Representatives of the family Crassulaceae, in particular, Echeveria, enjoy well-deserved popularity among flower growers. Care at home for these marble succulents is not so complicated, and the diversity that they bring to any green community can hardly be overestimated.
These Mexican beauties, growing in very difficult conditions of the highlands of Central and South America, compare favorably with most
houseplants. The transatlantic origin did not prevent them from perfectly adapting to the Russian climatic conditions, and they even managed to turn the lack of solar energy into their own good, gradually stretching out and turning into pretty ampelous plants.
The stamina of this culture is amazing. It is no coincidence that with the light hand of Russian flower growers, the indigestible name "Echeveria" was replaced by the respectful - "stone rose." Beginner gardeners often have questions about a culture such as echeveria. Home care and reproduction are topics that will be discussed in the article.
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The genus Echeveria has almost two hundred species of various sizes and shapes, united by one common attribute. All of them are perennial herbaceous plants with plump, voluminous leaves forming a kind of rosette. Different in size, these plants are adapted for life under the scorching sun. Their leaves are pubescent or covered with a waxy structural coating that reliably protects the plant from possible burns.
The bright sun causes a thickening of the protective coating, and the leaves change color to bluish with reddening edges. In the wild, succulents have a short stem, and it seems that the stone rose is attached directly to the soil. But there are multi-stem bushy forms.
The amount of sunlight plays a major role in the life of a plant such as echeveria. Home care will be unproductive if the plant does not have enough sun. In this case, the stem will stretch, acquiring a resemblance to ampelous cultures, but it will not be possible to obtain a typical species flowering form.
Flowering stone rose
Accustomed to the abundance of sunlight received in natural conditions, a stone rose requires bright lighting and in conditions of indoor growth. Only in this case will it be possible to achieve flowering from it . Echeveria flowers appear on the lateral inflorescences, which can be of various lengths - from 5 to 50 cm. In some species, it can end with a miniature rosette of leaves. The flowers resemble small bells in size from 1 to 3 cm in shape and are a distinctive species feature of the culture.
The color of the bells varies from yellowish green to pastel orange. Their sepals, like the leaves, are covered with a velvety fluff or wax coating. With cross-pollination, fruits are tied and ripen - pentahedral boxes filled with small dark seeds.
Growing
The best place for keeping a stone rose is a balcony (in summer) and a windowsill facing south. Drought-resistant and undemanding to the soil, the culture does not suffer from excessive dry air. Echeveria, the care of which is not burdensome, develops excellently at a temperature of + 21-26 ° C, but successfully tolerates the heat. In the summer, it is preferable to keep it outdoors, without shading and not fearing that the culture will get burned. Nature took care of it, protecting the plant with a bloom, which we already mentioned.
Echeveria dormancy occurs in winter. From October to the end of February, the optimum temperature for a stone rose is + 8-10 ˚, but even during this period the plant is demanding for full lighting. If in winter the echeveria begins to bloom, then it is not necessary to lower the temperature in the room.
Watering and feeding
Despite the fact that the plant is a succulent, it needs regular watering. In summer - more generous, in winter - moderate and infrequent. However, it will be necessary to control the condition of the plant, since prolonged dryness of the soil can lead to the death of the lower leaves, which will lead to a deterioration in the appearance of the plant.
Hairy specimens are watered gently, trying to avoid wet leaves. Spraying is also not welcome, as it contributes to decay or burns of the echeveria plant. Home care is greatly facilitated by watering from the pallet, which is the best moisturizing option for this crop.
In spring and summer, during the period of highest activity, echeveria is fed monthly with special fertilizers for cacti and succulents containing all the necessary nutrients.
Echeveria: reproduction
The vast majority of species of these plants are easily propagated by cuttings of leaves or seeds, which are sown in a peat-sand mixture in February-March. The container is covered with glass and placed in a room with an air temperature of + 20-23 ° C. Seeds germinate after 10-14 days. The grown seedlings dive into separate containers, in which subsequently continues to develop echeveria. Seed care and propagation is a long process. The plant begins to bloom only in the second - fourth year.
More often propagation by leaf cuttings and daughter sockets. Separated from the mother plant, they are fairly easily rooted in the soil with vermiculite. The socket, before planting, wither 8-10 hours. Slices are treated with charcoal. The young plant obtained by a similar method blooms in the same year.
Transplantation
When transplanting, pay attention to the type of soil into which the echeveria migrates. Home care will be most effective if you adhere to certain rules: choose a well-drained soil with a neutral or slightly acid reaction, and transplant in spring.
Before the transplant procedure, watering is stopped. As soon as the earthen lump dries enough to start the operation, the plant with it is carefully removed from the container. Lightly tapping on a coma, get rid of the old soil, examine the roots of the plant and remove the rotten or broken roots. All incisions are treated with fungicide. The plant is placed in a container filled with new soil. Carefully straighten the roots - so that they do not bend upwards - and cover up with earth. Echeveria is left without watering for about a week, then moderately moisturized, strictly normalizing the water supply to avoid root decay.
Echeveria: photo. Home Care
Qualitative care for the plant is manifested in the creation of optimal conditions for the good development of the flower:
• water must not be allowed to enter the leaf outlet, as this can provoke the process of decay or the development of dangerous fungal diseases that can destroy the plant;
• dead leaves at the base of the stem are removed to prevent the development of powdery mites - classic pests of succulents.
Thus, we examined all the stages of cultivating such a crop as echeveria. Home care and reproduction are very simple, but necessary operations for the qualitative development of this succulent.