Echeveria pulidonis in pot

Credit: Isaac bee

Pot of Echeveria pulidonis in flower

Credit: Sean A. O'Hara

Echeveri pulidonis flowers

Credit: Neptali Ramirez Marcial

Echeveria pulidonis in the ground

Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek

Echeveria pulidonis, a fat chameleon plant

With its green and red leaves, Echeveria pulidonis proudly wears the colors of its native Mexico. At least in summer. In winter, this member of the Crassulaceae family turns purple.

How to recognize Echeveria pulidonis?

A succulent plant with a compact habit, Echeveria pulidonis is smaller than its cousin, echeveria colorata. It measures at most 20 centimetres in height and 15 centimetres in spread.

Echeveria pulidonis appears acaule. The rosette of leaves actually grows on a short, slender stem. Stronger than it looks, it can support several shoots.

The spatulate leaves are leathery and waxy. Bright green, they are edged with a red border. In winter, however, the leaf blade takes on a violet hue.

Flowering occurs at the end of winter. A 20-centimetre flower spike emerges from the heart of the rosette. Pale yellow flowers with curved petals bloom at the tip.

Echeveria pulidonis is non-toxic. You can handle it without risking skin infection. Its leaves are safe to eat. So you can grow the plant even if you live with curious young children or greedy pets.

Our maintenance tips

Echeveria pulidonis are non-hardy succulents. In most regions, they are grown indoors. But this succulent loves the sun. If you have a garden, a balcony or even a windowsill, put it outside in summer. It will appreciate gradual exposure to natural light. However, keep it out of direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves.

Watering

Only water your Echeveria pulidonis when the substrate is dry. If you're not sure what your plant needs, observe it: when it's thirsty, its leaves become hollow and stunted.

Avoid tap water, which is often too hard. Instead, use room-temperature rainwater or demineralized water.

Thirty minutes after watering, empty any stagnant water from the saucer or planter to prevent root rot.

Spray

Echeveria pulidonis grow in arid regions and do not like humidity. No need to spray them.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Echeveria pulidonis to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

One week before repotting, water your Echeveria pulidonis. When the soil is dry, you can repot.

Choose a pierced pot, preferably made of clay. Clay ensures even drying of the potting soil and reduces the risk of root rot. The size of the pot must be greater than that of the plant, so that the roots can develop.

There's no need for a drainage layer. Simply place a pebble over the hole to prevent the substrate from escaping. Water will continue to run off.

Before repotting your succulent, clean it up: remove any dead leaves and scale insects, if you notice any. You can also cut off a third of the roots if they are dry.

Fill your pot with a substrate for cacti and succulents. You can also make your own mixture with potting soil and perlite. Plant your Echeveria pulidoniswithout burying the crown and tamp it down.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

If you want to stimulate the growth of your Echeveria pulidonis, mix a liquid fertilizer for cacti and succulents with the water when watering.

Prune

Cut back the flowering stem after flowering.

Plantation

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.

Your Echeveria pulidonis fears humidity. Plant it in a place where water doesn't stagnate, at the top of a slope, an embankment or in a rockery, for example.

Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball. You can place pebbles or clay balls at the bottom to improve drainage. Then lay down a layer of substrate. If your soil is light and chalky, you can use garden soil. If your soil is rich and heavy, use potting soil for cacti and succulents.

Plant your Echeveria pulidonis and fill in with garden soil or substrate. Water to remove air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

After a few years, young shoots appear at the base. With a sharp knife, dig up one of these "babies", also removing its roots.

Prepare a pierced terracotta pot. Block the hole with a pebble and lay a bed of gravel. Pour in a substrate composed of one third potting soil, one third soil and one third sand to promote drainage. Plant your offshoot, tamp it down and add a layer of sand to the surface.

Place your new succulent in a bright room, but without direct sunlight and with a temperature of at least 18 degrees.

Between two applications of water, check that the substrate has dried out, as you would with a mature plant.

Disease / Threat

Mealybug, accompanied by ants for its honeydew.

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Crassulaceae - Crassulaceae
Type	Echeveria - Echeveria
Species	Echeveria pulidonis - Echeveria pulidonis
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots Planter
Category	Succulent
Tags	Beginner Increvable Rustic
Origin	Central America
Hardiness (USDA)	9a
Leaf color
Flower color