Echeveria Pulvinata is an evergreen succulent that maintains its rich foliage all year round. If you’re one of those people who have always wanted to grow this but have been scared to try, this guide is for you.
Continue reading as we take you head-on into the world of caring for and propagating the Pulvinata ruby plant.
Contents
What Is Echeveria Pulvinata?
Echeveria Pulvinata is a small-sized and slow-growing evergreen succulent, native to Mexico, Costa Rica, and South America. It is also known as the Echeveria Pulvinata ruby plant due to its color. Moreover, an adult Pulvinata plant will grow up to only about 12 inches tall.
Learn what it looks like here:
- The leaves of this plant are present in a circular arrangement called rosettes. These leaves are big, oblong in shape and fleshy, with pointed edges. Fuzz is present all over them.
- Each leaf is of brilliant green color. The underside of each leaf has a red-brick stripe pattern running along its whole length.
- In late winter, your plant will bloom. Bell-shaped flowers will emerge from 30 inches tall inflorescences.
- The flowers of Echeveria Pulvinata are a beautiful orange-yellow in color. They might last until the end of spring.
Echeveria Pulvinata Care
You will only need a few minutes each day to take care of this rough and tough growing houseplant.
Find out how to take care of them below.
– Water Requirements
This plant will grow beautifully when it is properly watered.
- Use the soak and dry method of watering your succulents. Use abundant water to irrigate your plant, allowing excess water enough time to drain out of the drainage hole at the bottom.
- Direct the beam of water towards the soil. Pouring water on the whole plant is not a good practice with Echeveria plants.
- Allow your soil enough time between watering that it dries out completely. Never water again as long as the top 3 inches of the soil are moist.
- Use clean and safe water. If you can obtain reverse osmosis filtered water or distilled water, that would ideally be the best. Municipal water can be used as long as it is clear of toxins and chemicals.
– Light Requirements
Like its sister succulents, the Echeveria Pulvinata ruby plant also thrives under the conditions of full to partial sunlight.
- You can place your Echeveria Pulvinata under direct light during moderate times of the day such as early mornings and late evenings.
- During the time of the day when the sun shines the harshest, for example in the afternoon, this plant should receive only indirect light. Direct midday sun will cause the leaves of Echeveria to become sunburned.
- When placing them outdoors in a garden, you can fulfill the light requirements of your plant by putting it under the shade of a larger tree.
- Indoors, it is best to choose a western or eastern facing window and place your potted plants near them. An eastern window receives early morning sunlight and the western facing window receives late afternoon light. For the rest of the day, these windows will shield your plant from direct intense light.
- Avoid the southern facing window at all costs, this window receives harsh mid-afternoon sunlight directly.
- Remember that light intensity falls when you move away from the window. Your indoor plant should be as close to the window as possible.
Growing Echeveria Pulvinata
Your plant will grow successfully as long as it is grown in the right soil and under the right cultural conditions.
Find out what the ideal conditions for Echeveria Pulvinata are below:
– Temperature and Humidity
- This plant should be grown in warmer conditions. It needs a temperature range of 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Even during winters, temperatures should not fall down below 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Echeveria cannot tolerate colder conditions. In winters, it is preferable to move your plant indoors so that it could be protected from the harsh effects of cold.
- Humidity around Echeveria Pulvinata should only be 50 to 70 percent.
- You should think about investing in a dehumidifier if you live someplace where the surrounding humidity tends to be higher than this.
– Soil
- A loose, breathable, and quick-draining soil is your best friend here.
- The easiest approach is to simply buy a cactus or succulent potting mixture from the store.
- You can also create your own soil for your Echeveria succulent. Take regular soil and mix it with pebbles, pumice, or sand to increase its drainage capabilities.
– Pot
- We always prefer clay pots over plastic ones for our succulents. This is because clay pots provide better air circulation to the roots and the soil.
- Your pot should have a large enough drainage hole at its bottom to drain out the excess soil. Cut your own hole if not already present.
– Fertilizer
- You need to be a bit careful about fertilizing when it comes to succulents. Only use a mild fertilizer once every six months.
- Use a slow-releasing formula and apply it directly to the soil.
- Liquid fertilizers are better tolerated than powder ones. Even if you use a liquid fertilizer, you should always dilute it first before applying it to the soil.
- Succulents don’t like feed that is high in nitrogen content. We suggest you stay away from such fertilizers!
Propagation
What could be more fun than propagating plants at home by yourself?
Also, no plant is easier to fertilize than Echeveria Pulvinata ruby succulent. Follow our guide below to learn all the tricks.
– Propagate Using Seeds
- You can totally propagate this plant using seeds. But since they are very slow-growing, this process can seem to take forever.
- All you have to do is buy good quality Echeveria Pulvinata seeds from a succulent nursery and sprinkle it on fresh soil in a new pot.
- Place this pot in a well-lit area and keep watering when the soil dries out.
– Propagate Using Stem Cuttings
- For stem cuttings, choose a stem from the middle of the plant as it is neither too old nor too young.
- Stem cutting should be at least 3 inches long.
- Leave it for several days until it dries out completely.
- Make horizontal cuts on this cutting between two nodes. Apply rooting hormone on these cuts.
- Plant the cutting in new soil and water regularly until shoots can be seen. Then resume the normal pattern of watering for succulents.
– Propagate Using Leaves
- Take a healthy medium-sized leaf from the parent plant. This leaf should be medium in size. Not too large nor too small.
- You can cut this leaf off from the stem or you could twist it off with your fingers.
- Place the leaf on a paper towel to dry out. This might take a few days.
- Plant your leaf in a new pot and soil.
- Water regularly until new growth emerges.
Problems
Echeveria Pulvinata generally is known to be a very easy-going plant in general. The few problems you might encounter with it are given below.
– Mealybugs
- This annoying pest can cause serious problems for your plant. It sucks the sap out of your plant and eventually weakens it too much.
- A mealybug infestation can go unnoticed until significance has been caused. This is because of their tendency to hide under leaves and the sheath of the stems.
- One sign of a serious mealybug infestation is the yellowing and curling over of leaves.
- If you discover your plant infested by these bugs, use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to remove them. You can also use castor oil for this.
- Regularly check under the leaves to catch any potential infestation.
– Fungal Root Rot
- Fungal root rot is another avoidable problem that you might encounter with your Echeveria Pulvinata ruby plant.
- Its cause is primarily the retention of unwanted moisture in the soil and roots of your plant. Overwatering and using poorly draining soil are the main culprits here.
- There are two things you should do when you notice brown fungal rot appearing on your stem and leaves.
- First of all, take the whole plant out of the soil. Shake the soil from the roots to inspect them. Then cut off all the diseased plant parts.
- Secondly, start using a fungicide spray on your plant to get rid of all the spores.
- If you’re vigilant enough, your plant might survive to live another day.
FAQ
Is Echeveria Pulvinata summer or winter dormant?
Echeveria Pulvinata is typically summer dormant, requiring less water and sunlight during that period.
Should I let my Echeveria Pulvinata bloom?
Allowing Echeveria Pulvinata to bloom is optional; it can produce beautiful flowers, but it’s not necessary for the plant’s overall health.
Does Echeveria Pulvinata need a lot of room to grow?
Echeveria Pulvinata doesn’t require a lot of room to grow; it’s a compact succulent that can thrive in small spaces.
Conclusion
Before you go ahead and buy yourself a new pot of Echeveria Pulvinata, read below to revise the most important points regarding their care and propagation.
- Echeveria Pulvinata is a succulent that blooms in late winter.
- It needs moderate light to grow. Early morning and evening sunlight can be directly tolerated. Avoid the harsh midday sun.
- Use the soak and dry method of watering succulents. Water abundantly each time. Then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
- This plant grows best under warm weather conditions. Temperatures below 62.8 degrees Fahrenheit should be avoided.
- Maintain humidity levels around 50 to 70 percent.
- Propagation can be done through seeds, stem cutting, and leaves.
- Cactus or succulent mixes are the best types of soil due to their good drainage.
- Remove mealybugs using cotton swabs dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
- Overwatering leads to severe fungal infections. Treat this by using fungicides spray.
Echeveria Pulvinata is an evergreen that will freshen up your house and garden with its vibrant foliage and bloom. Growing it is super easy.
Why not grab a new pot and give it a try?
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