Echeveria Black Prince: Caring for the Dramatic Yet Easy Succulent

Echeveria Black Prince of the Crassulaceae family is a gorgeous ornamental succulent loved for its dark brown and black foliage. The succulent generally grown as ground cover is believed to bring prosperity and peace to homes. This Echeveria genus plant also goes by the names Black Prince succulent, the Dark Prince succulent and Black Hens and Chicks.

Let us take a closer look at what it takes to care for the Black Prince succulent.

What Is Echeveria Black Prince?

Echeveria Black Prince is a hybrid, evergreen succulent and its parents are Echeveria Shaviana “Pink Frills” and Echeveria Affinis “Black Knight” the dark-colored leaves add the perfect contrast to tray and rock gardens. They were first identified by Frank Reinelt who operated a nursery in Capitola, California.

Echeveria Black Prince Care

Echeveria Black Prince is a low-maintenance succulent and grows well with basic succulent care. The growth requirements are subjective and will depend on other factors in your area. Read on to find out the care requirements for this plant.

Water Requirements

Echeveria Black Prince has water requirements similar to most other succulents. It cannot tolerate water-logged soil conditions for too long, otherwise, it will start to rot.

 

Watering the Echeveria Black Prince depends majorly on the type of soil used and the weather conditions in your area. During the active growing seasons of spring and summer, water one to two times a week when the soil has dried.

In winter when the plant is almost dormant, you can reduce it to once a month. Remember, it is always advisable to keep the soil dry under cool temperatures. Water once in a while but do it in such a way that the water reaches all the roots. 

There are two methods that you can use to water your Black Prince succulent. You can use either one depending on the weather conditions in your area. 

In this method, you have to soak the succulent well in water and then leave it to dry out completely before watering again. We recommend you use this method only if your succulent is stable.

This is the usual and safe way of watering this succulent, as sometimes, the ‘soak and dry’ method causes root rot if the plant is not stable.

In that case, you should water your succulent like the way you water other plants from the top. Usually, watering once a week works well for this plant but you can increase or decrease the watering frequency depending on the weather conditions in your area.

Light Requirements

Echeveria Black Prince needs full to partial sunlight for its leaves to stay black, moreover, it needs to be slightly stressed to stay black or brown. South, east, or a west-facing window or balcony is a great spot to keep these succulents. 

The Dark Prince succulent needs about five to six hours of direct sunlight every day. If the plant is stable for more than three months, you can give them up to nine hours of direct sunlight every day.

If Echeveria Black Prince does not receive enough sunlight, it could turn back into green and lose its color, and could also stretch out. The new leaves on stems are sparse and thinned. 

Thinning and stretching out indicate that the plant is trying to reach for the light. If you are keeping your succulent indoors, make sure that you keep it in a spot where it can receive lots of bright light. 

If you have decided to shift the plant outdoors, make sure that you do it gradually over a few days. Let the plant acclimatize to the sun slowly as sudden exposure can cause sunburn on the leaves.

One way to make your plant go into stress is by changing its light exposure dramatically. One way of doing that is by suddenly changing the light conditions from indirect light to direct sunlight and vice versa. 

However, you must not put your plant through such extremities because it negatively affects the overall health of the plant. 

Soil Requirements

Echeveria Black Prince needs well-draining soil with a good amount of perlite or sand for drainage and organic compost for richness. Standard succulent mixes work well in removing the excess moisture from the roots.

 

You can also use 70 percent pumice and 30 percent carbonized rice hull or vermicast. Vermicast is worm manure and acts as a great fertilizer for the plant, as Pumice is a volcanic rock and helps in making the soil airy while keeping enough water for the succulent.

It is extremely important to choose the right container for your plant. Do not choose a container that is too big to handle the root system. 

The pot should be just big enough to accommodate the root ball of the plant. It helps in making sure that the roots do not stand in wet soil for too long. 

Always try to grow Snake plants in terracotta or clay pots and avoid using plastic pots. Clay pots help in absorbing the excess moisture from the soil avoiding the problems related to overwatering. Additionally, note that plastic and ceramic pots cannot absorb excess moisture.

Therefore, if you are new to the world of gardening, try to use more terracotta pots and avoid the plastic ones so that even if you overwater sometimes, the plant does not get affected.

Temperature Requirements

Echeveria Black Prince grows well in the temperature range of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring and summer months. A few degrees lower works well in the winter months, additionally, it is not a cold hardy succulent, is sensitive to cool temperatures, and needs to be shifted indoors to a warm spot. 

If you live in a temperate zone where winters tend to get chilly, it is better to bring these succulents inside. Providing enough sunlight indoors can be a problem but try growing them under artificial grow lights. 

Humidity

Do not worry about maintaining humidity levels for Echeveria Black Prince. It thrives in dry and low humidity conditions. Humidity levels usually in households vary from 35 to 40 percent and it works quite well for this succulent.

 

During the rainy season, we would recommend you bring the succulent indoors or to a covered spot away from the rain as continuous exposure to water causes fungal diseases and rot. 

Fertilizer

Echeveria Black Prince has low fertilizer needs, it is naturally made to live in areas with no fertile soil. Note that whenever you fertilize your succulent, make sure that it is a slow-release fertilizer to avoid root burn problems. 

If you want more flowers on your succulents, apply a flower plant fertilizer to extend the blooming in the plant. Feed the succulent once a month with a diluted fertilizer like a 15-15-15 during the months of active growth. 

Do not fertilize your succulent in the winter months as it hardly shows any new growth in winter. The plant is almost dormant, so adding fertilizer can cause root burn due to excessive salt build-up.

Pruning

Echeveria Black Prince needs little to no pruning. You only need to prune the old parts of the plant when the height is too much to handle. Cut the tops of the plant so that it can encourage side branching, giving the plant a denser and fuller look.

 

Remove the wilted flowers regularly to promote new growth. This process of removing the old, spent flowers is known as deadheading. It is not compulsory to follow this step unless you want the plant to produce more flowers.

 

Propagation

There are three ways to propagate Echeveria Black Prince. It can be done through leaves, cuttings, and offsets. The easiest of all the methods is through offsets. Read on to find out more about each method. 

– Offsets or Chicks

The main Echeveria Black Prince produces small babies that are also called offsets or chicks.

 

When your succulent grows to a certain size, take offsets from the mother plant and let the offsets dry out for five to seven days after which you can plant them.

– From Leaves

To pluck a leaf, simply move it side to side. Do not pluck it immediately as it damages the part from where the offset will grow. Let it callous over for a few days and let the wound heal, Nonetheless, after cleanly plucking the leaf, place the leaves upright on the soil and wait for them to grow small roots.

Mist the leaves every two to three days and do not keep the soil too dry, roots grow first in search of moisture followed by the leaves. You can remove the original leaf once it has completely dried and turned crispy.

– From Cuttings

To propagate the succulent from cuttings, take a cutting by using a sharp, clean shear and allow the cut to callous over for a few days.

 

Plant it in a well-draining soil mix and let it grow, hence water them when the soil feels dry as overly moist soil causes rot and fungus growth. 

Repotting Echeveria Black Prince 

It would be ideal to report Echeveria Black Prince annually or every two years in spring when it has outgrown the pot or when the potting mix needs to be changed. Repotting the plant at the right time helps in extending its life span. 

Choose a pot one size larger than the older one. First, remove the plant from the pot and ensure that the soil is completely dry before removing it. Remove the extra soil and check the roots. Cut off the dead and damaged roots. 

Fill the soil mix in the pot and plant your Echeveria Black Prince in the new pot. Keep the plant in partial shade for a few days before shifting it to full sunlight. Do not water for a few days to let the plant adjust to its new surroundings. 

Problems

Echeveria Black Prince is not too fussy when it comes to its care. However, there are some common problems that it might face if left ignored.

– Stretched Leaves and Leggy Growth in the Plant

Lack of enough sunlight causes discoloration, stretched-out leaves, and leggy growth in this succulent. It needs a daily sun exposure of five to six hours to remain healthy. We would recommend you keep your succulent in a well-lit space where it can get enough sunlight.

 

The Black Prince succulent prefers a sunny and airy spot, preferably a sunny patio or balcony. Do remember to bring the succulent to a covered space when it rains as too much water makes it prone to root rot.

– Leaves Turning Mushy and Dark Spots on Leaves

If the leaves of your succulent develop black-brown spots and the foliage turns mushy, it is probably because of a fungal disease due to high humidity or moisture, as some leaves also develop warts.

You can manage the early-stage symptoms by controlling the watering schedule and spraying fungicide on the affected parts. Some leaves also develop warts. 

Manage the early symptoms by letting the soil mix dry out properly before watering again. The brown spots indicate the presence of fungal disease and spraying a fungicide after watering helps control them. 

Mushy leaves are often caused by burns due to high temperatures. To prevent the problem, ensure that the soil is well-draining and the succulent is protected from both rain and scorching sun in temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. 

– Pests

Pests such as mealybugs and aphids cause deformation in the foliage of the Black Prince. They feed on the foliage and leave tiny marks, leaving the leaves deformed. 

 

Let us take a look at them and see how you can control them.

– Mealybugs

Mealybugs are tiny, white sap-sucking pests that look like small cotton balls. They secrete honeydew which attracts ants. Both of them can be problematic for your succulent. 

To control the mealybug population, spray the leaves with isopropyl alcohol solution and if the situation seems uncontrollable, use pyrethrum sprays. Use the soap water solution to get rid of these pests.

You can also use neem oil organic spray on the affected parts to get rid of them, although it is organic and would not harm the plant. If the infestation is severe, remove the affected parts or else get rid of the plant itself to avoid the spread to other plants.

– Aphids

Aphids are also sap-sucking insects that leave behind sooty mold inviting the ants. They usually live on the undersides of the leaves and feed on the sap.

You can use insecticidal soap solution on the affected areas or attract healthy insects such as ladybugs and lacewings that feed on aphids. Spray neem oil if you are looking for an organic solution.

– Too Much Light

It is recommended to keep the Dark Prince in direct sunlight but avoid keeping it in hot and burning sunlight, especially during noon. In the summer months, with the increase in temperatures, it becomes difficult to keep the plant happy. 

In that case, you can gradually shift the plant to a covered spot or bring the plant indoors. However, do this process gradually as sudden changes in the environment makes it go into stress. 

If the leaves of your plant are sunburnt due to exposure to scorching sunlight, cut the head, remove the dead and damaged leaves and grow a new one.  

FAQ

Let us look at some frequently asked questions about the beautiful Echeveria Black Prince.

– Is the Echeveria Black Prince rare?

Echeveria Black Prince is rare in some parts of the world where it does not grow naturally. Nonetheless, in tropical countries such as the Philippines, it is quite common and available at affordable prices.

– What are the Leaves Flowers of Echeveria Black Prince?

Echeveria Black Prince has beautiful dark green and almost purple-black leaves, as the center of the rosette has a yellowish-green tinge that spreads to the outer leaf edges. The rosettes have triangular, blackish leaves.

The leaves get the gorgeous purple and black color with increased sun exposure and turn green in shade. Extremely low light and high sun exposure are detrimental to this succulent’s health.

The Echeveria Black Prince flower is a dark red color, usually, it flowers on short stalks in the fall and winter months. The contrasting red color against the black and brown leaves gives the plant a striking look.

– Is Echeveria Black Prince toxic?

One great thing about this succulent is that it is generally non-toxic to both humans and animals. However, we would still recommend you keep it out of reach of kids and pets in your home because it might cause mild irritation in the throat if ingested.

– What are the signs of overwatering and underwatering in Echeveria Black Prince?

The leaves falling off, turning yellow or brown, and wilting can be the symptoms of both overwatering and underwatering. Too much water will lead to root rot and too little water causes the leaves to crisp up and ultimately fall off, as both are equally harmful, so keep an eye out for these signs and act accordingly.

– Does Echeveria Black Prince have a rest period?

Echeveria Black Prince shows major growth in the spring and summer months and almost stops growing in autumn and winter. During the rest period, the plant is susceptible to fungal infections. 

In fall, the old and mature leaves shrivel and die back before winter. But if you overwater the plant, the older leaves begin to rot and may lead to fungal growth that slowly spreads to other parts of the plant. 

– What Is the Growth Size of Echeveria Black Prince?

Echeveria Black Prince is a small succulent and does not grow large. It remains four to eight inches in both height and width. The slow-growing succulent produces offsets or chicks that are green initially and turn darker as they mature. The clumps of rosettes have a dark green to brown color and are up to three inches wide. 

Black Prince Succulent is growing undercover, or as a garden perennial in mild dry climates. Their dramatic foliage adds a wonderful contrast to succulent plantings and rock gardens, overall it is splendid in containers and large-scale rock gardens.

The Black Prince succulent also comes in a variegated form. Furthermore, the variegated Black Prince Echeveria also called Echeveria ‘Bess Bates’ has yellow, green, black, and purple leaves with the variegation varying from one plant to another. Moreover, some variegated varieties also have evenly distributed colors throughout the plant.

Conclusion

Echeveria Black Prince grows well in garden beds and container gardens. Now that you know all about this black beauty, let us take a look at some important points you must remember before growing it.

• Echeveria Black Prince is a beautiful, evergreen succulent with chocolate brown and black leaves. Grow it in bright, direct sunlight as little light will cause the leaves to lose their dark color. 
• It does not require much water and prefers to dry out completely before watering again. With healthy and draining soil and good amounts of sunlight, this succulent will grow healthy.
• Fertilize the succulent twice a year in the spring and summer months using a diluted fertilizer. Repot your succulent only when it has outgrown the container or the soil mix needs to be changed.
• It can be propagated using cuttings, leaves and offsets. The easiest and quickest method, however, is through offsets.
• It can face problems such as overwatering-related issues, sunburn, and pest infestations. 

Perfect for mildly dry weather conditions, it is time for you to add this perennial succulent to your home garden.