Echeveria Imbricata or alabaster rose, undoubtedly one of the prettiest of succulent plants.
But first, you may need clarification … what is a succulent or succulent plant? It is as known to those species capable of storing water reserves in their tissues to cope with drought.
Among them, the cacti stand out for their resistance to aridity, but not all crass are cactus.
The plants of the genus Echeveria are of this type of succulent;
They are not cactus but store water.
There are many different species and cultivars within this genus, all with similar morphology although with small differences:
The leaves are always fleshy and symmetrically arranged in the form of a rosette but have some color variations or even shapes.
One of the most used in gardening for its resistance and beauty is the Echeveria Imbricata.
This native Crasulácea of Mexico is hard … it can resist without problems the water shortage and other extreme conditions of its habitat.
Tolerates perfectly the thermal contrast between the suffocating heat of the day and the mild frosts of the night.
However, although meritorious, I do not assign these lines for their resistance.
The Echeveria Imbricata is first and foremost a striking plant, endowed with a particular beauty.
It’s oval, bluish and swollen leaves of water acquire all the prominence.
Its peculiar arrangement in the form of a rosette, similar to the petals of a rose, is also worth the name of alabaster rose.
You may like all types of succulents
Tips to take care of the Echeveria Imbricata “Blue Rose”
Location
Some people use it as an indoor plant and it works well.
If this is going to be your case, I have nothing to object while placing it in a well-lit place.
There are indeed more suitable plants for this, such as cholera.
Because echeveria is, first and foremost, an outdoor plant.
In the garden, it goes from fable to cover difficult places, with little soil and little irrigation: perfect for a rockery or sloping areas.
Its low bearing and the ability to sprout greatly simplifies the work.
On the terrace, you can also place it in a pot.
This is how I enjoy it and it looks great, I assure you.
Orient it to the sun or in the middle shade.
In very extreme climates is better to protect from direct sunlight.
Although with intense sun exposure, Echeveria Imbricata is responsible for its protection.
The leaves are covered with a waxy layer (you have to avoid removing it, remember it).
If the potted plants choose porous materials such as ceramics or terracotta.
They should be wide containers preferably and with suitable holes in the base.
It is a good idea to add some element before the substrate to improve the insulation of the roots: gravel or volcanic stone, for example.
Substrate and fertilizer
The substrate as a good crass plant must be loose and aerated: adding washed or river sand, sandstone or similar to a universal substrate base will achieve this goal.
If you do not want to complicate your life, you also have special preparations for cacti and succulent plants on sale.
You will see that it is not very demanding in terms of nutrients.
Although if you provide some fertilizer from time to time, it will grow and bloom with greater abundance.
Do it from spring to fall, which is when the plant needs it.
There are liquid fertilizers for cacti and succulent plants designed to be added to the irrigation water.
They are very comfortable and quick to assimilate.
Remember you must never exceed the dose set by the manufacturer or you could damage the roots.
Watering
As you can imagine, if the echeverias store water in their leaves they will be able to withstand long periods without rains, so that they are planted directly in the soil have some autonomy compared to other non-crass species.
However, they appreciate some irrigation during periods of heat.
If you have them in a pot and placed in direct sunlight, water them more often: weekly in summer.
When watering try to wet only the soil, never the leaves.
With the lowering of temperatures, it substantially reduces the supply of water, to the point of suspending it in winter.
Remember that concerning irrigation any data you read should be understood as indicative.
Each circumstance is unique and depends on many factors.
To be sure, it is best to periodically check the texture of the substrate with your finger: succulent plants should never be re-irrigated until the soil has completely dried.
Pests
Echeveria Imbricata is a plant resistant to pests and diseases.
The main problems are usually related to the previous point.
Avoid by all means the flooding of the soil, this is the most important.
What can end your plant will not be cochineal, but inadequate irrigation or poor drainage.
Propagation
While they can be multiplied by seeds, this method is quite complicated.
It is necessary to place a seedbed with a sandy substrate that will always remain slightly damp, near a source of heat, and go doing fungicide treatments to avoid fungi.
And yet, no matter how much control you have, you can’t be sure that they will germinate.
Therefore, what is done is to multiply it by leaf or stem cuttings in spring-summer.
The way to proceed in any case is the same:
A leaf or stem is separated from the plant.
Let it dry for a couple of days (up to a week if it is a stem).
And it is planted in pots with universal culture substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts.
In the case of the leaves, they lie down, covering a little the narrowest part (the one that kept it attached to the mother plant).
Thus, you will begin to see that they prosper more or less at 15
Temperature
The Echeveria resist the cold, but frost hurts them.
It shouldn’t fall below 0 degrees, but if in your area there are weak and punctual frosts up to -2ºC you will not have to worry too much.
Its leaves may suffer some damage from frost, but nothing serious.
Conclusion
This crass plant has a stem of 3 to 4cm thick, up to 5 to 30cm long, rosettes 15 to 25cm wide more or less solitary somewhat more, leaves spatulated, with concave upper surface, convex lower, shield-shaped, Mucronata finished in tip, bluish green, greenish gray and with light pink trims, with bright reflections, to good light exposure.
They rarely remain for more than 1 or 2 years, without compensation, they are usually prolific.
Inflorescence of 30 to 60cm in height, sometimes simple, usually forked, flowers of 8mm in the base, up to 14mm, colors in the range of salmon, red and yellow, yellow interior, appear from summer, mainly, until autumn, the later, even in winter.
The formation of the flowers depends on the duration of the days and the amount of sunlight it receives, so it is ideal to place it in full sun if we want an early flowering.
Like most succulents, they are wonderful plants to have, so I encourage you to go out there and get your hands in this succulent or types of succulent you will love them.
Hope this article was helpful.