There’s a vast and stunning variety of succulents out there, each with its own charismatic appearance and demure needs. You can choose from around 60 families of succulents, each one includes approximately 200 species, and each species is further divided into various genuses.
The Echeveria Hercules is a succulent genus that belongs to the Crassulaceae family, along with 150 other peer species. It’s native to the desert regions of Central and South America.
Gardeners often fill indoor pots and outdoor beds with Echeveria Hercules succulents, as they look gorgeous and they’re so easy to care for. If you were wondering about the best ways to keep this succulent thriving, here’s how.
Echeveria Hercules Description
The Echeveria Hercules looks like a rose in full bloom. The plump leaves are well-shaped, and follow a tightly symmetric pattern. They taper around the ends, and if you look closely, you’d notice a tiny spike. This is characteristic of many species of succulents, and it’s a constant reminder that they’re close cousins of cactus.
The artichoke-like packing of the leaves is actually a sign that they’re getting sufficient light. If the leaves start growing apart, or getting ‘leggy’ and extending their stems, this means that they’re reaching out to the sun. Putting them in a brighter spot would restore their rich form.
Succulents have interesting shades of green that are often rather complex, and include soft-grey, light-blue, and faded-pink hues. This is among the many attractions that make the Echeveria Hercules a stunning decorative piece in your home or office.
Flowering is not something that succulents do all-year-round, but in summer, they’ll surprise you with a beautiful yellow flower on a very long stalk. It would remain there for a week or so, then slowly wilt.
Echeveria Hercules Care Guide
Caring for an Echeveria Hercules is no hassle at all. It’s not needy or picky in its watering, lighting requirements, or infusion with fertilizers. There are a few things though that you should be particular about; like the kind of soil you use.
Here are a few more things you’d need to know about Echeveria Hercules succulents to keep them happy.
USDA Zone
The hardiness zone of any plant is the very first thing you should learn about it. Why? Because it sums up the plant’s needs, behavior, what could threaten it, and what strengthens it.
Echeveria Hercules is a Zone 10b plant, which makes it a lover of warmth. The minimum temperatures you can subject this succulent to is from 35 °F to 40 °F. Other plants that thrive under the same climate are Aloe Vera, African Daisy, Sunflower, Lily Pad, Black Rose, and several other succulents.
Temperature
As outlined above, Echeveria Hercules is a desert plant through and through. Warm dry surroundings are critical for its growth, so if your garden is subjected to chilly weather or rain, then make sure this succulent stays indoors. And keep things toasty around it.
If there’s only an occasional cold and your plant is outdoors, then you can cover it with a plastic dome. The way we do when we’re protecting germinating seedlings.
Light
Succulents in general like brighter light, but they can tolerate semi-shade, and some are happy with filtered light. Their contentment shows in the brightness of their colors, and too much light can be detected as burn marks on the leaves. You might want to move your potter Echeveria Hercules a few times to find its sweet spot.
If there’s a specific place you’d like to keep this succulent in, and it doesn’t have enough direct light, you might want to use grow lights to keep it happy.
Watering
Succulents need infrequent watering. Usually, once a week would suffice. But you’d also have to factor in the ambient temperature, soil mix, type of pot, and the age of the plant. Growing plants need a bit more watering, and winter calls for a bit less watering.
Make sure the soil is completely dry before rewatering, and don’t spill or spray water on the plant itself. It really doesn’t like that. Also, the extra humidity is an open invitation for bugs and pests.
Fertilizer
Adult succulents rarely need extra feeding. These plants grow at a very slow pace. They don’t shed and regrow their leaves, put out flowers every other day, or grow seasonal fruits. So there’s no reason to infuse them with nutrients that they have absolutely no need for.
A healthy soil should be sufficient for their growing. However, if you’d like to give a leg-up to a baby Echeveria Hercules, that’s fine. But do this in moderation, and use a diluted form of a liquid fertilizer.
Soil
The soil is the single most important factor you should get right while growing succulents. The desert origin of these plants shows all its influence in this aspect. Succulents need a light airy soil to grow. Its water retention factor should be as low as possible. This is the total opposite of your black gardening soil.
There’s a special soil mix you should use to grow succulents, and it works well for the following reasons:
- It provides the roots with plenty of room to breathe without much effort.
- The water goes in quickly and drains quickly.
- The low moisture retention keeps away root rot and pests.
- Allows the succulents to get the nutrients they need from the soil more effectively.
- It’s an optimal medium for the microorganisms needed to keep the plant healthy.
The special mix for succulents generally consists of 1 part soil, 1 part sand, and a little less than 1 part perlite. If you can’t find good quality perlite, pumice would do. This often gives your succulent a growing medium that imitates its desert origins.
Maintenance and Pest Control
Echeveria Hercules is a hardy plant, that shouldn’t be a hassle to take care of. However, it’s still susceptible to the same bunch of pests that disturb houseplants from time to time. Mealybugs, spider mites, and fungal growth, are the usual suspects.
A Few More Things
The Echeveria succulents were discovered in the early nineteenth century, and named after the mexican botanist who documented them; Atanasio Echeveria Godoy. Since then, they have decorated millions of homes, gardens, and even office spaces.
The Echeveria Hercules is as strong as its name implies, and it’s also among the most beautiful succulents. The geometric pattern of its leaves, its layers of color, and the richness of its form, are all appealing to the eye.
Its rare yellow flower that comes out only in summer, is definitely an added treat.
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