With a chubby rosette and powdery leaves, Graptoveria make a wonderful addition to any garden. Graptoveria are a hybrid between Echeveria and Graptopetalum– if you have either of those succulents, a Graptoveria would look great next to them! Popular Graptoveria varieties include ‘Moonglow’, ‘Fred Ives’, ‘Blue Pearl’, ‘Debbie’, ‘Opalina’ and ‘Bashful’.
These are tips and tricks specific to Graptoveria care. For a more general guide about taking care of all succulents, check out that article.
| Name | Graptoveria |
| Sunlight | 6 to 7 hours of bright sun |
| Water | Once a week in the summer Once every 3-4 weeks in the winter |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil |
| Temperature | Warm and dry Not cold hardy |
| Dormancy | Summer dormant |
| Propagation | Leaves, cuttings and offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Growth
Graptoveria grow a compact rosette that reaches up to 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) in diameter. Their leaves can turn blue, pink, purple or red hues, depending on factors such as sunlight, watering, and temperature.
Graptoveria Sunlight:
Like Echeveria and Graptopetalum, Graptoveria need bright light to thrive. The plant should receive at least 6 to 7 hours of bright sunlight every day. If Graptoveria do not receive enough light, they stretch out and lean sideways, which is called etiolation. Once Graptoveria etiolate, they cannot shrink back to their compact rosette shape. You have to behead the top of your succulent and start over.
Learn more about etiolation here
South-facing windows are best for Graptoveria because they provide bright light, which encourages growth. Make sure you rotate the plant every few days so each side receives equal sunlight and grows evenly.
While Graptoveria love light, be careful not to immediately move your plant from a shady area to somewhere with more sun because it could burn the leaves. Sunburn shows up as brown, calloused spots on the leaf surface. Unfortunately, once burned, the leaf cannot go back to it’s original color, so you want to avoid sunburning the plant in the first place. You can do this by gradually easing your Graptoveria to a sunny area over the course of a week so it has time to adapt.
Graptoveria Watering:
Graptoveria have similar watering needs as most succulents. Their thick leaves allow them to store plenty of water during times of drought.
During the summer months, water your Graptoveria once a week. Take care to only water once the top inch of soil is completely dry because Graptoveria do not like sitting in water for too long. The lower leaves of your Graptoveria wrinkle slightly when it needs a drink.
During winter months, reduce watering to once every three to four weeks to prevent root rot. When watering, water the soil at the base of the plant. Make sure that water does not splash into the top rosette of the Graptoveria or on it’s leaves because that can lead to rot. If you do get some water on these areas, wipe it off with a tissue.
Graptoveria Soil:
For proper Graptoveria care, ensure it is planted in a well-draining and porous soil to prevent rot. I mix a succulent soil with perlite in a 70:30 ratio to make a well-draining mix for my plant.
Potting Graptoveria
The best type of pot for Graptoveria is a plain, terracotta pot with a drainage hole. This helps remove extra water and prevents rot.
When you first bring your Graptoveria home from the nursery, remove it from the pot and gently clean the soil off the roots. Transplant it to a new pot filled with fresh, well-draining soil.
After the initial repotting, Graptoveria do not need to change containers often because they are slow growers. Repotting once every few years is enough. When moving to a new pot, choose a marginally larger container, since excess potting soil can become waterlogged and lead to rot.
Graptoveria Propagation:
Graptoveria can easily be propagated from leaves, cuttings and offsets.
Leaves
Twist a leaf carefully off the plant. Choose a leaf that is healthy, and not wrinkled or dried out. Make sure you removed the ENTIRE leaf and there is no piece left on the stem- whole leaves have a much better chance of propagating than torn leaves. Allow the leaf to callous for 2 to 3 days, then put it on some soil.
Spray the soil once a week with water and provide filtered sunlight. Leaf propagations need more water and less sunlight than their parents. Do not move the leaves while they grow roots. Mist the soil every few days with a spray bottle. After a few weeks, a small rosette will (hopefully!) form at the area where the leaf was removed from the stem. Eventually, the propagated leaf shrivels up and can then be removed. The new baby plant can then be planted in it’s own small pot and watered every 5 to 7 days. Provide it with bright, filtered sun.
Cuttings
This method is great for etiolated Graptoveria that no longer have a compact rosette shape. The cuttings can be replanted to grow a more attractive plant.
Take a pair of sharp garden shears and cut 1.5 inches below the rosettes stem. Leave the stem out to callous for about 3 days, then plant in well-draining soil. Wait a week after repotting to water, then water weekly after that. Keep your cutting in an area where it receives bright, indirect light.
Offsets
Graptoveria can also produce offsets (pups) that sprout up from the base of the plant. Once the offset is about 1/4 of the size of it’s parent, you can carefully remove it. Allow the roots to dry for a day or two, then plant in a new pot. Wait a few days after repotting before watering to give your plant time to settle in it’s new home. Provide bright, filtered sun and water every 4 to 5 days.
Graptoveria Temperature:
Graptoveria thrive in hot, dry climates. Their optimal temperature is from 65 °F to 75 °F (18 °C to 24 °C). They cannot tolerate cold weather and should not be left out in temperatures lower than 30 °F (-1 °C).
Graptoveria need average humidity- your room’s natural humidity should be enough for this plant. Excess humidity can lead to root rot for Graptoveria, so they should not be placed in rooms that are humid, such as bathrooms. A fan can help improve air circulation.
Like other succulents, if you live in a hotter area your Graptoveria requires more frequent watering than if you live somewhere colder. Drier environments also require more frequent watering than humid environments.
Graptoveria Flowers:
Graptoveria flowers are usually yellow or pink and star-shaped.
Graptoveria Toxicity:
These plants are safe to grow around pets.
Common Graptoveria care problems
How do I stop my Graptoveria from stretching?
If your Graptoveria is stretched out with long gaps in between the leaves, it is not receiving enough sun. This is a common problem with Graptoveria care because they are very light hungry. Transition the plant to a brighter area so that the new growth becomes more compact.
Unfortunately, the etiolated succulent cannot shrink back to it’s rosette shape, but you can keep the rest of your plant small if you move the Graptoveria succulent to an area with more sun. If you want a compact rosette, you will have to propagate the top cutting.
Why does my Graptoveria lean towards one side?
This occurs if you do not rotate your plant around every few days on the window sill it is sitting on. The side facing the window receives more sun and have more compact growth, while the side facing away from the window does not receive enough light. The growth can be evened out by rotating the plant every few days so that all sides receive an equal amount of light.
Why is my Graptoveria turning green?
When Graptoveria receive enough light, they can turn many vibrant colors, including pink, purple, yellow or red. This is called “sun stress” and means that your plant was receiving special conditions to reach this color, such as a lot of sun, less water, or cold temperatures.
If your Graptoveria has turned green after a few weeks of bringing it home from the nursery, there is nothing wrong with it- green succulents are still healthy and nothing needs to be done.
However if you want your Graptoveria to go back to the vibrant colors it had, try easing it into an area with more sun (but not too quickly or it can sunburn!). If you find your windows are not providing enough light, you may have to buy a grow lamp and put your Graptoveria under there. Be aware that you might not be able to turn your succulent to exactly the same color it was before- but that is okay! Your plant is still healthy.
Why are the bottom leaves of my Graptoveria dying?
Succulents grow from their centers by absorbing nutrients from the bottom leaves. A few dried leaves on the bottom is normal. You do not have to pull them off; they will fall off automatically when they are ready.
Why is my succulent turning yellow and mushy?
The following are signs of an over watered succulent:
- The bottom leaves of your Graptoveria are turning mushy or translucent yellow
- The stems are turning brown/black
- The plant is losing it’s shape and feels squishy
Your plant is suffering from root rot. This is a common problem and can be difficult to fix. Unfortunately, Graptoveria are sensitive to overwatering, and root rot is a common cause of Graptoveria death.
Allow the soil to dry out and decrease how often you water your plant. If a lot of the stem or leaves are damaged, you may have to cut away the healthy parts of the plant and propagate those. I have a full guide about how to fix root rot for more detail.
If the root rot is particularly extensive and the whole stem is mushy, you may only be able to chose a few leaves from the whole plant to propagate.
In summary for Graptoveria care…
With enough sun and proper Graptoveria care, they can turn beautiful shades of pink, purple or red. Their bright, colorful rosettes and chubby leaves make them a great addition to any houseplant collection.
Do you have any Graptoveria care questions I did not answer? Let me know down below!
Check out the following care guides for more information:
Succulent Etiolation and how to Prevent it
