The Echeveria holy gate is a resilient succulent and is a good choice to start your succulent collection. Native to the semi-desert areas of Mexico and Central America it is a slow-grower. Despite this, it is an easy plant to maintain with very basic growth requirements.
The origin of this plant makes it very drought-tolerant, yet surprisingly sensitive to frost. It has a striking appearance and can easily make anyone stop and stare.
The foliage is silver-grey and is coated with a thin layer of powdery wax. The plant blooms in late winter and spring producing vibrant orange-colored flowers. They are popular ornamental garden plants and are also loved as indoor houseplants.
Read on to find out how to grow and maintain this surreal succulent.
Echeveria Holy Gate Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Echeveria
History
The Echeveria holy gate is a succulent hybrid variety with unknown parentage. The species can be widely seen growing in high-altitude areas of Central America. Like the fellow members of its genus, it also enjoys the status of a much-loved ornamental plant.
Genus Echeveria
The genus consists of 150 identified species of succulent flowering plants with brightly colored flowers. It is a member of the Crassulaceae family which is native to the rocky regions of Mexico and Central America.
There are a variety of small and large plants present in the genus Echeveria. The smaller members are planted in pots while the latter grows well in gardens
Features of Echeveria Holy Gate Succulent
Structure
The Echeveria holy gate has spoon-shaped leaves with colors varying from silverish grey to hues of pink and lilac. The foliage grows as compact rosettes covered with a powdery wax-like coating.
New rosettes grow around a central mother rosette. Due to the growth pattern of rosettes, the plant is widely referred to as hens and chicks. Vivid orange-colored flowers during springtime are a striking feature of this variety.
Size
The plant is a notably slow-grower. It is due to this that the plant achieves its mature size over a considerably long time. Once matured, it can grow up to 6 to 8 inches tall. The rosettes can attain a maximum growth of 5 to 6 inches in width.
Ornamental uses of this succulent depend on the small size of this plant. Its compact structure makes it a popular choice to be used as a table centerpiece.
Leaves
The Echeveria holy gate has succulent spoon-shaped leaves typically of a greyish-silver color. The colors can, however, show a huge range of variation. Some of them may appear of a lilac hue while others may exhibit a pale pinkish shade.
The leaves of this variety are long, curving at the end forming a pointed end. A white waxy coating envelops the leaves giving the plant an overall pale appearance. This feature makes it stand out in contrast to the other plants in your house garden.
Flowers
The bell-shaped orange-colored flowers of the Echeveria holy gate are a sight to behold. It blooms in early spring to late winter. The notably fragrant flowers of the plant give it an even more majestic presence.
Toxicity
This variety of the genus Echeveria is not toxic to humans or animals. Hence, it is a very safe option to go for if you are an animal lover along with being a plant fanatic.
The genus Echeveria hardly consists of any species that contain toxic compounds in their foliage. The plant is rendered completely safe for you to handle.
No evidence of any adverse reactions has been reported on touching the holy gate succulent. Therefore, you can easily transfer or report the plant.
Even though the plant is pet safe, be wary to keep it out of your furry friend’s reach. The delicate foliage can be damaged irreparably if you let your pets near the plant.
Dormancy
Like all members of the Crassulaceae family, it ceases growth during the winter season. This plant is quite tough and tolerates high temperatures and scarcity of water well. But when it comes to cold and frosty climate conditions, it loses its strength.
Hence, the plant undergoes a dormant phase when the temperatures drop during winters. During this phase, it is rendered inactive and reduces its nutrient uptake.
Echeveria Holy Gate Care
This tough but easy to care for plant is a sight for sore eyes if maintained the right way. This plant is a perfect choice for the lazy succulent lover. It does not have over-the-top growing requirements and can thrive well in a variety of growth zones as well.
Quick Guide
Water: Occasional deep watering
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight or partial shade
Humidity: Low to medium
Temperature: 18 to 27 degrees celsius
Fertilizer: Twice yearly
Place Requirements
Species of the genus Echeveria are simple to grow and care for. These succulent fellows can grow well in numerous different environments. These light-loving plants can stay happy if you fulfill this one basic requirement.
Water Requirements
The Echeveria holy gate prefers infrequent watering to grow well. Stick to watering your plant twice every month during summers. In winter you can even cut it down to once per month.
The succulent plant is self-sufficient in its water requirements, as its leaves can store quite a lot of water. Therefore, only water the plant when the soil surface appears dry. When planted outdoors you can skip watering it altogether, as rainwater can suffice the plant’s moisture needs.
Important Instructions:
Excessive watering can lead to plant rot, therefore be wary not to overwater it. Choose a well-draining soil, so that the extra water can drain out of the pot’s drainage hole. Keep the drainage hole clear of debris at all times to ensure drainage of excess water.
Always water the plant at its base and not from above. As the plant has a crested growth form, water is prone to accumulate at the base. Make sure to not let that happen as it can again lead to plant rot.
Sunlight Requirements
Echeveria holy gate loves bright sunny days. It flourishes well in bright sunlight, but be careful not to put your succulent under direct light. Indirect bright light is the best for your plant to attain its maximum growth.
If you plan to plant it indoors, put the plant in a windowsill that has access to at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight. Keep changing the window facing the side of the plant now and then to ensure all sides of the plant get equal sunlight.
To supplement your plant’s light requirements you can also use an artificial source of light. In a dark environment, the plant will grow unattractively tall in an attempt to reach the light.
Temperature Requirements
Like most species of the genus Echeveria, the holy gate also thrives well in warm temperatures. The plant is capable of tolerating extremely hot temperatures as well. But, the range between 18 to 27 degrees celsius is best suited to its growth.
On the other hand, it is poorly tolerant towards frost and colder temperatures. If you are a succulent lover residing in the colder regions, you should plant the Echeveria holy gate as a houseplant indoors.
Also, it is advisable to shift the plant indoors from your garden during the winter season. Practice caution while transferring your plant during the summer and winter so as not to give it a heat shock.
Soil Requirements
The genus Echeveria loves porous, well-draining soil mixture and the Echeveria holy gate is no exception either. A slightly acidic pH ranging from 5.0 to 6.0 is ideal to see the best growth results of the plant.
This resilient plant can also grow in growing mediums other than soil. Just ensure the pH and correct proportion of nutrients.
Important Instructions:
Plant rot is a common occurrence in this species. It occurs due to fallen leaves in the soil which later become a source of bacteria and pests. These can cause the plant to rot and lose its majestic outlook. Ensure to remove desquamated leaves from the soil regularly.
Humidity Requirements
Being native to the semi-desert areas of Central America it prefers the least humidity. Try to keep the plant away from artificial sources of humidification, like humidifiers. And keep practices like misting to a minimum.
The holy gate has a clear preference for dry conditions over moist conditions. If kept in excessively humid environments for prolonged periods, it may develop pathogenic diseases.
Fertilizer Requirements
The Echeveria holy gate does not have excessive fertilizer requirements. Fertilizing it once a year during the growing season will suffice its nutrient needs.
The fertilizer should be of the correct strength and proportion to be effective. Using a flower fertilizer can benefit the holy gate succulent too.
Pruning Requirements
Regularly removing dead leaves from the plant pot saves your plant from rotting. Removing the dead flowers can also stimulate rapid flower production. The leaves do not require regular pruning, however, if you notice spindling growth you can prune it as per convenience.
Repotting Requirements
The plant has no particular repotting requirements, but to enhance its growth you can do so once a year. Springtime is a good option to repot the plant. Repotting can increase nutrient uptake by your plant and also result in increased growth space.
Growth Zones
The Echeveria holy gate stems from high-altitude, rocky areas and is suited for growth in the USDA growth zones of 9,10, and 11.
Echeveria Holy Gate Propagation
There are various ways to propagate the stunning succulent. Stem cuttings are by far the most common and easiest way to add new succulents to your collection.
Simply cut a rosette from the stem and plant it in an adequate growing medium. A mixture of soil, sand, and compost can yield the best results. Keep an eye out for new roots that can take between 4 to 6 weeks to appear.
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Summary
The Echeveria holy gate is an easy-to-maintain succulent variety of the genus Echeveria. It hails from the rocky areas and is a tough fellow who can bear a variety of growing conditions. With the easy-to-follow and detailed care guide in this article growing your succulent can be a piece of cake.
