Last updated on September 13th, 2023 at 01:57 am
Echeveria secunda is a beautiful succulent plant that has been in cultivation for over a hundred years and can make any garden or house look like it has an ethereal beauty to it. With proper care, echeveria secunda plants will grow to be quite large and produce vibrant colors of reds, pinks, purples, blues, and yellows.
The echeverias are an interesting succulent with hundreds of species and hybrids to chose from. This echeveria is well known for its leaves, which curl up when it gets cold outside. In this guide, we will go over echeveria care and growth tips so you can have the most stunning plant in your garden!
This blog post will also help you learn more about the echeveria secunda plant’s care needs as well as growing tips that will help your plant thrive!
Origin and description
Echeveria secunda is endemic to Mexico and commonly found in the area of Puebla. It can also be identified by its silver-blue leaves with purple tips, rosette shape, and symmetrical appearance. The flower stalks produced during the blooming season are about 12 inches tall and feature clusters of bell-shaped flowers in shades of orange, red, and yellow.
Echeveria secunda belongs to the family of Crassulaceae and is closely related to Echeveria laui. It originates from Mexico where it grows in habitats with dry soil and direct sunlight.
The Echeveria secunda is also known as “Mexican snowball” due to its clump-forming growth habit that looks like snowballs on the dry soil of Mexico where it originates from.
Echeveria secunda propagation
Propagating Echeveria secunda is fairly simple. The most common method of propagation for this plant is by cuttings (clipping off new growth and rooting it). It can also be propagated with offsets, air layering, or seeds. Offsets are the easiest to propagate if you are looking to grow more plants.
You can take the offsets from established clumps of echeveria secunda and place them in cactus soil or very fast-draining potting mix with your choice of perlite, pumice, or sand. Once the roots have grown a few inches (about two weeks), they can be transplanted to their own pot. Air layering is possible, but this plant doesn’t usually produce offsets in an environment where it needs to survive so you would be air-layering the mother plant.
Alternatively, if your goal is to grow more plants faster, then propagating with seed is probably the best option.
Echeveria secunda care
Echeveria secunda is a slow-growing succulent that can be grown in most climates. It does best with lots of sunlight and prefers to stay moist but not soggy for long periods of time. If you are keeping your echeveria secunda indoors, it’s recommended to keep it in a bright window where it can receive full or half-day sun. Otherwise, if you’re growing echeveria secunda outdoors; keep the soil moist and avoid letting your plant dry out completely between watering sessions.
Light requirements
Echeveria secunda can be grown in direct sunlight, but it is a bit tougher to keep alive. If you want the plant to grow faster and lusher, then growing them under partial shade or filtered light will improve growth significantly.
They can grow in full shade with ease as well. *The plant does not require any special care and prefers a long hot summer to encourage prolific flowering, but it is also quite capable of withstanding cold temperatures down to -12°C (or less).
Soil/potting mix
If potted, use a fast-draining cactus mix. If growing in the ground, select an area with excellent drainage and full sun to partial shade exposure.
I recommend 70% inorganic (perlite, pumice, lava rock) and 30% organic (peat moss or coconut coir). You want to make sure the pot has excellent drainage because echeveria secunda likes to dry out between waterings. If you get a clear pot, make sure it has good drainage.
Watering
Watering should be done about once every week, or whenever the soil has dried. This can vary depending on your local climate and home environment. If watered too much, echeveria secunda will get mushy leaves that start to rot off at their base; while if left dry for too long, they may never recover!
Fertilizer
You should fertilize your echeveria secunda once every two weeks during the spring and summer. You can use a water-soluble fertilizer, which will encourage blooming. During the fall and winter months, you should stop fertilizing because it is not necessary while plants are dormant.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for an echeveria secunda is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the plant should be kept in a cool space during any periods of cold or frosty weather so that it cannot get too hot from being inside.
Humidity
Echeveria secunda can also thrive in low humidity environments. The plant is naturally found growing on the cliffs of Mexico where it experiences less than 40% humidity most days of the year.
The ideal humidity range is between 40-50%.
Pruning
This succulent plant is not affected by pruning, at any stage of growth. Prune to shape or size if desired. The best time to prune an echeveria secunda is after it flowers, but before new growth begins in springtime (September-October).
When to repot
Echeveria secunda does not need to be repotted frequently. Once every two years is fine if the plant has filled its pot and there are no bare patches of soil showing through.
Echeveria secunda is a slow grower. Unless the plant has been pruned, it will likely not need to be repotted any more often than every two years.
If the soil is dry at all, you should repot your echeveria secunda in fresh potting mix and place it somewhere out of direct sunlight until March or April rolls around again. The best time to put them back outside is during warm days when night-time temperatures are between 45°F (20°C) and 50°F (15°C).
Dormancy
Every once in a while, you should let your echeveria secunda rest. They need to rest approximately four weeks during the winter months (December through February). During this time, they stop growing and go dormant or enter dormancy. You can hold off on re-potting them if their soil is still moist at the bottom of the pot.
Flowers & Fragrance
Echeveria secunda blooms in the spring, producing tiny pink flowers on long stalks. The fragrance of Echevera secunda is very pleasant and sweet-smelling.
Growth rate
Echeveria secundas grow at a moderate rate. They tend to only grow about six inches per year and they stay small enough to be kept as houseplants most of the time, so it’s not too big of an issue for them if you don’t water them every week or if their pot is overcrowded.
Toxicity
Many Echeveria secunda houseplants are not toxic, especially if ingested. However, the sap of some species may cause skin irritation and other symptoms in people with sensitive skin or allergies.
USDA Hardiness Zones
The Echeveria secunda is native to Mexico and can live in USDA hardiness zones five through nine.
Pests and diseases
Echeveria secunda is prone to aphids and mealybugs. If you notice any discoloration or yellowing of the plant, it may be a sign that your echeveria secunda is infested with pests which can cause further damage to the plant if left untreated. Echeverias do well in dry climates, but they are susceptible to root rot if allowed to dry out. If your echeveria is dropping its leaves or seems like it may be decaying, make sure the soil is moistened and drains well before re-watering.
Conclusion
Echeveria secunda is a beautiful flowering succulent that can add life to your garden. It requires little care and only produces the most stunning blooms when it’s happy in its environment. Echeverias require bright sunlight, well-draining soil, and infrequent watering for optimal growth so make sure they are being watered properly before it’s too late.
