Last updated on September 26th, 2023 at 08:32 pm
Echeveria subsessilis is a beautiful echeveria that thrives in bright, hot conditions. It can survive both indoors and outdoors with little to no maintenance required. This echeveria has large, finger-like leaves which are tinged with purple on the edges of the leaves. It also produces small yellow flowers at the end of summertime.
Echeveria subsessilis is a stunning echeveria species that hails from Mexico. It thrives in the sun and can be grown outdoors year-round. This echeveria grows like an upright rosette of succulent leaves, with many different variations in color, shape, and size. For those who live in more temperate climates where echeverias are typically grown as houseplants or greenhouse plants during winter months, and those who are looking for a low-maintenance plant that will thrive in areas with high temperatures, this one is perfect for you!
Origin and description
Echeveria subsessilis is a species of flowering plant in the Crassulaceae family, native to Mexico. The genus Echeveria was named after Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy in 1828 by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz. The specific epithet subsessilis refers to the plant’s usually sessile leaves with only a short petiole.
This succulent plant forms rosettes of gray-green spoon-shaped fleshy leaves that are about 40 cm long and about 15 mm wide at their bases, often subsessile with only a short petiole, though some leaves are more or less sessile.
Echeveria subsessilis is an evergreen species that flowers in summer when it produces red-orange bell-shaped flowers on long stems held above the rosettes of fleshy lanceolate green to grayish leaves.
Echeveria subsessilis is one of the easiest species to grow and can be cultivated in similar conditions as Echeveria runyonii. It grows well on sunny dry rock faces with little or no supplementary water, though it will grow equally well if given regular watering during growth periods. The species has become naturalized in California.
Like most succulents, Echeveria subsessilis is drought-tolerant and grows best with little water; it needs good drainage as well.
Echeveria subsessilis propagation
Echeveria subsessilis will easily produce pups and new offsets. These, along with the parent plant, can be carefully removed from the main house once they are large enough to handle on their own (usually after about a year). With some luck and care about finding just the right spot for your new baby succulent, it should do well on its own.
A succulent cutting would be an excellent choice for propagation. It is best to take the cutting in spring or summer, which you can do by gently pulling off a piece of your plant and leaving it out in the sun for about two days before planting it up into some fresh medium. Like most echeveria species, Echeveria subsessilis is very easy to propagate and will readily grow new plants from a leaf-tip cutting, so you can try that too.
There are several ways to take cuttings of succulents. One method involves pulling off an entire branch or stem with the roots still attached and planting them into the soil.
Another method is to simply cut off a branch from an established plant and replanting it into the soil. A third, easy way of propagating succulents is by taking leaf tip cuttings. With this process, you remove a small portion of your Echeveria subsessilis’s leaves versus whole branches or stems with roots intact. This method is a great way to propagate individual plants since it preserves the unique look of each succulent variety.
Shearing or pinching back any long, leggy growth will result in thicker, bushier growth and more flowers for your Echeveria subsessilis. Before you know it, you’ll have fuller rosettes and more of the beautiful blooms.
Echeveria subsessilis care
Light
Full sun, part shade. If you are growing it in the desert, keep it out of hot afternoon or midday sun. It can take coastal full to bright filtered light but may be flowerless in shadier situations.
Soil/potting mix
The best thing you can do to ensure your plant’s success is to use a good quality potting mix. The soil in echeveria subsessilis should be well-draining, so it doesn’t stay wet for long periods of time when over watered, and allows the roots room to breathe and to prevent root rot.
Watering
This plant is tolerant of drought and heat when well established but prefers regular watering in spring/summer. Drought in winter will not harm this plant but avoid wet or humid conditions, especially if your echeveria is flowering/fruiting to prevent rot
Fertilizer
If your echeveria subsessilis is still in a pot, you should be fertilizing it every week. Use an organic plant fertilizer and follow the application instructions carefully, most fertilizers will recommend applying at half strength for both hydroponics and soil gardens. Avoid using high nitrogen or water-soluble sources of potassium as those can burn the roots and foliage.
Temperature
Echeveria subsessilis is not picky about temperature. It can withstand both hot and cold weather, so it’s a great houseplant to buy during the winter months if you don’t have an outdoor garden area or live in a temperate climate. The ideal temperature for this plant is 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Humidity
Echeveria subsessilis is succulent, so it needs moderate humidity to stay healthy. It’s best to keep the plant on a tray of wet pebbles and mist the leaves every other day with room-temperature water.
The ideal humidity is between 40-50%.
Pruning echeveria subsessilis
There is no need to prune echeveria subsessilis, since it forms a rosette and the lower leaves fall off as new ones grow up. If you do want to remove some of the older leaves or encourage more growth, just snip them away with sharp scissors.
Recommended pruning: Remove old flower heads to encourage new growth.
When to repot
For repotting, you can wait until the echeveria is a few years old and has filled its pot with roots. If it’s too crowded in there already, think about dividing your plant instead of repotting it into a bigger container. The right time for this depends on several factors: how quickly your plants grow and your climate (if you live in a warmer area, for example).
Repotting is not only recommended when the echeveria’s pot becomes too crowded. If you notice that it starts to grow out of its pot or if there are some roots coming through the drainage holes on top, you can repot them as well.
In general, repotting of echeveria is best done in the spring to give them enough growing time for that year.
Dormancy
Echeveria subsessilis has a winter dormancy period. However, instead of the typical dry-ish conditions that would inspire this type of response in other plants, echeveria prefers warmth and humidity during its dormant state (during which it does require pretty good lighting for best results).
Flowers & Fragrance
The flowers on Echeveria subsessilis are what make this plant a great candidate for sun-loving hanging baskets. This echeveria produces small, pinkish flower buds that open up into pretty white blooms in late winter and early spring. While the blossoms look lovely indoors or out, they have been known to attract aphids.
Growth rate
Echeveria subsessilis does not grow very quickly. The plants reach a maximum height of around four inches, with their width being about half that size. In ideal conditions, it can be expected to increase its mass by one-third in only two years!
Toxicity
Echeveria subsessilis is toxic to cats and dogs. Their toxicity level has not been documented, but be cautious around pets or children when planting this in your yard or garden area.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Echeveria subsessilis is hardy to USDA hardiness zones 11 to 12.
Pests and diseases
Echeveria subsessilis is susceptible to mealybugs, scale insects, and aphids.
It can also be affected by root rot if grown in water logging conditions or poor quality soil such as clay soils that do not drain well. They are relatively disease-free when grown correctly in the correct climate zone.
