Project Description
Echeveria elegans
Mexican Snowball
This Echeveria is one of the most easily recognizable of its species. The light-green rosette does well indoors when given enough light. It is often referred to as “hens and chicks,” not to be confused with Sempervivum.
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Quick Look:
Full sun to partial shade
Can be grown indoors if given enough light
Typical water needs for a succulent
Plant grows up to 8″ (20 cm) tall
Plant grows up to 12″ (30.5 cm) wide
Zone 9a (Minimum 20° F | -6.7° C)
Not cold hardy
Propagation by offsets and leaves
Generally non-toxic to humans and animals
Actively grows in Spring and Fall
Also available from Leaf and Clay, Succulents Box, and Etsy.
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Care and Propagation Information
General Care for Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball”
This common Echeveria is perfect on a green roof, as part of a wedding bouquet, or for use as ground cover. Anciently, it was believed to drive away evil spirits.
Watering
“Mexican Snowball” has typical watering needs for a succulent. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Where to Plant
Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball” is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 20° F (-6.7° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. It does well in full to partial sun.
Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, such as near a southern-facing window (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).
Pairs Well With
How to Propagate Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball”
Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball” is a prolific propagator, growing many “chicks” from offsets. You can also propagate it from its leaves.
Offsets
Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball” will produce small offsets, sprouting up around the base of the plant. Simply pull these up and allow the offsets to dry for one to two days before replanting.
Leaves
To propagate Echeveria elegans “Mexican Snowball” from leaves, begin by choosing a firm, healthy leaf. Remove it from the main plant by gently twisting the leaf from the stem. Be sure not to leave any of the leaf on the stem (if you take a bit of the stem with the leaf, that’s fine, too!).
Allow the leaf to callous over for several days, and then lay on well-draining soil. Water whenever the soil has dried completely. After roots and a rosette have appeared, and the mother leaf has withered away, plant the new growth.
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