Echeverias are popular for their unique beauty and fleshy thick succulent foliage. The majority of these are suitable for both indoor and outdoor plantations. We are introducing another rosette-forming one, the Echeveria subsessilis, commonly known as the Morning Beauty Plant.
This is a 3 to 4 inches wide and 3 inches tall rosette succulent. The petals are thick and spoon-shaped in bluish-green to grey shade. The tips and edges of the rosette have pinkish margins which turn brighter in the sun.
This Mexican native plant is an easy-to-care peep. Feel free to get one anywhere in your indoor or outdoor plant collection. Moreover, be ready to see it looking more attractive by the beautiful orange to pinkish flowers growing on long stalks on the warm days. Want to know more? Keep reading for a detailed guide about the Subsessilis Echeveria Plant.
Echeveria Subsessilis Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Echeveria
Species: E. subsesilis
Genus Echeveria:
This is a popular genus, native to the semi-desert areas of Central America. It was named after the Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeveria y Godoy. It comprises about 150 succulent flowering plants.
The majority of these are welcomed for domestic and ornamental plantations. All of these have thick fleshy leaves and bloom in the season. Furthermore, their beautiful appearance and easy-to-care nature make them a winner of the American horticulture award.
Features of Echeveria Subsessilis Plant
Let us have a look at the features of Echeveria subsessilis ”?
Size:
A single mature rosette can get about 3 to 4 inches wide at the same height. With time, it spreads by growing multiple tiny plantlets which grow to form an expanded plant body.
Leaves:
The leaves are about half an inch long or slightly longer on maturity. They are covered with a unique waxy layer, which gives a powdery appearance enabling them to withstand the bright sun.
Echeveria Subsessilis Flower:
Typical Echeveria flowers in pink to red are seen growing on long stalks. The particular blooming season is spring and summer.
Toxicity:
Echeverias are generally known to be safe for both humans and animals. Howbeit, it is always better to avoid ingestion. So, make sure kids and pets don’t mingle with the plants.
Echeveria Subsessilis Variegated
This is a beautiful variegated form of the plant. The plant body is similar to the original except that the leaves have beautiful white patches on the surface. Many people prefer this one over the original. However, it is a bit rare to find.
You don’t need to do anything extra for this plant. Just the basic Echeveria Care would be good enough to keep this peep healthy. Keep reading for the details in the next section.
Echeveria Subsessilis Care
Just like other members of the genus, the Morning beauty Echeveria is also a no-fuss plant. Beginners and busy people can get one for them without any second thought.
Quick Guide:
Water: Infrequent (after the soil gets dry)
Sun: Full Sun to Partial shade
Humidity: Average
Fertilizer: Monthly dose in spring and summer
Keep reading to learn details about “ How do you take care of an Echeveria subsessilis succulent? ”
Watering Requirement
Echeveria subsessilis plant needs infrequent watering; minimizing the requirement after it gets established. Water the soil deeply and wait for it to get dry before watering again. Beginners can check for dryness by inserting a finger or a pencil in the soil. If it comes out dry, you know your plant needs water.
To understand the watering schedule, you must observe the drying pattern of the soil. It depends upon the factors like temperature, moisture, and sunlight availability for the plant. In an average climate, once to thrice a week is an estimated watering frequency for the warm days of spring and summer.
The dormant plants in winter minimize their water requirement. So, watering the plant once a month will be enough to keep the plant alive and healthy.
Important Instructions:
An important aspect to discuss here is over-watering. It has the potential to attract issues like root rot and fungus which can even kill the plant. So, make sure you are watering in appropriate quantity and never water unless the upper soil gets dry.
Rosettes are prone to attract insects and fungal attacks due to standing water at the base. So, make sure you water the soil only and avoid outing water on the rosette.
Light Requirements
These plants love to say in full sun. Bright light helps the plant look vibrant and the rosette remains compact. Outdoor peeps must stay in at least 6 hours of bright sun, else you will see them getting saggy or loose. Indoor ones can simply be placed in some well-lit corner preferably a windowsill.
Soil requirement
Well-draining and chunky soil is perfect for all the succulents. You can simply use a common cactus or a succulent mix easily available in the nurseries and markets. Alternatively, you can make a self-mixed mixture by adding some perlite or peat to the soil.
Temperature Requirement
Succulents usually prefer to stay warm. A nice moderate temperature that you feel comfortable in will be perfect for the indoor plant. To be precise, a temperature anywhere between 55 to 80 F is ideal for your Echeveria plant.
Echeveria subsessilis have poor tolerance for cold and frost. A temperature below 50 F can freeze and even kill the plant. So, make sure you bring the plant indoors to some warm spot before the fall gets colder. This is crucial for the people living in colder zones.
Humidity Requirement
The thick fleshy leaves of succulents hold good moisture. So, they don’t demand much effort for the appropriate moisture content. Just the ordinary moisture level of your zone will be good enough for the plant.
However, the indoor atmosphere may get dry in the winter. This is due to the heating systems absorbing all the moisture. In this case, you can simply introduce a humidifier around the plant to avoid dryness.
Fertilization requirement
Add some extra nutrition and the plant will love you for it. Use a good quality fertilizer once a month in spring and summer only. It is always better to use mild concentration, preferably half of the stated dose.
Make sure you are avoiding low-grade fertilizers. Moreover, avoid over-fertilization as it can harm and even kill the echeveria subsessilis plant. This is very important for the dormant plant with minimal nutritional requirements in fall and winter.
Maintenance Requirement
You can remove the damaged petals to help the plant look healthy.
Growth Zone
The suitable growth zone of the plant is 9b to 11b (20 F).
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Echeveria Subsessilis Propagation
Echeveria succulents are easy to propagate plants. You just need to follow the basic instructions and enjoy enhancing your collection.
Popular methods are as under:
- Propagation through leaf cuttings
- Through division.
Propagation through leaf-cuttings:
This is the easiest method and just needs to plant the leaf-cuttings.
- Take a few leaves/petals and place them on a moist and well-draining growing mixture.
- You can cover the pot with a sheet of polyethylene to conserve moisture. Just make sure there are minor holes in the sheet to allow air passage.
- It will take about four to eight weeks for the leaf cuttings to develop tiny roots. You can check for the roots by pulling them out very gently. A soft resistance from the leaves will be a sign of the baby roots. You can take these out and plant them in your desired place to see them growing.
The young ones planted need frequent watering. Just water the soil mildly and wait for the soil to get dry to water again. Just make sure you are not drenching the soil as you don’t want to wash the leaves away.
Propagation through division:
The plants grow tiny rosettes attached to the parent. These tiny ones are known as puppies, chicks, or plantlets. You just have to separate and replant them to get new Echeverias.
- See when the plant gets mature and grows tiny rosettes near it. Just look into the plant and cut the connecting stems between the chicks and the parent.
- Separate the roots with your fingers very gently without destroying them.
- Plant the chicks in your desired place in a well-draining growing mixture.
Summary
Echeveria subsessilis is a Mexican native succulent. The greyish-green rosette with thick fleshy leaves can get around 5 inches wide. These plants are perfect for both outdoor and indoor plantations Also, the plant blooms pinkish flowers on long stalks in spring and summer.
These plants are easy and don’t need much of your effort. Infrequent watering, bright sun, and well-draining soil are what they need to stay happy.
