The Echeveria Laui has become a highly sought-after plant due to its soft-colored contrast of hues, especially when the succulent is flowering. Even a novice grower can easily coax an echeveria flower from the succulent.
By knowing the right combination of soil, temperature, fertilizer, and the amount of sunlight, cactus lovers and admirers can grow this charming succulent with great success.
Contents
What Is Echeveria Laui?
The Echeveria Laui is a gorgeous succulent plant with powdery blue-green leaves that produce dramatic flowers in pastel peaches and pretty pinks.
Aside from the beauty a blooming Echeveria Laui showcases, the powdery texture of its leaves gives the succulent a dreamy, magical image.
Echeveria Laui Care
The Echeveria Laui is a very low-maintenance succulent plant perfect for succulent beginners and gardening novices. The slow growth, the infrequent need for watering, and the easy upkeep of the plant make it very easy to grow.
This succulent will thrive even more under the right growing conditions, providing beauty and charm for many cultivators.
– Water
The Echeveria Laui prefers the typical watering techniques for many potted succulents, which is the “soak and dry” method. Water is poured over the potting soil of the plant until excess water is drained. The soil of the succulent is left to remain slightly damp before watering again.
The Echeveria Laui prefers rainwater as opposed to tap water. When rainwater is not available, distilled water may be used in place of rainwater.
Watering Schedule
When grown in cooler regions, the watering schedule should be less frequent than those in the warmer seasons.
Watering once a month is recommended, and careful observation should be practiced to see if the schedule is optimal. If not, it should be adjusted accordingly.
– Light
The Echeveria Laui grows best under full sun exposure. The strength and heat of the sun encourage the leaves of the plant to photosynthesize, which can be used by the plant as energy for flowering. The intense sunlight can sometimes cause the colors of the leaves to turn pinkish, making the plant truly resemble a rose.
Shade Tolerance
The Echeveria Laui can tolerate shade, although excess shade can cause the plant to elongate and become leggy. This condition is known as etiolation, where the succulent does not get enough light, so the whole plant stretches in search of better light levels.
This condition can be alleviated by placing the succulent in a sunnier spot, although it may take time for the succulent to revert to its original compact condition.
When grown indoors, light exposure should still be sufficient. South-facing windows are the most ideal as these spots take in a lot of light without the risk of burning the plants.
– Soil
The Echeveria prefers quick-draining sandy soil to keep its roots healthy and avoid root rot. The ideal mixture for this plant is equal parts of light gardening sand, gardening soil, and pumice or perlite. Premixed cactus soil is also commercially available.
The Echeveria Laui may require repotting after several years, although frequent transplanting activities are not encouraged as this plant does not like to be disturbed. Repotting activities should be done in warmer weather.
– Temperature
The Echeveria Laui thrives in temperatures from 65 to 75 F during the warmer seasons and can tolerate temperatures as low as 50 F in the colder seasons. Due to the succulent nature of this plant, it is recommended to keep it indoors where heat can be regulated in the winter.
The Echeveria is a thermophilic plant that thrives in regions with high temperatures. In North America, the succulent can be successfully grown in USDA zones 9 to 12.
– Fertilizer
The Echeveria Laui normally does not require regular fertilizer feedings. However, controlled diluted solutions of cactus fertilizers can encourage them to grow better. Reduced nitrogen fertilizers or balanced fertilizers are recommended. Frequency can be as often as weekly.
– Rest Period
The Echeveria Laui grows well in warm climates and will not require rest periods in these regions. When grown indoors and in cooler regions, the succulent may slow down its growth if it encounters temperatures lower than its tolerated levels.
During this stage, watering should be very infrequent, and fertilization should be halted.
Propagation
The Echeveria Laui can be cultivated in several ways.
Some methods are easier than others and have a higher yield, while other methods can be quite meticulous, with no guaranteed outcomes.
– By Calloused Leaves
Using the calloused leaves of the Echeveria Laui can be quite easy. The calloused leaf can be simply placed into the cactus soil mix and watered as a regular plant until new growth comes out.
– By Calloused Cuttings
Propagating Echeveria Laui from calloused cuttings is recommended for intermediate growers, as this method will require a more advanced technique. The sterile, calloused stem is normally planted in a cactus mix and cultivated until new growth is evident.
– By Seeds
Growing Echeveria Laui from seeds requires patience. This method is the least recommended as the yield is usually low, and the viability is not guaranteed. This method involves minuscule seeds from flowers that are germinated in cactus soil mix until baby cacti are formed.
Problems
The Echeveria Laui is normally a very healthy succulent, although there are instances where the plant is susceptible to mealybugs, mites, and thrips. Insecticide soaps or neem oil solutions can easily get rid of these pests.
To prevent inviting pests, ensure that dead succulent leaves are removed.
Features of the Echeveria Laui
– Name Origins
The Echeveria Laui takes its first name from Atanasio Echeverria y Godoy, an 18th-century botanist, and illustrator who went to Mexico’s Royal Art Academy to study and train extensively.
The epithet laui is in honor of Dr. Alfred B. Lau, a 21st-century cactus collector, and a German missionary. As part of his prolific studies on cacti, many species and varieties were named after him.
Other Name
The Echeveria Laui is often called by its scientific name. Also, the succulent plant can sometimes be known as La Roseta. La Roseta in Spanish means the small rose, or the rosette, which refers to the rose-like growth of the succulent plant’s powdery leaves.
– Size
The Echeveria Laui can grow up to six inches in height, although it can take many years before the plant reaches this size. Similarly, the succulent can grow its rosettes up to five inches in diameter over a lengthy period of time. From this, it is clear that the Echeveria Laui growth rate is comparable to many cacti.
– Leaves
The leaves of the Echeveria Laui are plump and spoon-like. The tips of the leaves tend to be pointy, although the edges of the leaves are smooth. One of the most striking features of the leaves is the texture and the color.
The leaves of the plant are covered with a natural plant wax called pruina, which causes the plant to take on a powdery sheen and texture. The amount and intensity of sun exposure can also affect the color of the plant’s succulent leaves, sometimes with the tips and margins turning pink or red.
The plump pointed leaves are arranged in a rose-like pattern, making the plant even more like the shape of a rose. The plant does not usually branch as it has a solitary growth habit.
– Roots
The roots of the Echeveria Laui are fine, thin, and hair-like. Their fibrous nature ensures that the roots remain extremely efficient in absorbing moisture from the ground. This unique characteristic is an evolutionary adaptation that the plant has undergone to thrive in places where water is not always plentiful.
The Echeveria Laui has shallow roots. The root system of the succulent is comparatively smaller than its size, as the fine fibrous roots are not as expansive. The shallow and small nature of its roots indicates the plant’s intolerance to stagnant water. This also means the roots could rot from prolonged exposure to excessive wetness.
– Flowers
The Echeveria Laui flowers are in soft shades of pinks, peaches, and oranges. These color palettes combine incredibly well with the plant’s succulent leaves in similar pastel hues. Occasionally, the flowers can come in yellow to white colors as well.
The flowers of the Echeveria Laui are borne from a tall arching stem. The delicately colored blooms resemble the shape of a bell and can flower in profusion under ideal conditions.
Blooming Season
The Echeveria Laui is a polycarpic plant that flowers a few times within a year, expending most of its energy in doing so. Once the blooms are spent, it is recommended to cut off the flower stalks so that the succulent does not spend its remaining strength needlessly.
The Echeveria Laui can take up to four years before it matures and blooms. The plant’s blooming period is around late spring to early summer.
– Habitat
The Echeveria Laui is a succulent species native to the regions of Central America, South America, and Mexico. These regions’ warm and dry climates are the ideal growing environments for the succulent, although the plant has been known to tolerate some light humidity.
The Echeveria Laui can be found growing in the sandy soils of these locations. The quick-draining texture of the land is optimal for the succulent as it does not like its roots to be saturated in water.
The heat and light exposure of these semi-desert arid regions is especially conducive to the Echeveria Laui. The length and intensity of the sunlight have been known to cause the plant to change from greenish-blue hues to pinkish tones.
FAQ
How long can Echeveria Laui go without water?
Echeveria Laui can survive without water for 2-4 weeks, but it’s best to water it when the soil is completely dry to prevent dehydration.
Is it better to plant Echeveria Laui in pots or ground?
Planting Echeveria Laui in well-draining pots allows better control over soil moisture and protection from extreme weather conditions.
Should I let my Echeveria Laui bloom?
Allowing Echeveria Laui to bloom is a personal choice. It produces stunning flowers but can redirect energy from leaf growth. Prune after flowering to maintain plant health.
Conclusion
The Echeveria Laui is a great compact succulent for beginners and experts alike. Let’s go over what we’ve learned so far about this enchanting succulent:
- The drought-tolerant Echeveria Laui thrives in high levels of sun exposure, temperature, and minimal watering.
- The Echeveria Laui can benefit from diluted solutions of fertilizers, and propagation is uncomplicated.
- The Echeveria may be prone to pests and problems, although they can be easily remedied.
The Echeveria Laui is a charming succulent with pale pastel blue-green leaves, giving off fanciful impressions of subdued hues of the morning dawn. Washed in colors of pale greens, blues, and pinks, this plant is definitely delightful and makes for a great addition to any home!
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