Deservedly popular among flower growers are representatives of the Crassulaceae family, in particular, Echeveria. Home care for these marbled succulents is not that difficult, and the variety they bring to any green community is hard to overestimate.
These Mexican beauties, growing in the very difficult conditions of the highlands of Central and South America, compare favorably with most indoor plants. Their overseas origin did not prevent them from perfectly adapting to Russian climatic conditions, and they managed to turn even the lack of solar energy to their advantage, gradually stretching and turning into pretty ampelous plants. The endurance 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 a respectful one - "stone rose". Novice flower growers often have questions about a culture such as echeveria. Home care and reproduction istopics to be discussed in the article.
Features of the species
The genus Echeveria has almost two hundred species of various sizes and shapes, united by one common feature. All of them are perennial herbaceous plants with plump, voluminous leaves, forming a kind of rosette. Various in size, these plants are adapted to life under the scorching sun. Their leaves are pubescent or covered with a waxy structural coating, which 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 of the edges. In the wild, succulents have a short stem, giving the impression that the rock rose is attached directly to the soil. But there are also multi-stemmed 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 similarity with ampelous crops, but it will not be possible to obtain a typical flowering form.
Stone rose bloom
Accustomed to the abundance of sunlight received in natural conditions, stone rose requires bright lighting in indoor conditions. Only in this case will it be possible to achieve flowering from it. Echeveria flowers appear on lateral arrows-inflorescences, which can be of various lengths - from 5 to 50 cm. In some species, it can end with a miniaturerosette of leaves. The flowers are shaped like small bells ranging in size from 1 to 3 cm and are a distinctive species feature of the culture.
The color of bluebells varies from yellowish green to pastel orange. Their sepals, like the leaves, are covered with a velvety fluff or wax coating. When cross-pollinated, fruits are tied and ripen - five-sided boxes filled with small dark seeds.
Growing
The best place to keep a stone rose is on a south-facing balcony (in summer) and a window sill. Drought-resistant and undemanding to the soil, the culture does not suffer from excessive dryness of the air. Echeveria, the care of which is not burdensome, develops excellently at a temperature of + 21-26 ˚С, but successfully tolerates heat. In the summer, it is preferable to keep it outdoors, without shading and without fear that the culture will get burned. Nature took care of her, protecting the plant with a bloom, which we have already mentioned.
Echeveria dormancy occurs in winter. From October to the end of February, the optimum temperature for a stone rose is + 8-10 ˚С, but even during this period the plant is demanding for full lighting. If echeveria begins to bloom in winter, then there is no need to lower the temperature in the room.
Water and fertilize
Despite the fact that the plant is a succulent, it needs regular watering. In summer - more generous, in winter - moderate andinfrequent. 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.
Pubescent specimens are watered carefully, trying to avoid wetting the leaves. Spraying is also not welcome, as it contributes to decay or burns of the echeveria plant. Care at home is greatly facilitated by drip irrigation, which is the best watering 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 that contain 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 ˚С. Seeds germinate after 10-14 days. The grown seedlings dive into separate containers, in which echeveria subsequently continues to develop. Care and propagation by seeds is a long process. The plant begins to bloom only in the second - fourth year.
More often practice propagation by leaf cuttings and daughter rosettes. Separated from the mother plant, they take root quite easily in soil with vermiculite. The outlet, before being planted, is dried for 8-10 hours. Sections are treated with charcoal. The young plant obtained by this method bloomsthe same year.
Transfers
When transplanting, pay attention to the type of soil into which Echeveria moves. Home care will be most effective if you follow certain rules: choose a well-drained soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction, and transplant in the spring.
Irrigation is stopped before the transplantation procedure. As soon as the earth ball dries enough to start the operation, the plant, along with it, is carefully removed from the container. Lightly tapping on someone, they get rid of the old soil, inspect the roots of the plant and remove rotten or broken roots. All cuts are treated with a fungicide. The plant is placed in a container filled with new soil. Carefully straighten the roots - so that they do not bend up - and close up with earth. Echeveria is left without watering for about a week, then moderately moistened, strictly rationing the water supply to avoid root rot.
Echeveria: photo. Home care
Quality plant care is manifested in creating optimal conditions for good flower development:
• Do not allow water to get into the rosette of leaves, as this can provoke the process of decay or the development of dangerous fungal diseases that can kill the plant;
• dead leaves at the base of the stem are removed to prevent the development of mealy mites, classic pests of succulents.
So weconsidered all the stages of growing such a crop as echeveria. Home care and reproduction are very simple, but necessary operations for the qualitative development of this succulent.
