Echeveria secunda (Blue Echeveria) is a beautiful succulent plant that forms attractive clumps, up to 6 inches tall, of short-stemmed, tight rosettes up to 6 inches in diameter. The leaves are fleshy, oval-shaped, keeled, pale bluish-green, with edges and tips adorned with a hint of pink, red or brown, more conspicuous in winter. The flowers are fairly large compared to the plant and have red calyces and yellow petals, giving them a bi-hued appearance. They show up in late spring on up to 1-foot tall arching stems.
Scientific Classification:
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Echeveria
Scientific Name: Echeveria secunda
Synonyms: Cotyledon glauca (basionym), Echeveria glauca
Common Names: Blue Echeveria, Old Hens and Chicks, Hens and Chicks, Glaucous Echeveria
How to grow and maintain Echeveria secunda (Blue Echeveria):
Light:
It thrives best in full sun to light shade. In indoor an east or west-facing window where they receive four to six hours of sunlight is ideal.
Soil:
It grows well in a well-drained succulent mix, with an ideal pH around 6.0 (slightly acidic) or an equal part sharp sand with all-purpose potting mix.
Water:
Water Echeveria plant regularly during the summer and spring. keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. You can allow the topsoil to become slightly dry between each watering. Reduce water in the winter.
Temperature:
It prefers an average summer temperature of 65ºF / 18ºC – 70ºF / 21ºC. In winter, cool to 50ºF / 10ºC.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize with a controlled-release fertilizer at the beginning of the season or weekly with a weak liquid solution. Use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer at 1/4 strength on mature plants, and a fertilizer with less nitrogen on young plants.
Re-potting:
Re-pot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To re-pot, a succulent, make sure the soil is dry before re-potting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you re-pot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by seeds, offsets or leaf cuttings in spring. To propagate a leaf cutting, place the individual leaf in a succulent or cacti mix and cover the dish until the new plant sprouts.
Pests and Diseases:
It has no serious pest or disease problems. Mealybugs can be a problem, and if dead leaves are not expelled from the plant, it can attract other insect pests or have problems with fungus.
