Echeveria albicans: Care and Propagation Guide
Echeveria albicans is a succulent that is commonly known as Whitening Echeveria and one of the varieties of Echeveria elegans. In botany, its accepted name is Echeveria elegans, although it is still commonly known as Echeveria albicans.
This succulent belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It was identified from a grown plant because of which its origin cannot be defined.
It’s a clump-forming succulent that grows up to 3 inches tall. It has silvery-white rosettes that are thickly clustered. The leaves can grow to be 2 inches long and 1 inch broad. Pink flowers with yellowish or greenish edges occur on stalks up to 10 inches tall.
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Contents
Echeveria albicans Care Guide
Light
Echeveria albicans requires a substantial amount of light in order to thrive. They should receive at least four to five hours of bright, direct light on a daily basis. Placing your plant outdoors during the summer months will help it to thrive.
Echeveria albicans that does not receive enough light will become elongated and leggy, often ‘reaching’ towards the closest source of light. It is also unlikely that they will flower. If you have your plant on a windowsill, turn the plant occasionally to ensure that all sides of your plant get enough sun.
On the other hand, too many hours of intense, direct sunlight can result in sunburn.
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Watering
Echeveria albicans, like most succulents, does not require much water as they store water in their fleshy leaves. Wait until the soil has dried out completely before watering your plant, and then give it a good watering, making sure the excess water drains out from the pot.
If you water too much or too little, your Echeveria albicans will start to wilt, wrinkle, or drop leaves. However, it is better to err on the side of under-watering, as they can quickly succumb to root rot if overwatered. With that in mind, Echeveria albicans should never be kept in damp soil.
When watering Echeveria albicans, always water the soil directly and avoid allowing water to sit on the rosette of the succulent as this can lead to rot and fungal disease.
During the spring and summer, this succulent will need to be watered more frequently than it will in the winter.
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Soil
Echeveria albicans requires a well-draining, porous growing medium to help keep excess moisture away from the roots. Standard soil for cactus potting is sufficient for this succulent, which can be found at most nurseries and garden centers.
If growing in containers, make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom to allow water to drain from the soil. Soil that is constantly damp or doesn’t drain well will result in root rot.
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Climate
Echeveria albicans thrives in hot, dry conditions. For the most part, they do not tolerate cold temperatures or cold drafts well and too much humidity can lead to root rot. Echeveria albicans grows well indoors in average room conditions with around 40% – 50% humidity.
During the spring and summer months, your indoor Echeveria albicans needs temperatures of between 65 and 80°F (18 – 27°C). During the winter, a few degrees lower will be ideal. Outdoors, this succulent loves warm summers of at least 19°C or 20°C.
Fertilizing
Generally, fertilizing is not a requirement for Echeveria albicans as they are accustomed to growing in nutrient-poor soil, which makes them susceptible to fertilizer burn if over-fertilized.
However, if you want to encourage healthy growth, you can use a cactus or succulent fertilizer or low-nitrogen mix that has been diluted 3 or 4 times more than the recommended dose.
Only feed a small amount every 2 or 3 weeks during the spring and summer months which is their active growing period.
Potting and Repotting
When choosing a pot or container to grow an Echeveria albicans in, it is important to choose the right size. As a rule of thumb for all succulents, choose a pot that is slightly larger than the root ball. This helps to ensure the soil doesn’t stay too damp.
Echeveria albicans does not require frequent repotting and should only be repotted once they have outgrown their previous container. To repot an Echeveria albicans, ensure that the soil is completely dry before removing it from its potting container. Repotting in the spring is usually recommended as the plant will be entering into its active growing period.
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Propagating Echeveria albicans
Echeveria albicans propagates mainly through offsets, leaf cuttings, and seeds. A mature plant will produce offsets from its main stem, which can be separated and propagated as a separate plant. Alternatively, it can be propagated through leaf cuttings.
If the succulent has already formed several rosettes, it is particularly easy to propagate. All you have to do is cut off the rosettes. The offshoots should be at least two centimeters in diameter.
The best time to cut off the rosettes is May. Pluck apart the individual rosettes, then plant them separately.
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