Echeveria agavoides

Echeveria agavoides is a very decorative succulent

Image - Wikimedia / Jacopo Werther

Non-cacti succulents are famous for having very elegant shapes and colors, but the Echeveria agavoides it is one of the most striking. It does not grow much, which is why it can be kept in a pot throughout its life; in addition, it produces very decorative flowers.

However, if we have to say something "bad" about it, it is that it is very sensitive to overwatering. But don't worry, right now we are going to tell you everything about this magnificent plant so you can always keep it healthy.

Origin and characteristics

Echeveria agavoides can be kept in a pot

Image - Wikimedia / Michael Wolf

Our protagonist is a crass or non-cactus succulent plant native to Mexico, specifically from San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Guanajuato and Durango. Its scientific name is Echeveria agavoides, although popularly it is known as, simply, echeveria.

It is characterized by being a plant without a stem, which forms a rosette of fleshy and more or less triangular leaves 8-12cm high by 7-15cm in diameter, green most of the time, although some varieties in bright light end up with more or less red margins. The flowers are pink, orange or red.

What are their cares?

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Location

La Echeveria agavoides is a plant that It must be outside, preferably in full sun. Now, the normal thing is that in the nurseries they have it protected from the star king, and even that they label it as a »indoor plant», so in these cases it is necessary to gradually accustom it to direct exposure to the sun's rays. otherwise it would burn very easily.

Earth

  • Garden: the soil must have excellent drainage. If it does not have it, you have to make a planting hole of about 50x50cm and fill it with universal cultivation substrate (you will find it here) mixed with perlite (get it here) in equal parts.
  • Flower pot: I advise to use cheek (you can get it here) or universal culture substrate mixed with 50% perlite.

Irrigation

As we anticipated at the beginning, this is a succulent that is very, very sensitive to excess watering. All you have to do is go through the water once for its roots to rot. Therefore, to avoid this, in addition to using a substrate or soil with good drainage, it is important to know when to water it. And as each climate is different, the ideal is to check the humidity before proceeding to take the watering machine. How to do that?

  • Use a digital moisture meter - it will instantly tell you how wet the soil that has come in contact with it is.
  • Weigh the pot once it is watered and again after a few days: the difference in weight will be noticeable, since when it is wet it weighs considerably more than when it is dry. So if it's heavy, don't water.
  • Introduce a thin wooden stick: when you extract it, if you see that it has a lot of soil attached, wait a little to water.

Subscriber

Blue Nitrofoska is the best fertilizer for Echeveria agavoides

As important as the irrigation is the fertilizer, since without the contribution of extra »food» the Echeveria agavoides it would not take long to weaken. So, you must pay it from the beginning of spring to the end of summer (You can continue until autumn if you live in an area with a mild and / or warm climate) with fertilizers for cacti and other succulents (such as this) following the instructions specified on the package.

Another option is to pay it with Blue Nitrofoska, adding a small spoonful every 15-20 days.

Multiplication

It multiplies by seeds and leaf cuttings in spring-summer. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

You have to follow this step by step:

  1. First, you must fill a pot of about 10,5 cm in diameter with universal growing substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts.
  2. Then water conscientiously.
  3. Next, place the seeds on the surface and cover them with a thin layer of substrate.
  4. Finally, place the pot outside, in semi-shade.

If all goes well, they will germinate in 2-3 weeks.

Leaf cuttings

The step by step to follow is as follows:

  1. First, take a leaf that is healthy.
  2. Then let the wound dry for a couple of days.
  3. Next, fill a pot with universal growing medium.
  4. The next step is to place the sheet on the surface. You can cover the end where the wound is with a little bit of substrate, but not too much. The blade has to lie flat.
  5. Finally, place the pot outside, in semi-shade.

In 2 weeks or so it will shed its own roots and leaves.

Plagues and diseases

View of the Echeveria agavoides 'Ebony'

Image - Flickr / 唐 喬

It does not usually have it, but if the growing conditions are not the most suitable it can be attacked by:

  • Mealybugs: they feed on the sap of the leaves.
  • Aphids: they feed mainly on the sap of the flowers, but they are also seen in the leaves.
  • Others: mollusks (snails and slugs) feed on the whole plant 🙁.

As it is a rather small plant, they can be removed by hand or with a brush soaked in pharmacy alcohol.

Planting or transplanting time

In spring, when the risk of frost has passed. If it is potted, transplant every two years.

Rusticity

It resists weak and specific frosts of up to -2ºC, but the best thing is that it does not drop below 0 degrees.

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