Succulents are thought of as some of the easiest to care for plants for beginning gardeners. They can go for weeks without watering just like their cousins, cacti. They don't need any special levels of humidity just a warm sunny spot on a window sill to grow. The truth is that any plant potted in the wrong growing medium is likely to suffer from overwatering (or underwatering when tropical plants are involved) and fail to thrive.
Echeveria are more likely to suffer from decline or diseases when it is planted in a potting mix that retains moisture for too long, encouraging bacterial or fungal root disease to take hold. Along with the right potting media, the choice of container material can make or break the health of your Echeveria. Pots that help to diffuse excess moisture in the soil, like terra cotta or other unglazed stone or ceramic, allow for plenty of air circulation near the roots even if there is only one or two bottom drainage holes.
On the other hand a [plastic pot that has no drainage holes will make watering a challenge because the top of the soil can look dry while the roots at the bottom of the pot are standing in water that has nowhere to go.
Potting Echeveria
Often plants brought home from the nursery or garden center are planted in a growing medium that is only suitable for short-term growing. Potting mixes high in moisture-retentive peat moss aid the grower in keeping plants well watered until they sell and are not very useful for succulents that need chunkier and less compacted soil to maintain healthy growth. Here are some useful steps to take to set your new plant up for success in your home.
Plant to repot your Echeveria as soon after bringing home as possible. Not only is it nice to put your plant in a more decorative container, but it may be planted in soil that does not have enough drainage. Use an appropriate growing medium (listed later in this article) and a pot that naturally has good airflow like unglazed ceramic and terra cotta. After taking the plant out of its nursery pot, gently remove as much of the soil from the roots as you can and set it aside for a moment to prepare the new pot.
Fill the new pot with a layer of the fresh potting mix making sure that there is plenty of room for the rootball to sit well below the rim of the container. With one hand hold the plant at the level it needs to be inside the pot. With your other hand gently fill around the root ball with potting mix, avoiding getting inside the densely packed rosette leaves.
Firm the potting mix over the top of the root ball and give the pot a couple of soft taps to settle the soil well. Watering for succulents right away is often not necessary and should be done after the plant has been in the new pot for a couple of days.
Repotting Echeveria
Echeveria can remain in a pot for most of its life if needed. They are much slower growers than other succulents and tend to not be bothered when mildly rootbound. When the roots are visible from the bottom of the container it is a sign that your plant may need a bigger home. Ideally, the new pot will be made of the same material as the previous one to prevent any issues with over or underwatering.
Also, do not increase the pot size by more than 1 or 2 inches at a time. A pot that is too big forces the plant to sit in moist soil too long, eventually causing root issues. Root-bound plants can be remedied by gently teasing and pulling the root mass loose after removing it from the old pot.
Best Soil For Echeveria
The best soil for Echeveria is one that has plenty of bulky organic material to aid in overall drainage and provide large air spaces for the roots to move through. Pre-mixed cacti and succulent soils are perfectly fine and some very good ones are available. Mixing up a DIY blend could be useful if you have many plants that need replanting at once or you want to try your hand at refining just the amount of drainage needed for your plants.
A basic succulent and cacti mix looks like 3 parts peat-free indoor potting mixes to 1part perlite, pumice, or fine grit and 1 part sharp sand.
Echeveria Drainage
Drainage is the key to having healthy and happy succulent plants. The container you use should have plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Use a saucer or a decorative cache pot to catch any excess overflow during watering to protect tabletops, carpets or hardwood floors. Empty any water collected in saucers as soon as possible.
Sources:
‘Why Beginners Struggle with Houseplants.”Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. www.mgnv.org