The Pachyveria has many hybrid offspring, and its colors can range from dull to bright and vibrant. Since there are so many hybrids, you can imagine how hard it is to find the answers to the questions regarding all the different specific types that have been found over time.
So, we have put together a list of the best growing tips and tricks for Pachyveria and its hybrids below.
What Is A Pachyveria?
This plant is a nothogenus hybrid succulent of Pachyphytum and Echeveria of the Crassulaceae family. This succulent has many hybrids of its kind, and they all do their best in dry and arid climates.
What Is The Common Name Of The Pachyveria?
There is no common name for this plant by itself, though there are different types of hybrids that each has common names that generally describe its uniqueness.
For the hybrids that we will be discussing below, we’ll decipher each common name and what it means in correlation to that plant.
Angel’s Finger Succulent
This name refers to the plant’s light peach colored leaves with pink tips, resembling a finger, or an ‘Angel’s Finger’ in this variety.
Albo Carinata Succulent
This unique name refers to the plant’s appearance in the Latin language. ‘Albo’ meaning ‘white’, referring to the color of the plant, and ‘Carinata’ meaning ‘shell-formed’, refers to the plant’s shell-like shape that it takes on as it grows older.
Augusta Succulent
This is of the Latin meaning for “majestic.”
“Blue Haze” refers to the plant’s blue color, as do the other blue names the plant has been given over the years “Belle Blue” and “Blue Quartz”.
Clavifolia Succulent
This is derived from a combination of the Latin’s words “clava”, meaning “club”, and “folium”, meaning “leaf”. This word combo, it references the succulent’s club shaped leaves.
Calypso Succulent
There are many meanings and translations, but when referring to the succulent, it means “orchid”, describing the light colors of the plant’s leaves.
Draco Succulent
Meaning “dragon”, referring to the plant’s opaque and opal appearance of a dragon.
Dr. Cornelius Succulent
This name has no recorded meaning or association with a Dr. Cornelius that we have been able to uncover. It could just be one of those names that got attached to it from some sort of a reference and it stuck with it over time.
History Of The Pachyveria
There is no recorded information on the plant’s origin or who first crossbred the plant because of the many different variations and hybrids being made over time, so it has become hard to trace it back to its source information.
This happens when you have a lot of different people cross-breeding, moving the plant to new locations, and then adding that new plant to a running list.
Then, someone comes along, categorizes the list, and has no idea how the list was formed and so cannot attach any of that information, so the information is lost.
This happened a lot in the early days of fossil recording as well. There are some species that even today they know are misnamed, but that early data is gone and there’s not much they can do about it.
How To Take Care Of Pachyveria
For soil, this succulent grows best in well-drained, coarse sand or soil that is full of phosphorus and potassium but low in nitrogen.
Fertilizing the plant with a well-balanced fertilizer year-round works great for growth, but you need lower nitrogen fertilizer. Guano like bat guano won’t work very well because of its high nitrogen content.
A good mix would be 50% coarse sand and 50% potting soil, with the remaining half made up of 80% potting soil and 20% worm casings.
This would give a great nutrient blend that is still low enough in nitrogen to allow the plant to thrive to its utmost potential.
These hearty succulents don’t need water often. Your plant will be thriving and hydrated by using the golden rule of watering when the soil is dry. Water well and around the plant, avoiding watering directly on top of the leaves, and allow the soil to become bone dry between waterings.
These succulents love full direct sunlight. Most varieties of hybrid plants need at least half a day to a full day of sun.
That half-day is the minimum, and with these particular plants, the more sunlight the better. Until the sun becomes so intense that regular direct sunlight is measured at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
At that point, like most plants, even this one says uncle as well. It just can’t take direct sun at 120 degrees F or more.
The minimum temperature this succulent can grow in is 30 ºF (-1.1 ºC). However, it is recommended that you keep your succulent in temperatures ranging from 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 15.5 degrees Celsius) and in dry air.
If you’re greenhouse growing these plants, you’ll do well by keeping the humidity at as low a number as possible. They might be more susceptible to bug infestations and rot in high-humidity environments.
If you’re greenhouse growing these and notice that they just aren’t taking off the way that you think they should, then you can pipe in some CO2. An easy way to do this is to take the exhaust from the heater in your home and filter it using a greenhouse gas filter that is commonly sold.
This will fill the air in your greenhouse with more CO2 and all your plants, especially this succulent, will grow faster.
If you’re growing them in your house or out of doors, then this won’t work at all, especially not in your house as the carbon given off by the heater is toxic to you. Great for plants, toxic for you.
This may sound just a bit odd at first, but not to worry, it gets even weirder. Just joking. It’s perfectly sane, but who are we to judge?
You can twice per day breathe on your plant. Take a deep breath, open your mouth all the way, and slowly breathe out like you were trying to fog up a window or mirror.
Carbon dioxide is heavier than regular air. This gas will hang out in the leaves of your plant for a little while, giving your plant time enough to take it in.
No, it’s not much, but it doesn’t take much either. People have reported results in just a few weeks.
There is a theory that people who claim that their plants do better when they talk to them might just actually be right. They are directing their breath right at them for some time.
The plant takes this up and grows.
If a plant has sufficient water and soil nutrients, CO2 is the rate-limiting factor in its growth. The more CO2 available, the faster the plant grows.
That’s the real reason you should not be afraid of climate change. All this CO2 we are emitting is greening the planet. Over the last 60 years, the greening taking place in Africa alone has been amazing to watch.
Yes, it will be a little bit warmer of a climate and a fair bit wetter, but no worries, we’ll be just fine overall.
What Is The Best Soil For A Draco Succulent?
The best soil for these succulents is a well-drained, coarse sand or soil. If you want the best growth for your succulent, add phosphorus and potassium, but in low nitrogen. The soil must be in a pot that has great drainage, you wouldn’t want to risk your plant rotting at the base from standing water.
What Is The Best Amount Of Sunlight For A Draco Succulent?
The best amount of sunlight for this plant is from half a day to a full day of direct sunlight to partial shade. Different variations of the succulent will ask for full-bright direct sunlight while some will grow best in partial shade or indirect sunlight. You’ll just have to research your particular variety a bit.
How Much Fertilizer Should I Give My Succulent?
You shouldn’t use much fertilizer for your pant at all. Giving your succulent a very small amount of natural well-balanced fertilizer throughout the year will help to guarantee good, stable growth.
How Often Should I Water My Calypso Succulent?
You should water it just occasionally. Water well around the succulent and avoid watering directly on top of the leaves, it will reduce risks of leaves rotting.
Then just use the soak and dry method where you soak the soil around the plant and then only soak it again when it becomes bone dry to the touch.
Are Pachyverias Seasonal?
They are not seasonal. They do not bloom flowers and they just stay as their colorful leafy selves all the year round.
How Do You Propagate A Pachyveria?
You can propagate it from leaf cuttings. Remove the leaves from the rosette starting at the base and working around, you don’t need to remove all of the leaves from the base since you can use the ones that are left for propagation as well.
Place the leaves on top of the soil, not buried inside of the soil, make sure the ends where it was original attached to the plant are directly facing down towards the soil.
After 2 to 3 weeks, you will notice the buds end will develop a small rosette cluster, keep the flowering end close to the soil so that roots can emerged.
And from there on out, you can continue caring for your new succulent just as you would with the original mother plant.
Are Dr. Cornelius Succulents Poisonous To Humans Or Pets?
They are not poisonous to humans or pets, so there is no worry if you cat or dog manages to eat the succulent.
Are Pachyverias Edible?
Yes, they are edible. Although they are edible and non-toxic, it’s not advised to eat them, there’s just really no reason unless you were starving to death.
How Long Do Pachyverias Live For?
These plants can live for 3 years to several decades depending on its type and how it’s cared for.
How Big Do Pachyverias Grow?
While there are many varieties of the plant, these plants typically grow 2 to 6 inches tall and wide.
What Is An “Angel’s Finger Succulent ”?
The “Angel’s Finger” is a cultivated hybrid succulent of the original. The succulent’s leaves are thick and light-peach with pink tips, resembling fingers.
What Is An “Albo Carinata Succulent”?
The “Albo Carinata” is a white shell-shaped hybrid succulent of the original. The succulent sports pale green to white leaves that are spread apart more than the original Pachyveria itself.
What Is An “Augusta Succulent”?
The “Augusta” is a greenish-blue hybrid succulent of the original. The succulent has greenish-blue cyan leaves that commonly grow in clusters.
What Is A “Blue Haze Succulent”?
The “Blue Haze” is a light blue hybrid succulent of the original. This succulent has light pale blue leaves that can grow in a small pot and can grow into a larger cluster.
What Is A “Belle Blue Succulent”?
The “Belle Blue” is a long, oblong blue hybrid succulent of the original. The succulent grows long upward blue leaves that tend to grow in large clusters.
What Is A “Blue Quartz Succulent”?
The “Blue Quartz” is a blue jagged leaved hybrid succulent of the original. This succulent has blue leaves that are long and jagged, resembling a quartz, making for a really interesting plant.
What Is A “Clavifolia Succulent”?
The “Clavifolia” is a small plump colorful hybrid succulent of the original. This succulent has small plump greenish leaves with pink colored tops.
What Is A “Calypso Succulent”?
The “Calypso” is a beautiful rosette shaped hybrid succulent of the original. The succulent’s leaves are a greenish pale pink with spread out leaves that resemble a beautiful desert rose.
What Is A “Draco Succulent”?
The “Draco” is a light violet hybrid succulent of the original genus. The succulent has thick jagged greenish light violet leaves that often grow in clusters that resemble a dragon from certain angles.
What is A “Dr. Cornelius Succulent”?
The “Dr. Cornelius” is a pinkish green hybrid succulent of the original. The succulent has a spaced-out rosette that has a pink base that turns green as it goes up.
Sources:
https://peerj.com/preprints/2656v2.pdf
https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/rcb/Drought/Opinions%20of%20nursery%20irrigation%20requirements.pdf