The stunning Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia, most people would fall in love with it at first sight, like an immaculate fairy, cold and aloof. Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia has smooth leaves with a thick layer of white powder. Under sufficient sunlight, the leaves are neat and compact, with distinct edges. The leaf margin may show a faint pink hue, contrasting with the cold white powder on the leaf surface, creating a beautiful appearance.
Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia belongs to the Crassulaceae family, a succulent plant with thin leaves covered in a layer of black powder, appearing particularly tender under sunlight. Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia succulents have extremely high ornamental value, attracting many succulent enthusiasts. They grow rapidly in spring and autumn, experience brief dormancy in summer; hence, shade is necessary, and watering should be minimal to prevent root dehydration.
How to care for Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia (daily cultivation methods):
Environmental Adaptation:
Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia succulents thrive in bright sunlight and are highly heat-resistant. Under intense sunlight in summer, the leaves gradually flatten, and the white powder increases. They are also relatively cold-resistant, and temperatures above 0°C are sufficient for winter dormancy. They enjoy basking in the sun but require protection from prolonged exposure.
Soil Composition:
The soil mixture comprises peat, perlite, and coal slag in approximately a 1:1:1 ratio. To isolate the plant from direct contact with the soil surface and improve aeration, it's advisable to cover the surface with coarse river sand or perlite granules sized between 3 to 5 millimeters.
Watering Control:
Similar to other succulents, Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia succulents prefer thorough watering after the soil has dried out completely. Watering should only occur when the soil is completely dry, and it's recommended to immerse the pot in water for absorption. Immersion also encourages downward root growth. Watering can be stopped when temperatures fall below 0°C and reduced to a minimum above 3°C.
Adequate Sunlight:
Succulents thrive in sunlight, and insufficient light can cause elongation. Adequate sunlight promotes compact growth and offsets. However, during winter, particularly at noon, shading is necessary to prevent sunburn as succulents' thickened tissue cells dissipate heat slowly, making them susceptible to leaf sunburn. Sufficient sunlight in other seasons facilitates plant growth.
Fertilization Management:
Controlling fertilizer usage is essential; nitrogen fertilizers promote elongation, so phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are preferred, minimizing nitrogen fertilizers to prevent excessive vertical growth.
Propagation Method for Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia:
Propagation methods for Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia include sowing seeds, division, and beheading. Seed propagation is the primary method, albeit with a relatively low success rate.
Stems:
Can grow up to 10 centimeters tall, with a diameter of 2-3 centimeters, rarely producing lateral shoots.
Rosettes:
Can reach a diameter of 40 centimeters.
Leaves:
Oval-obovate, sharply pointed at the tip; mature leaves are around 18 centimeters long and 7 centimeters wide, with a thickness of approximately 0.6 centimeters. The upper side of the leaves is flat or slightly concave in the middle. The leaves are covered with a thick layer of white powder, turning pale purple under abundant sunlight, with red edges.
Inflorescence:
Typically, 1-2 inflorescences develop at a time, covered entirely in white powder. The inflorescence is a cyme, reaching 45-60 centimeters in length, with a base diameter of about 1 centimeter. There are usually 5 branches, each bearing 4-12 flowers. The fleshy flower stalks are 0.2-0.7 centimeters long and have a diameter of up to 0.4 centimeters.
Flowers:
The sepals are upright, 1.0-1.5 centimeters long. The corolla is 2 centimeters long, with a base diameter of 1.0-1.5 centimeters, covered in white powder, ranging in color from orange to pink; the nectar scales are a yellowish-pink color.
Sunlight:
Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia succulents are more sun-tolerant than other small succulents and require more sunlight. The more sunlight they receive, the more their leaves will turn pink. During the spring and autumn growth seasons, abundant sunlight leads to robust growth and well-developed root systems, resulting in thicker and fuller leaves.
However, in the summer, Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia should not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods, despite its ability to withstand temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius. Prolonged exposure can cause leaf burns. Therefore, it's advisable to provide partial shade during the noon hours of summer days, as excessive shading will gradually fade the pink coloration of the leaves, causing them to spread out and become loose.
During spring, autumn, and winter, it's best to provide Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia with full sunlight throughout the day, as significant temperature fluctuations and abundant sunlight result in compact growth and a more pronounced pink-purple coloration. However, during cold winters, below 0-5 degrees Celsius, attention should be paid to insulation, with increased watering and sun exposure promoting a more vibrant pink coloration.
Repotting:
For repotting Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia, October, preferably around the National Day holiday, is suitable as the temperatures are moderate, aiding in the plant's recovery. However, it's generally recommended to repot succulents in autumn or during the Chinese New Year, as summer and winter temperatures can be either too hot or too cold, hindering recovery. Therefore, autumn is the most appropriate time for repotting.
Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia is a large succulent plant, but with underdeveloped roots, a pot height of 15 cm is sufficient, and the diameter of the pot should be equal to or 5 cm smaller than the size of the plant.
Watering:
Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia succulents are more drought-tolerant than other small succulents due to their thick stems and large leaves, which retain more water. Therefore, they do not require frequent watering. Typically, during the growth seasons of spring and autumn, water should be given when the potting soil is dry. During hot summers, watering frequency and volume should be increased to avoid root rot under high temperatures. After entering winter, watering should be reduced, with no watering below 5 degrees Celsius and cessation of watering below 0 degrees Celsius to maintain slightly dry potting soil and prevent frost damage.
Additionally, during the rainy season, Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia should be sheltered from rain to prevent excessive water accumulation in the pot, which can lead to elongation or root rot.
In summary, when watering Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia, the potting soil should be kept dry rather than wet, avoiding excessive moisture that may lead to elongation of the plant and spreading out of the leaves.
Soil Mix:
Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia thrives in loose, well-draining sandy soil. A mixture of bone meal, yellow sand, and other materials is recommended to enhance aeration and nutrient content, promoting optimal growth conditions for Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia succulents.
Fertilization:
Although Echeveria cante Glass & Mendoza-Garcia grows slowly, it still requires fertilization in the soil to support its growth. During the growing season, applying a multi-element compound fertilizer can accelerate plant growth. However, it's important to prioritize phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, with minimal use of nitrogen fertilizers to prevent excessive elongation and leaf disfigurement.
During the growing season, fertilize once a month with granular compound fertilizer. Regular and light fertilization promotes healthy growth and thick leaves. However, refrain from fertilizing during excessively hot or cold temperatures in summer and winter, respectively.