Last updated on September 12th, 2022 at 03:43 pm
Echeveria chroma is a beautiful flowering plant that can be grown in containers. It produces beautiful flowers and smells wonderful! echeveria chroma has been grown for over 200 years, but it’s still relatively unknown to the general public. The plants should be planted in pots with well-draining soil and should not be kept too wet or too dry.
Echeveria plants grow slowly so they need plenty of time to mature before blooming. They are an excellent choice for gardeners who want plants that require little care and minimal attention as they will survive under almost any conditions!
Echeveria chroma is a plant in the echeveria family that has a faint, but sweet smell. This plant can be found in the tropical regions of the Americas and it is fairly easy to care for. The echeveria chroma does not need much water or light, which makes it an ideal plant for people who are busy and don’t have time to take care of plants as often as they should.
Origin and descriptions
This echeveria is native to Mexico, specifically Veracruz. It has an upright habit and grows up to 18 inches (45 cm). The foliage of the plant may be blue-green or pinkish gray. Leaves are thick with some organic material on them. They have a serrated margin that is concave near the apex. The flowers are a bright orange-red color and have a scent that is described as being similar to marigolds.
Echeveria chroma is a plant that comes from the Mexican state of Coahuila. In this place, it grows in crevices and fractures on limestone cliffs at an altitude of 1800-2200 meters above sea level.
Echeveria chroma propagation
Echeveria chroma is a tough plant that can be propagated in several ways. Seeds require scarification and stratification before germinating, while cuttings will produce healthy plants with relative ease. The easiest way to propagate echeverias is through the division of the parent plant into two or more pieces. Make sure that there is a pup in each piece, then pot them once they have established themselves.
Echeveria chroma care
Echeveria chroma is a slow-growing succulent that requires little care. It prefers bright light but can adapt to both partial and full sunlight conditions. Water echeverias once every two weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) and allow them to dry between waterings.
Light requirements
Echeveria chroma should be grown in full sun to part shade. In the garden, a location with afternoon shade is ideal for this succulent because it can get scorched from too much heat and light exposure. Echeverias do not thrive when they are exposed to hot midday or afternoon sun. They will start looking sickly if they receive too much bright light.
Soil/potting mix
Echeveria chroma is best suited for fast-draining soil and should be repotted every year. Succulents like to be potbound and the roots will begin to wrap around themselves if they are in too large of a container or if their soil becomes compacted. Because echeverias grow slowly, you can pot them in wide, shallow containers to help prevent the soil around their roots from becoming too compacted and difficult for new root growth.
You can also use a cactus mix or a regular succulent mixture as long as it is fast-draining. You will know if your succulents are receiving too much water because their leaves start to soften and look a little limp.
Fertilizer
Echeveria chroma succulent should not be fertilized during the growing season, but it is important to use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer once in late fall.
You can also feed your echeverias with an organic liquid plant food that has been diluted by half if you would like them to grow more quickly or if their leaves are looking a little shriveled.
Watering
Echeveria chroma should be watered deeply but with care because they are prone to root rot if their soil becomes too soggy. Water the plants thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom of their containers, wait a few minutes for any moisture left over in the soil to dry up, and then let them air-dry completely before watering again.
You should only water your plant if the soil has completely dried out because succulents like to be in dry conditions when they are not actively growing and their leaves will start turning brown if you over-water them.
Temperature and humidity
Echeveria chroma should be kept in an area that is between 40 and 80 degrees during the growing season if they are indoors or outdoors. During their dormant period, you can keep them cooler at around 55 to 60 degrees. Echeverias do not need very high humidity levels and will begin to lose their color when it is too humid for them.
You may want to mist your succulents every now and then if the humidity levels in their growing environment are low, as that can help prevent brown tips on some young leaves caused by dry air. However, you should only use room-temperature water because cold water might cause some of the leaves to turn yellow or brown.
The ideal humidity range is 40 to 70%.
You can place your echeverias in a tray of water that is deep enough for the roots, but be sure it drains well so their soil does not become soggy. The easiest way to tell if your succulents are getting too much or too little humidity is by touching them with your finger and then feeling the leaves. If they feel sticky, that is a sign of too much humidity and if their leaves are dry and papery feeling, then you should increase the amount of humidity around them.
Pruning
Echeveria chroma should be pruned back to the desired size only when they are actively growing during spring and summer. You can trim off any dead leaves with a sharp pair of shears or scissors as well as remove small clusters of rosettes from their main stem if you would like more plants.
You may also want to remove any rosettes that are growing in the wrong direction or too close to other rosettes unless you want them all to grow together into one cluster.
The best way for new gardeners and kids (and old ones, too!) to prune is by using a pair of gardening shears and snipping off each leaf at its base near the stem. That way, if you accidentally cut off a rosette that you wanted to keep, it will still have its roots and can be placed back in the soil so it can continue growing.
When to repot
Echeveria chroma succulents should be repotted every other year in the spring before new growth begins because they do not like to sit in wet soil for extended periods of time. You can also trim off any rosettes that are growing too close together so there is enough space between them and their roots have room to grow without being crowded.
You can tell if it is time to repot your echeverias by looking at how many rosettes there are on a stem and whether or not their roots have become too long for the pot they are in, which will cause them to grow out of the drainage holes. When that happens, you should gently pull apart the root cluster to see which ones are healthy and alive, trim off any dead or brown roots until you have a nice, new growth of white roots.
While repotting your echeverias in fresh soil is important for their health because it will allow them room to grow more quickly, If they do not get enough water, the soil can become hard and compacted, which prevents their roots from being able to grow.
The best type of soil for your echeverias is a cactus/succulent potting mix because it has lots of small particles that help with drainage and aeration without becoming too powdery over time.
Dormancy
Echeveria chroma should be brought inside for their winter dormancy when temperatures drop below 50 degrees. Fortunately, they are very easy to care for and can survive with infrequent watering during this time if they need it.
However, you do not want them sitting in a tray of water or standing in soil that is too wet, so provide them with a cactus mix or general-purpose potting soil and water them only when the top of the soil is dry to touch.
Flowers & Fragrance
Echeveria chroma is most commonly known for their vibrant leaf colors and shapes, but they also produce small pink or white flowers atop long stems during the spring.
The way you can tell if your echeverias are flowering is by looking at how many new leaves have sprouted since last summer because once it blooms there will be no new growth.
Their flowers are not very large, but they have an intoxicating fragrance that is great for pollinating insects like bees or butterflies to come by and enjoy as well!
Growth rate
Echeveria chroma is a relatively small succulent that usually only grows to be about six inches tall and wide.
They grow slowly, adding just one or two new leaves per year as they mature, so it can take quite some time for them to reach their full size if you do not prune them. You can prune them to keep their size under control if you want it smaller.
Toxicity
Echeveria chroma succulents are non-toxic to humans and animals. If eaten, they can cause mild stomach upset because of the oxalates contained in their leaves that irritate tissues when ingested but can be used as fertilizer if you do not want it anymore.
However, echeverias contain saponins which can cause skin irritation to those who have sensitive skin. If you are worried about being allergic, always wear gloves when handling them and keep children away from the plant as well.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Echeveria chroma is hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 11, meaning that they can survive in temperatures below 40 degrees with no problem.
However, the trick to keeping them alive outside during colder months is making sure their root system does not freeze! If it freezes solid, the entire plant will die off because even if you are able to bring it back inside, the root system will not have enough energy to continue growing.
Pests and diseases
Echeveria chroma is generally pest-free but can be affected by infestations of mealybugs and aphids if they become a problem.
Mealybugs are white fluffy insects that suck the sap out of succulents while aphids or green flies cause their leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Both pests also leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew that turns black moldy over time.
Fortunately, both pests are easy to get rid of because they tend to show up in large groups and can be removed by hand or with the use of an organic pesticide like neem oil.
Conclusion
There are many different types of echeverias that you can grow in your home. Echeveria chroma is a lesser-known fragrant plant that has some very pretty flowers, perfect for the garden!
