14 Types of Pachyphytum Succulents [With Pictures]
Pachyphytum is a genus of succulents whose name comes from the Greek words pachys, meaning thick and phytum, meaning plant. Pachyphytum has characteristically thick leaves which are very fleshy and arranged in tight rosettes of various beautiful colors.
We’ve put together this guide to everything you need to know about taking care of your Pachyphytum plant.
Contents
Types of Pachyphytum Succulents
Pachyphytum ‘Blue Haze’
Pachyphytum bracteosum
Pachyphytum bracteosum is a fascinating little plant with very plump, silvery-grey leaves tending to pink and producing very remarkable bracteated spikes of flowers. The whole plant is covered with a thick glaucous bloom.
The inflorescence shows a most striking contrast between the red color of the petals and the pale glaucous hue of the large calyx and bracts and all the rest of the plant and the flowers are more readily brought into view by the curvature of the spikes. Pachyphytum bracteosum is one of the most attractive of the twelve species in its genus.
Pachyphytum brevifolium
Pachyphytum caesium
Pachyphytum clavifolium
Pachyphytum compactum
Pachyphytum compactum is a short-stemmed, tightly branched, succulent with a closely set rosette near the crown. This succulent tends to grow both in height and in width, giving origin to a rounded shrub. Leaves are distinctively patterned with lots of nice colours (especially when stressed by cold or drought).
Pachyphytum fittkaui
Pachyphytum glutinicaule
Pachyphytum hookeri
Pachyphytum hookeri once known as Pachyphytum aduncum, is common in cultivation; its flowers resemble those of an Echeveria but without the narrowing at the mouth of the corolla, and the leaves, in an open rosette, are thick, cylindrical, glaucous blue and have a bloom or sheen that coats the outer leaf surface giving the plant a dusted in sugar effect. Various forms are in cultivation including one with bright green leaves and a cristate form.
Pachyphytum kimnachii
Pachyphytum longifolium
Pachyphytum oviferum
Pachyphytum saltense
Pachyphytum viride
Pachyphytum werdermannii
Related Post:
Echeveria vs Pachyphytum: 3 Interesting Differences and Similarities
How to Care for Pachyphytum
Pachyphytum plants are native to Mexico and are found at elevations of 600 to 1,500 meters. They are fairly simple to take care of and are a very common choice for houseplants. Not only are their needs easy to figure out, but they are also excellent as decorative plants because of their lovely leaves.
Light Requirements
Pachyphytum plants are native to regions where they get tons of natural sunlight. Pachyphytum plants can be grown outdoors or indoors as long as they get some amount of sunlight every single day.
Very direct and intense sunlight in the morning is tolerated well by Pachyphytum plants but direct sunlight in the afternoon can damage the leaves of the plant.
If you have an outdoor Pachyphytum, then use a sheet to protect the leaves of the plant during the hours of intense sunlight. If you have an indoor Pachyphytum, then make sure you keep it in a spot that gets partial sunlight throughout the day.
Water Requirements
Pachyphytum plants, like most succulents, are extremely sensitive to overwatering but can tolerate underwatering to a reasonable degree. Any amount of excess moisture can lead to the formation of rot in the roots of the plant.
If your Pachyphytum plant is underwatered, you will easily be able to tell. The leaves of the Pachyphytum will not have enough water stored and they will become soft to the touch.
In that case, you should go ahead and water the Pachyphytum plant. At other times, you must be extremely careful not to overwater the plant. The Pachyphytum plant should only be watered if the soil is dry up to a depth of four inches.
Alternatively, if the leaves of the plant are plump, then that means that there is water stored in the plant and you do not need to water the plant.
While watering, you must take care not to put water on the leaves of the plant as that can lead to rotting and damage.
Though this may vary according to climate, you can water your Pachyphytum plant once every five to seven days during the summer months.
Pachyphytum plants enter a period of active growth in the winter and need to be watered more heavily during that time.
To know when this period is coming, examine the bottom leaves of the plant. If they are dry, then you need to start increasing the quantity of water.
Soil Requirements
Pachyphytum plants have one crucial requirement from the soil. The soil can be of any poor quality but it should be well-drained so that there is no accumulation of moisture around the roots of the plant.
You can buy a pre-made succulent potting mix to plant your Pachyphytum or you can make your own by combining regular potting soil, sand and perlite or pumice.
Read also:
Best Soil for Succulents in Pots
Climate Requirements
Pachyphytum plants are native to regions with hot climates and can tolerate high amounts of heat. However, they cannot tolerate low temperatures and can especially die during frost.
Pachyphytum plants should not be kept in temperatures below 45 degrees Farhenheit for sustained periods of time without protection. Temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit can kill Pachyphytum plants completely.
Pachyphytum plants, especially those kept outdoors, need to be protected from the frost during the winter months. You can protect your Pachyphytum plant with a sheet during frost.
Fertilizer Requirements
Pachyphytum plants can be nourished with fertilizers around once a month during their active growth period. For this, you can use the fertilizers available for succulents by diluting them and then putting them in the soil.
Potting and Repotting
Pachyphytum plants need to be potted in well-drained soil, ideally in a container that has drainage holes.
The roots of the Pachyphytum do not take up a lot of space and grow slower than the leaves of the plant. As a result, the plant needs to be repotted only about once every two years. The Pachyphytum plant should ideally be repotted in the month of April.
How to Propagate Pachyphytum
New Pachyphytum plants can be propagated from the leaves found in the center of the rosettes of the plant. After cutting the leaf, keep it outside for about a day. After that, the leaf can be dipped in a rooting mixture and then potted in a moist soil mixture.
The leaf cutting will soon lead to the growth of rosettes of the Pachyphytum plant. As the rosette grows its own root, it can be transferred out of this soil into well-drained soil that is suitable for Pachyphytum plants.