Echeveria fun queen, a succulent plant from the Crassulaceae family and the Echeveria genus, grows best in cooler seasons and has a dormancy habit during high summer temperatures. It grows relatively quickly and is prone to forming clusters. The leaf shape of Fun Queen is elongated spoon-shaped, slightly concave, with a pointed tip, and the smaller leaf tips are quite distinct. The leaf shape resembles that of Echeveria "Lunar Moon" but with more beautiful leaf colors and a more compact plant form. The leaves are arranged tightly in a rosette shape. The leaves are smooth with a white powdery coating and range in color from light blue to powdery blue. When exposed to ample sunlight, the leaves are tightly arranged, but in low light, the leaf color becomes pale blue-green, and the leaves grow thin, elongated, and the arrangement becomes more spaced out. In ideal conditions, the leaves may turn a powdery orange-pink color.
Growth Environment
Sunlight: Echeveria Fun Queen requires abundant sunlight and prefers cool, dry environments. It is semi-shade tolerant but is very sensitive to waterlogging and dislikes hot, humid conditions.
Temperature: It can survive well in temperatures from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F). During winter, ensure that the soil stays dry and the temperature does not fall below -3°C (26.6°F). If temperatures drop below -3°C, gradually stop watering.
Watering: Water sparingly in spring and autumn, particularly in environments with poor ventilation. Avoid over-watering as this can cause root rot. During the growing season, keep the soil slightly moist, but ensure that the pot does not accumulate water. Water 3 to 4 times a month, giving small amounts at the edges of the pot to prevent the roots from drying out excessively.
Soil: The soil must be well-draining. A recommended mix is 1:1:1 of peat, perlite, and coal slag. If you want to keep the plant’s roots separated from the soil surface to improve aeration, you can top the mix with a layer of clean river sand (3 to 5 mm in size) or pumice.
Fertilization: You can add some base fertilizer when planting Fun Queen. During the growing season, apply light fertilizer 1 to 2 times. Make sure to avoid getting water directly on the plant when watering to maintain its appearance and prevent water from accumulating in the middle, which could lead to rot.
Propagation
Leaf Cuttings: During the growing season, pluck healthy, fleshy leaves from the plant. Lay the leaves flat on moist sand, with the leaf surface facing up and the underside facing down. No need to cover the leaves with soil. Place them in a cool, well-ventilated area. In about 10 days, small leaves and roots will emerge from the base of the leaf. After roots develop, water the plant to encourage growth, then bury the roots in soil. Provide plenty of sunlight, moderate watering, and occasional fertilizing to help the new plant grow robustly.
Stem Cuttings: You can use single leaves, offshoots, or top branches for stem cuttings. The length of the cuttings is not important. After the cut surface dries, remove the lower leaves and insert the cuttings into a sand bed. Roots will form in about 15 days. Ensure the sand is not too wet, as this can cause the cut surface to yellow and rot. Once the roots are 2-3 cm long, the cutting can be repotted. Stem cuttings can be done indoors at any time of year, but it’s best to propagate between August and October when the rooting rate is higher.
Seeds: You can sow seeds in a greenhouse year-round. Keep the temperature between 16°C and 26°C (60.8°F to 78.8°F) and maintain the relative humidity at 75%-80%. Light levels should be about 50%.
Note: Echeveria Fun Queen is a beautiful, fast-growing succulent that thrives in cool, sunny conditions. Proper care, including controlled watering, good soil drainage, and suitable temperatures, will encourage this plant to flourish and form stunning rosettes.