A rare succulent, Echeveria blue heron is an absolute delight to see. Due to its wavy rosette shape and fleshy iceberg blue leaves having a pinkish tinge, these succulents are an extreme delight to the eyes. The edge of the leaves is frilled to some extent.
These succulents bloom to produce flowers that hang on the tall stalks like bells. The Echeveria blue heron requires bright light in order to nurture its vivid coloration and compact structure.
These succulents can be kept as indoor plants. Make sure to place them near a window sill having exposure to bright sunlight. Keep in mind that these succulents are cold-hardy and can not survive cold temperatures.
Similar to other succulents, this succulent also requires great drainage to avoid the risks of rot. In order to ensure the best drainage, pick pots having drainage holes.
Also make sure to use well-draining soil having approximately 50 percent to 70 percent mineral grit i.e. perlite, coarse sand, pumice, etc. Read this article to get further insights into this beautiful succulent.
Echeveria Blue Heron Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Echeveria
History:
Echeveria Blue Heron is a succulent that is quite rare to exist. It possesses long leaves having pale greenish blue, cream, pink, or mauve coloration. This succulent is considered to be a cross between Echeveria peacockii and Echeveria ‘Pink Frills’. It often goes by the name of Hen and Chicks.
Features of Echeveria Blue Heron
Structure
Echeveria Blue Heron is a hybrid succulent having iceberg blue leaves with a pinkish tinge. This beautiful succulent requires bright sunlight to sustain its gorgeous wavy rosette structure. The flowers bloom on tall flower stalks and hang like bells.
The margins of the leaves appear to be extraordinarily beautiful due to them being somewhat riffled. It is an absolutely amazing succulent having rosettes of long iceberg blue leaves. These succulents can be found in various colors such as blue, mauve, pink, cream, etc.
Size
The overall size of this succulent is comparatively smaller than the other varieties of Echeveria. These succulents tend to reach up to 7 inches to a maximum of 8 inches.
Leaves
Echeveria blue heron is an absolutely amazing succulent having vividly hued, ombre rosettes. The leaves of this gorgeous succulent are quite thin and delicate as compared to other varieties of Echeveria. The leaves are fleshy and store water in themselves to tolerate the drought conditions.
Flowers
Fortunately, the Echeveria blue heron is a polycarpic species meaning that they might bloom numerous times in their overall duration of life and at various times per year. The flowers bloom on stalks that arise from the fleshy and compact rosette structures of leaves that are often quite vivid in coloration.
However, it should be kept in mind that blooming can utilize much energy of the plant. Due to this reason, it is recommended to remove the flower stalks from both the weak and the sick plants till the plants regain their health. When your succulent becomes fit and maintains good health, only then it is safe to enjoy its gorgeous blooms.
Toxicity
These succulents are safe to keep indoors even if you have pets. Although upon ingesting, some animals might experience symptoms such as upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and even tremors in rare cases.
If your pet or any member of your household consumes the plant material from this succulent, we urge you to seek immediate medical help to rule out the chances of any potential health complications.
Dormancy
You might observe your Echeveria blue heron succulent’s decreased growth rate during the winter season. This is because of the reason that these succulents are winter dormant. Provide infrequent water to your succulent during their dormancy.
Echeveria Blue Heron Care
Echeveria blue heron is a popular ornamental succulent that is drought-resistant. Although this succulent requires to be watered and provided with fertilizers. These beauties can not tolerate cold weather. They might even die if kept in cold temperatures for longer periods of time.
It is recommended to place these succulents inside homes during the winter season. This is to avoid the succulent being exposed to the harsh and cold weather outdoors.
Quick Care Guide:
Light: Bright sunlight to partial shade.
Water: Occasional watering must be done.
Temperature: Requires temperature between 65° F (18° C) to 80° F (27° C).
Soil: Prefers well-draining and fertile soil.
Fertilizer: Fertilizer is not quite necessary.
Humidity: Approximately about 40 percent to 50 percent.
Water Requirements
Similar to most succulents, the Echeveria blue heron also does not prefer being frequently watered. The reason behind this is that succulents are able to store water in their fleshy leaves. So as to not overwater your succulents, you should wait until the soil becomes completely dry before providing it with more water.
Be mindful of the fact that too much water or too little water can cause your succulent to wilt, rot, or even start dropping its leaves. So make sure to wait until the soil is completely dry. Moreover, the Echeveria blue heron must never be placed in damp soil as it might result in root rot.
Additionally, it is recommended to water directly the soil to refrain the water to stay put on the leaves of succulents, as it might induce fungal disease or rot.
During the winter period, It will require less water as compared to the spring and summer seasons.
Sunlight Requirements
A considerable amount of sunlight is required by these succulents for the sake of thriving. It is recommended to provide a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of bright and direct sunlight regularly.
If your succulent does not get a sufficient amount of sunlight, it might become leggy and elongated. Moreover, they won’t be able to bloom more often as compared to the succulents placed in direct and bright light.
Place your succulent outdoors during the summer season for it to flourish. However, in winter seasons, place it heron on a windowsill, and make sure to keep turning your succulent occasionally so that all parts get sufficient sunlight. One thing that must be kept in mind is that too much exposure to bright sunlight can lead to sunburn.
Soil Requirements
It needs well-draining, humus-rich, porous soil in order to steer the unwanted moisture away from its roots.
Make sure, that the pot contains enough drainage holes to allow excess water to flow from the soil through the drainage holes. If there are no drainage holes in your succulent pot then the soil will become damp over time. And the soil that continuously remains damp or does not drain, might lead to root rot.
Temperature Requirements
The succulent Echeveria blue heron flourishes well in dry and hot temperatures. If these succulents are placed in cold and humid temperatures, they might develop several problems such as root rot.
During the summer or spring seasons, it requires the temperature to be approximately about 65° F (18° C) to 80° F (27° C). However, during the winter period, a few degrees of low temperatures are preferred by these succulents.
Humidity Requirements
Like most succulents, this succulent also prefers to be kept in dry conditions. If you provide your succulents with too much humidity or mist, it will allow the water to stay on the leaves, this might establish an ideal environment for the fungi to grow.
Note: Echeveria Blue heron thrives well indoors with humidity levels of approximately 40 percent to 50 percent.
Fertilizer Requirements
The fertilizers are not a basic necessity for it as these succulents are able to grow in nutrient-deficit soil. This is why, if over-fertilized, these species are prone to fertilizer burn.
Although if you wish to promote healthy growth in your succulents, you can use succulent or cactus fertilizer. Moreover, you can also use a low-nitrogen mix making sure that it has been diluted at least 3 to 4 times. But only provide a tiny amount of fertilizer after every 2 to 3 weeks that too only in their active growing period (spring and summer seasons).
Repotting Requirements
Always make sure to choose the right size of pot prior to repotting your succulents. As a rule of thumb for every succulent, select a container or pot that is a bit bigger than the root ball of your plant. By doing so, you will eliminate the risk of the soil becoming too damp.
However, the succulent Echeveria blue heron generally does not requires to be frequently re-potted. Re-potting should only be done if the succulents have become too big for their pots or containers.
In order to re-pot it, make sure that the soil is completely dry prior to removing the succulent from its pot.
The Spring season is ideal to re-pot your plant. This is because of the reason that during the Spring period, your succulent will be embarking on its active growing period.
Growth Zones
The preferable growth zones for Echeveria Blue Heron have been recommended as the USDA growth zones of 9b to 10.
Echeveria Blue Heron Propagation
Propagation is an economical and straightforward method to increase your succulent collection. The succulent Echeveria blue heron mainly propagates through its leaf cuttings, seeds, and offsets.
The mature succulent produces offsets through its main stem. These offsets can be isolated and propagated to encourage the growth of a separate plant. Moreover, these succulents can even be propagated through their leaf cuttings.
It is generally more convenient to propagate a succulent if it has already formed several rosettes. To propagate such succulents, all you need to do is carefully cut off the rosettes. May is the ideal time to cut the rosettes off. After cutting, gently separate each rosette and plant them individually.
Final Thoughts
The Echeveria blue heron is a hybrid of Echeveria peacockii and Echeveria ‘Pink Frills’. This lovely succulent can be recognized by its iceberg blue leaves and pretty bell-shaped flowers that bloom in various colors. Their colors range from bright red to pale white and everything in between.
These attractive succulents can be easily characterized by their rosette structure having fleshy leaves with a tinge of a pink or red hue.
It is relatively easy to look after this succulent. These succulents can either be kept indoors or outdoors. They look absolutely beautiful regardless of where they are kept.
