The Echeveria Domingo is part of the Echeveria succulent family. It grows in hot and sunny places, and doesn’t need constant care or fussing over.
The leaves on the Domingo plant have a beautiful bluish tint. The way they’re arranged looks like a rosette that can brighten any floral arrangement, both indoors and out.
Let’s dive in the world of Echeverias and learn all there is about the Domingo.
Succulent Description
The Echeveria Domingo comes from the Crassulaceae family. This plant originates in Mexico and is known for its thick and waxy leaves that give off a bluish tint.
The Domingo succulents can grow up to almost 10 inches wide. Their height ranges from a couple of inches to almost 4 feet high. They’re evergreens that grow all-year-round and bloom beautiful salmon-pink flowers in the summer. The flowers grow on inflorescences that rise up from around the Domingo plant and have the same coloring as the plant itself.
This succulent is also called Domingo hen and chicks. The term comes from the new offsets, or chicks, that grow at the base of the mother plant. They form neat clusters that can be easily removed for propagation.
Care Guide
All Echeveria species are easy to care for. Here a few basic rules to help you get started.
Temperature
Echeveria Domingo plants are tender succulents that don’t handle the cold well. They’re at their happiest in warm areas with lots of sunlight.
If you live in a cold area, it’s better if you plant your succulent indoors. Place it somewhere that gets abundant sunlight to ensure it’s happy and thriving. Once the frost is over, you can move it back outside in the sun.
Light
Echeveria Domingo plants thrive on direct sunlight when it’s grown. This is why many experts recommend growing it outdoors rather than indoors.
Succulents stretch out any time when they’re not getting enough natural light. They also tend to bend and lean towards a window or other light source to try and get as much light as they can.
Watering
The Echeveria Domingo is a resilient plant that doesn’t need large amounts of water to flourish. There’s one way of watering that ensures a healthy succulent. It’s known as the ‘soak and dry’ method.
With this method, all you have to do is water the plant until the soil is barely soaked. Wait a few days until the soil is completely dry before watering again.
Don’t let the water sit in the pot. This can cause the roots to rot. It can also result in fungal diseases that will also cause the plant to die.
Fertilizer
The Echeveria species can grow without any fertilizer. Yet, they can certainly enjoy the boost in nutrients. To get optimal results, use a slow-release fertilizer in the spring.
You can also opt for liquid fertilizer. Before using, make sure you dilute it two or four times more than the package recommends, and use it less frequently.
Soil
While many growers blend their own soil mix, you can also buy succulent and cactus potting soil. For soil that’s porous and can provide proper drainage, add perlite or pumice.
Remove any dead leaves from the pot as your Echeveria Domingo grows. These dead leaves may become a sanctuary for bugs, which can compromise the health of your plant. Most succulents don’t do well with pests in their pot.
USDA Zone
The Echeveria Domingo succulent falls into the USDA hardiness zones of 9b to 11b. Temperatures in these zones range from 25 to 50℉ in the summer. Winter hardiness is between 25 and 30℉.
The USDA zones refer to various areas across the US with varying climates and weather conditions. These zones are set by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help horticulturists manage their plants.
Repotting
You can repot Echeveria Domingo as many times as you need. It’s a strong plant that can easily handle new environments.
Pot Size
Choose a pot with a size that’s anywhere from 5 to 10% bigger than the width of the plant. For example, if your Domingo is 5 inches in diameter, you’ll need a pot with a size about 5.25 to 5.5 inches.
When it comes to choosing the ideal type of pot for your Echeveria, choose one with drainage holes. These ensure the soil doesn’t hold on to any excess water. They also allow for air to circulate through the soil, and prevent the roots from decaying.
Removing the Plant
The first thing you have to do is make sure that the soil is dry before repotting. This makes it easier for the roots to come out of the pot without damaging them.
Start by pulling away the pot from the plant. If there are any roots that are intertwined, gently untangle them. Once the Domingo plant is out, remove traces of the old soil from the roots. If you see any dead or rotted roots remove those as well.
Prepare the New Pot
Place the plant in the new pot. As you’re filling up the pot with soil, spread out the roots. Leave the succulent for a few days to adjust to its new surroundings before watering it.
Propagating
As with all succulents, the Domingo can be easily propagated from the mother plant. This can be done via leaf or stem cuttings, or by using seeds.
Using Leaf/Stem Cuttings
To propagate using leaf cuttings, carefully twist the leaf from the stem. You can also take leaves that have fallen off the mother plant, providing they’re still plump and fresh.
Lay the leaves in a warm and dry place for 3 to 15 days to give them a chance to callus. Avoid watering the leaves during this time. Once the leaf is calloused, you can place it in a pot with well-draining soil.
With stem cuttings, you do the same thing you did with leaf cuttings. The only difference is that you’ll need gardening shears to cut out the leaf with the tip of the stem attached.
Whichever method you go with, try to take two to three leaves to increase the chances of a successful propagation.
Using Seeds
The ideal time to sow seeds is in the warmer months. Keep them indoors until germination, which can take a couple of weeks. Once they’ve matured into seedlings, it can take about 18 months to three years to fully mature.
A Final Note
The Echeveria species originate in Latin and Central America. They’re great at handling hot climates and you can easily find them growing on ledges and cliff edges.
The Domingo ‘hen and chicks’ plants are one of the easiest Echeverias to maintain. Their smooth, bluish leaves display themselves in a beautiful rosette shape. Even though they grow low to the ground, the Echeveria Domingo makes an attractive addition to any garden.
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