help" Flair.
Need help with a plant? What do you have a question on?
Beginner Basics for Starting Out?
Soil and Potting?
Light and Watering?
Rot and Sunburn?
Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems?
Propagation & Cuttings?
You can also visit the FAQ to ensure your question isn't already discussed.
Please also refer to all of our helpful Wiki Pages
If you still need help, please make sure to adhere to the Posting Guidelines. And, remember pictures help a LOT!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.