Echeveria pulidonis, also known as Pulido’s Echeveria, is a beautiful plant that thrives when it’s well taken care of.
To ensure the success of this process, it is important to follow the proper Echeveria pulidonis care and propagation instructions.
This article will provide all the information you need to care for and propagate your new Pulido’s Echeveria!
Overview
Echeveria pulidonis, commonly called Pulido’s Echeveria, is a flowering succulent plant from the family Crassulaceae and the genus Echeveria.
This slow-growing succulent plant is native to Mexico and Central America.
Echeveria pulidonis is a slow-growing, stemless succulent that forms rosettes of blue-green leaves with bright red edges.
The average rosette of the Echeveria pulidonis succulent plant can grow up to 5 inches (12.5 cm). The leaves of the Echeveria pulidonis are flat and round, with a distinct red tip.
This flowering plant has bright yellow flowers that appear on unbranched, red stems in spring.
How To Care for Echeveria Pulidonis
Growing an Echeveria is simple, as it doesn’t demand extensive maintenance.
Your plant will thrive and grow if you follow some basic guidelines.
Sun Exposure & Light Requirements
Echeveria pulidonis succulents need a lot of light. They prefer bright sunlight and some partial shade.
They will not do well in the shade or under under four hours of sun daily.
These succulents need lots of bright light during the daytime to develop their best color and shape. Still, they can be kept in partial shade on hot summer days when temperatures get too high (above 75 degrees Fahrenheit).
If you are growing your Echeveria succulent indoors, keep it close to the window with plenty of sunlight.
If there isn’t any sun in that area, you can use artificial light to provide it with the intensity it needs.
Watering Requirements
Echeveria pulidonis succulent plants are drought-tolerant and need to be watered sparingly.
It is recommended that you water them once a week or less. The soil should remain dry for about an inch below the surface before watering again.
Echeveria pulidonis plants are sensitive to overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Make sure that the soil drains well and is not constantly wet.
The best way to determine if a succulent plant needs to be watered is to feel its soil by gently pressing down with your finger about an inch below the surface.
If you don’t feel moistness or moisture, then the soil is ready to be watered.
Echeveria pulidonis plants should not be left in standing water for long periods. You should also make sure that there is adequate drainage in the pot to avoid root rot.
Watering Echeveria pulidonis plants too often can lead them to grow leggy stems because they have been deprived of nutrients from insufficient drainage time for their roots.
The plant may start to lose shape as it stretches out for food. But there is not enough food because the plant’s soil has too much water.
Watering echeveria pulidonis plants once a week or less will produce fuller, stockier stems with better coloring and health.
Soil Requirements
Echeveria pulidonis prefers a soil that is rich in organic material and has good drainage.
For the best results, use a well-draining potting soil mix with sphagnum peat moss or perlite mixed into it for moisture retention.
A cactus mix can also work well if you use containers made from clay pots or terra-cotta tiles because these materials hold onto water much more than plastic pots do.
Echeveria pulidonis plants do well in either dry or clay loam soil that drain well. For this reason, they should be positioned on the ground with good drainage options so water will not accumulate in their potting mix.
They can also benefit from a layer of gravel underneath them to keep moisture away from the roots.
A few inches worth of pea stone is typically enough for an Echeveria plant. Still, you may need more if your pot has larger dimensions than average.
Temperature and Humidity
The Echeveria pulidonis succulents prefer a warm climate.
The best location for the succulent is an area with a constant average temperature of 65-75°F (18 to 24°C).
This includes cool areas like 50-60°F/ 13 to 16ºC or warm areas from 80-90°F/ 27 to 32ºC. The temperature can fluctuate between these numbers without affecting the succulent plant.
The humidity for the Echeveria pulidonis is about 40-60%.
This means it should not be in an area with a moisture problem or too much water, but it cannot have dry air.
The best environment would be somewhere around 50% to 60%, typically what most homes are set at already (the average home has a relative humidity of 55%).
If you live in a humid climate and plan on growing your own plants, make sure they will get enough light from natural sources like windows or skylights.
If this isn’t possible, use artificial lights instead so they receive sufficient levels of lighting throughout their day as well. They should have at least 16 hours of sun a day.
If you live in an area with dry air, make sure to water your plant every week or so and place it on pebbles or rocks that help disperse the moisture from underneath the pot.
Fertilizing
Echeveria pulidonis plants don’t need a lot of fertilizer.
To ensure your plant is getting the nutrients it needs, use a slow-release fertilizer every two to three months throughout the year (or more often in warm climates).
You can also use a diluted liquid fertilizer, but make sure you dilute it at a rate of one tablespoon per gallon of water.
The best time to fertilize your succulent is during its growing season in spring and summer.
This ensures it has plenty of time to absorb all that excellent juice before winter rolls around again.
Potting and Repotting
As the echeveria pulidonis plant grows, it will need to be re-potted into a larger pot.
Find an appropriately sized pot for your succulents and carefully remove the root ball from its original container.
Try not to break off any healthy roots as you gently tease them out of their temporary home.
Gently bare down on top of the soil until all of that is removed, and then place in an appropriate new one.
If any large pieces are left over, use scissors to cut them up before placing them in a new potting mix medium with sand or perlite added (see below).
Once this has been done, pour water around the edge so that it seeps through evenly. Continue watering every week or so for the next few months.
It’s recommended to use a pot that is at least twice as large as the one you took it out of.
This will help ensure your Echeveria pulidonis plants are healthy and happy without being overcrowded in their new potting mix medium.
Pruning
Pruning is unnecessary for Echeveria pulidonis plants as they will grow independently.
When the plant gets too big, you can trim it to make room for new growth and cut off dead roots.
Make sure to use a sharp, clean blade or scissors.
Additionally, pruning will encourage more branching and fuller growth while removing any dead leaves. However, do not cut the plant too much as this may affect its ability to grow new roots in that area of the stem.
A good rule of thumb is to leave at least one leaf per node. This will help provide more nutrients for the plant.
It also prevents sunburn on new growth and protects from direct sunlight exposure, leading to stunted or mutated foliage.
Pruning also helps remove excess weight so that your Echeveria pulidonis can grow taller without toppling over in high winds due to its heaviness.
Remember, less is better when it comes to Echeveria pulidonis plants and pruning.
Pests and Diseases
The Echeveria pulidonis succulent plant is generally a hardy and low-maintenance plant.
However, it will still get affected by pests and diseases if not properly cared for.
Some common problems include:
- Mealybugs
- Spider mites
- Scale insects
If you think your echeverias have any pest infestation, there are many ways to go about removing it!
When dealing with pests such as spiders, mites, and mealybugs, use horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps to discourage them from taking up residence within your environment again.
If you have scale insects, these can be removed by scrubbing the leaves with a diluted dish soap and water solution.
Another problem with succulents is rot.
This can be combated by creating a well-drained soil for your Echeveria and watering it less often, or water more frequently but using an organic fungicide to keep the plant in top shape.
If you think any of these affect your Echeveria pulidonis plant, do not wait too long before acting!
It is better to take preventative measures now than try and fix a problem after it happens.
Remember that caring for plants takes patience and time!
How To Propagate Echeveria Pulidonis
Echeveria Pulidonis propagation is easy to do. The most common methods are leaf cuttings and stem cuttings.
Leaf Cuttings
The most common method of propagation is by leaf cuttings.
- Pull a healthy leaf off of the Echeveria pulidonis plant
- Allow the leaf to callous over for a few days
- Place it on top of some moist soil in a pot
- Water the pot of soil gently and wait for roots to form from the cut leaf
- Once roots have formed, the new plant can be planted in a pot.
Stem Cuttings
The Echeveria pulidonis plant can also be propagated from stem cuttings.
- Take an inch off the stem of an Echeveria pulidonis plant
- Allow it to callous over for a few days
- Plant in a pot and water until roots form. The new Echeveria Pulidonis will grow roots faster if you cover it with some soil while it is propagating.
Is the Echeveria Pulidonis Toxic?
The Echeveria pulidonis plant is not toxic.
However, keep in mind that it is wise to take some precautions when handling any plant.
Avoid touching sap when propagating the Echeveria pulidonis and never ingest anything from this succulent.
The sap may have small hard-shelled insects inside of it, which can cause discomfort if ingested.
Ideally, wear gloves or use tongs when potting up new plants and during propagation work such as rooting cuttings.
Final Thoughts
The Echeveria pulidonis is a beautiful and easy to care for plant.
It is a good choice for beginners in the world of succulents.
Although it needs some special care, this plant will grow to be strong and healthy with time and effort.