Many of us love the way succulents look in our gardens. Yet, we shy away from growing them because they seem too delicate. We’re here today to tell you that’s not the case.
The Echeveria Pollux is a gorgeous plant. It’s a type of evergreen succulent that’s easy to maintain, especially for beginner gardeners.
Read on to find out more about succulents, especially the charming and ever-popular Echeveria Pollux.
Succulent Description
Echeveria Pollux plants look great in almost every garden, both indoors and outdoors. Their succulent plants resemble a rose flower that’s fully opened. These rosettes are silver grayish in color. Some can change their color as they mature to become more of a pastel shade.
A Pollux can reach up to 8 inches in diameter. Its leaves are broad at the outer edges. The rosettes are smaller in size and grow low near the center of the plant.
Starting in the spring, you may find your succulent blooming beautiful flowers. They can be either red, pink, orange, or more of a peachy tone. Some even grow flowers that are more of a yellowish hue.
Care Guide
Now that we’ve gotten to know a little bit about the Echeveria Pollux, let’s find out the best ways to care for it.
Temperature
The Echeveria Pollux succulents thrive in warmer climates. They do well in temperatures that range between 25 and 50℉. If you live in colder climates, it’s recommended that you plant your Pollux indoors.
Light
When an Echeveria Pollux is fully grown, it prefers full sunlight. You can plant it outdoors without any problems.
You can also plant them indoors. Make sure you place them near a window that gets plenty of sunlight. This way, you can make sure they get enough sunlight during the day. If you start to notice that they start leaning more towards the light, this could be a sign they need more natural light.
Watering
The Echeveria Pollux comes from the Family Crassulaceae. The best way to take care of this species of plants is by watering them. It’s the best way to keep your Pollux well-cared for and healthy.
There’s one method that experts say is the most suitable for succulents of all kinds. It’s called the ‘soak and dry’ method.
With this method, you water the plant until the soil is soaked. Then, wait until it appears dry before watering again. This can take about a week.
Fertilizer
A good rule to remember is that it’s easy to over-fertilize succulents since they’re accustomed to growing in low-nutrient soil. However, if they’re over-fertilized, they tend to wilt and die. Here are a few good tips to help you with this step:
- From spring to fall, use a slow-release fertilizer once every two weeks
- On young plants, use a cactus fertilizer or a low-nitrogen fertilizer mix
- For mature plants, use a 2-7-7 liquid fertilizer diluted 2 – 4 times the suggested amount
Soil
All succulents need the right type of soil to grow and thrive. They prefer well-drained, light, and porous soil rather than heavy garden soil that’s rich in nutrients and minerals.
A great idea is to use a mix of cactus and succulent soil. You can also add some Perlite or some coarse-grained sand. They’re both great at removing excess water.
The best type of container for your succulents would be one with drainage holes to get rid of any excess water. If your container has no drainage holes, you have to avoid leaving excess water in the pot or the roots will start to decay.
To get an optimal soil selection, you can create a mixture of several types of materials. Try the following for indoor succulents:
- All-purpose potting soil
- Turface
- Crushed granite
For outdoor succulents, mix Pumice and Coconut Coir. Both the Pumice and Coconut coir can maintain the right amount of nutrients and water in the soil.
USDA Zone
The United States Department of Agriculture developed the 13 Hardiness Zones in 1927. Their aim is to help identify which plants can grow in which areas by looking at certain factors that affect the way plants develop and thrive. Some of these factors include climate, humidity, wind, and rainfall.
The Echeveria Pollux falls into several zones that range from 9b to 11b. These zones cover several states, including California and Arizona, where the weather is warm year-round, with little risk of frost.
Propagating Echeveria Pollux
Pollux can be propagated in three ways. You can use cuttings, leaves from the other plant, or seeds.
Cuttings
Stem cuttings are one of the most common ways to propagate succulents. To ensure successful propagation, you need a clean and sharp pair of scissors or gardening shears.
When it’s time to cut, make sure you get one of the new leaflets growing near the top of the rosette along with part of the stem. Place them somewhere away from direct sunlight with good air circulation.
After several hours, or even overnight, place the cutting on top of well-drained soil in a pot. Leave the pot in a spot that gets partial sunlight. After several weeks, the cutting will start growing new roots. It’s time to start misting the soil. Allow it to completely dry out before watering it again.
When the plant and its root system mature, you can move it somewhere well-lit and warm.
Leaves
If you’re propagating using leaves, they have to have some of its meristem tissue still attached. This ensures proper rooting. You can also wait until a leaf falls off from its mother plant or order some leaves online. However, if you can’t find any fallen leaves, you can still propagate leaves by doing the following:
- Pick a plump, healthy leaf with moisture and nutrients stored inside
- Hold one of the lower leaves between your forefinger and thumb.
- Wiggle it gently from side to side. Avoid tugging or pulling on the leaf
- If it’s ready to be detached, you’ll feel it pull away without any difficulty.
- Your leaf is now ready for propagation.
Once you have your leaves, lay them on a layer of dry succulent soil in partial shade. Don’t water the leaves. If the leaf is healthy enough, it’ll have all the moisture it needs to support the new plantlet.
When roots begin to appear, cover them with soil. You can mist the soil once every couple of days.
At this stage, place the new plant in partial shade. Once it’s grown further and has become well-rooted, you can move it to a place that receives more sunlight.
Seeds
To propagate using seeds, you’ll need a well-draining soil mixture. You’ll also need a pot, preferably with drainage holes. Once you’ve planted the seeds, you can leave the pots indoors, especially in colder areas. You can also plant them outdoors. Remember to keep them away from direct sunlight until they’re fully grown.
A Final Note
Our guide on the Echeveria Pollux is all you’ll need to start growing and caring for your succulent plants. As you’ve seen, these beautiful succulents are easy to care for and maintain. Even propagating them is pretty straightforward.
If growing these plants sounds appealing, then it’s time to get started! Get yourself an Echeveria Pollux, and enjoy the simplicity of growing these beautiful succulents.
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