Echeverias are one of my favorite types of succulents because they have beautiful rosettes and plump leaves. With enough light, you can bring out beautiful purple, pink, yellow, or red hues in your Echeveria succulent. Echeveria care can be tricky because their needs are different from typical houseplants (they require less water and more sun).
These are tips and tricks specific to Echeveria care. For a general guide to taking care of all succulents, click here.
| Name | Echeveria |
| Sunlight | 7 to 8 hours of bright, direct 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 | Winter Dormant |
| Propagation | Leaves, cuttings and offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Echeveria Sunlight:
Echeverias LOVE bright sunlight. Out of all my plants, Echeverias are definitely one of the most light-hungry ones. Therefore, make sure the plant receives at least 7 to 8 hours of bright direct sunlight every day. If Echeverias do not receive enough sunlight, they begin to stretch out and lean sideways in search of brighter areas. This is called etiolation. Etiolation is prevented by ensuring the Echeveria is kept in an area with enough light.
South-facing windows are best for Echeverias 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 Echeverias love light, be careful if you are moving your plant from a shady area to one with bright sun too quickly because it can sunburn. Sunburn shows up as brown, calloused spots on the leaf surface. Unfortunately, once burned, the leaf cannot go back to it’s original color. To prevent sunburn, gradually ease your Echeveria to a sunny area over the course of a week, increasing the light it receives daily.
Echeveria need average humidity- your room’s natural humidity should be enough for this plant.
Echeveria Soil Type and pH:
These plants need well-draining, porous soil with a pH of 6.0. For proper Echeveria care, ensure it is planted in a well-draining soil to prevent rot. I have had good results with this soil. I mix that soil with perlite, in a 70:30 ratio.
Echeveria Watering:
Echeverias have similar watering needs as most succulents. Their thick leaves allow them to store plenty of water in times of drought. Learn more about succulent watering needs here.
During the summer months, water once a week. Take care to only water once the soil is completely dry since Echeverias do not like sitting in water for too long. During winter months, reduce watering to once every three to four weeks to prevent root rot. Echeverias go dormant during the winter. When watering, water the soil at the base of the plant. Make sure that water does not spill into the top rosette of the Echeveria or on it’s leaves because that can lead to rot. If you do find some water on these areas, quickly wipe it off with a tissue.
Echeveria Propagation:
Echeverias can easily be propagated from leaves, cuttings and offsets.
Leaves
To obtain a leaf to propagate, twist it carefully off the plant. Make sure you choose a healthy leaf, and not one that is wrinkled or dried out. Pull the leaf off carefully, ensuring you take off the whole 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.
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 (I know, I know- it is really tempting). After a few weeks, a small rosette forms at the tip of the leaf. As the new succulent grows, it absorbs nutrients from the parent leaf. Eventually, the propagated leaf shrivels up and can then be removed. The new baby plant can be planted in its own small pot, kept in an area with bright, filtered sun, and watered every 5 to 7 days.
Offsets
Echeveria 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, using a clean pair of garden shears as necessary. Allow the roots to dry for a day or two, then replant in a new pot. Water the new plant a few days after repotting to avoid damaging the roots. Provide bright, filtered sun and water every 4 to 5 days.
Cuttings
This method is great for those Echeverias that become stretched out (or “etiolated”) and 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 (this takes about 3 days), then replant. Water a week after repotting, and once weekly after that.
Echeveria Temperature:
Native to the desert, Echeverias thrive in hot, dry climates. The 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 50 °F (10 °C).
Excess humidity causes root rot for Echeverias, so they should not be placed in humid rooms (such as bathrooms) if indoors.
Like other succulents, if you live in a hotter area, your Echeveria needs more frequent watering than if you were in a colder area. Drier environments also require more frequent watering than more humid environments.
Echeveria Flowers:
Echeveria flower late summer to early fall. The flower color varies.
Native Area:
This plant is native to Central America, South America, and Mexico.
Echeveria Toxicity:
These plants are safe to grow around pets.
Common Echeveria care problems
Why do Echeveria leaves point downwards?
Downward facing leaves are most often due to insufficient sunlight or over watering. Once the leaves point downwards, they will not turn up, but you can take steps to ensure the new growth maintains a rosette shape. Provide the succulent with enough light and water only when the top layer of soil is dry.
Learn more about Echeveria leaves pointing down here.
How do you fix stretched Echeveria?
If your Echeveria is stretched out and no longer a rosette, it is not receiving enough sun. This is a common problem with Echeveria care because they are very light hungry. Transition the plant to a brighter area so that the new growth is more compact.
Unfortunately, the stretched out segment cannot go back to it’s compact shape, but you can prevent the rest of your plant from etiolating if you move the Echeveria succulent to an area with more sun. If you want your plant to go back to a rosette shape, you should propagate the cutting.
Why is my Echeveria leaning 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 has more compact growth, while the side facing away from the window does not receive enough light. The growth can be evened out just by rotating the plant every few days so that all sides receive an equal amount of light.
Why are the bottom leaves of my succulent dying?
Succulents grow from their centers by absorbing nutrients from the bottom leaves. A few dried leaves on the bottom is completely normal. You do not have to pull them off; they fall off automatically when they are ready.
My Echeveria was a pretty pink/purple/red when I bought it and now it is green
When Echeverias receive enough light, they can turn many different vibrant colors, including pink, purple, yellow or red. This is called “sun stress” and means that the place you brought your plant from was providing it with special conditions to reach this color, such as a lot of sun, less water, or cold temperatures.
If your Echeveria has turned green after a few weeks, there is nothing wrong with it- green succulents are still healthy and nothing needs to be done.
However if you really want your Echeveria 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 purchase a grow lamp and put your Echeveria 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.
Mushy, brown stems or yellow, translucent leaves
If you notice the bottom leaves of your Echeveria are turning mushy or translucent yellow, or the stems are turning brown/black and losing their shape, you over watered it. Your plant is suffering from root rot. This is a common problem and can be difficult to fix. Unfortunately, Echeverias are especially prone to overwatering.
Allow the soil to dry out and decrease how often you water your plant. If a lot of the stem or leaves are damaged, cut away the healthy parts of the plant and propagate those. To learn more about how to fix root rot in detail, check this guide.
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 Echeveria care…
Echeverias are a gorgeous succulent and one of my favorite. With enough sun and proper Echeveria care, they can turn beautiful shades of pink, purple or red. Their rosette shape and chubby leaves make a great addition to your plant collection.
Learn more about general succulent care from these articles:
How Often Should you Water Succulents and Cacti
How to Take Care of Succulents and Keep them Alive
Succulent Root Rot: What it is and How to Treat It
Succulent Etiolation: What to do if your Succulent is Growing Tall
