Tips for Growing Pachyveria Powder Puff Succulents

x Pachyveria ‘Powder Puff’

With thick, chunky leaves and a pale blue glow, x Pachyveria ‘Powder Puff’ is a fantastic addition to a succulent assortment!

‘Powder Puff’ is an intergeneric cross between two succulents – Pachyphytum oviferum (generally often known as moonstones) and Echeveria cante.

This cultivar was bred within the Seventies by an unknown breeder in the USA.

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With genes of each a pachyphytum and an echeveria, ‘Powder Puff’ is assessed as a member of the Crassulaceae or stonecrop household and counts amongst its relations quite a few succulents, reminiscent of crassulas, kalanchoes, and sedums reminiscent of donkey’s tail!

As a hybrid, ‘Powder Puff’ doesn’t have a local habitat, however its mother or father species hail from arid areas, resulting in the drought-tolerance of this succulent plant.

Also called ‘Exotica’ or ‘Kobayashi,’ ‘Powder Puff’ could be grown indoors as a houseplant with enough gentle, or outdoor yr spherical in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11.

Our information to rising pachyverias provides an summary of the genus and fundamental care necessities.

Whether or not you’re on this plant for its thick foliage or its gorgeously cool shade, this text will information you within the correct care wanted to maintain considered one of these pachyverias compact and beautiful!

Right here’s what we’ll cowl:

What Is ‘Powder Puff’ Pachyveria?

x Pachyveria ‘Powder Puff’ is an evergreen succulent that has pale blue foliage with a pink tinge.

The oval leaves are thick, and held on three- to four-inch rosettes which might be formed like lotus flowers.

The function that provides this pachyveria its blue glow is the layer of epicuticular wax that coats the foliage, additionally referred to as farina.

This layer of farina provides to the attraction of the pachyveria, in addition to offering it safety from illnesses, pests, and the solar!

These vegetation produce offsets, which supplies them a spreading and clumping progress behavior. They attain three to 6 inches tall with a selection of roughly 12 inches.

And borne on vegetation even indoors when gentle is adequate, the flowers of are bell formed, and pink with yellow interiors.

‘Powder Puff’ Pachyveria Propagation

As x Pachyveria ‘Powder Puff’ is a hybrid cross between vegetation in two totally different genera, seed-grown specimens could not develop true to sort.

To propagate, you possibly can develop new clones from leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or offsets.

We’ll describe every of these strategies, in addition to offering steerage for transplanting.

From Leaf Cuttings

A simple strategy to propagate new ‘Powder Puff’ specimens is by taking leaf cuttings from an present plant. When you by chance broke off a leaf when you had been transferring your plant, don’t waste it, use it for propagation!

When selecting leaves for this function, ensure the leaf is wholesome and isn’t broken in any respect. These which might be wilting, mushy, or damaged off half means received’t have the ability to develop new plantlets.

Additionally, to maintain as a lot symmetry within the mom plant as doable, select foliage from the underside of the rosette the place its loss can be much less noticeable.

After gathering the leaves, place them in a dry location out of direct daylight, and permit their wounds to callus over. This could take 5 days to per week, and the vegetation could even begin to develop roots throughout this time too!

Whereas ready for the leaves to callus over, you possibly can collect the remainder of your provides – you’ll want trays or nursery pots and rising medium.

The rising medium must be made up of fifty to 70 % mineral content material and the remainder natural matter.

The easiest way to make sure this ratio is to make your individual succulent potting medium.

For the natural matter, my favourite combine is Rosy Soil’s Houseplant Combine, obtainable in four- or eight-quart baggage from Rosy Soil by way of Walmart.

Rosy Soil Houseplant Combine

And for the mineral portion, select from gritty substances reminiscent of small lava rocks, pumice, coarse sand, and clay gravel or pebbles.

Jack’s Gritty Combine is made up of largely clay gravel together with some pine fines, and is ideal for incorporating into a mixture for pachyverias.

Jack’s Gritty Combine

It’s obtainable from the Bonsai Jack Retailer by way of Amazon.

In the case of pots, a two- to three-inch pot can be utilized to root a single leaf, or you should utilize a bigger pot or a tray to root a number of.

When the leaves are callused over, fill the pots or trays practically all the best way, leaving a half inch to an inch hole between the floor of the potting medium and the rim of the pot.

Place the leaves horizontally on the floor of the soil, not less than two inches aside.

When you dwell in an arid local weather, you could have to mist the soil to supply a little bit of moisture to assist the plantlet develop. For these in additional humid climates, the moisture contained within the leaf will doubtless be sufficient to assist the preliminary root progress.

Inside a couple of weeks, it is best to discover roots rising from the minimize finish, adopted by tiny plantlets beginning to kind.

While you discover plantlets rising, mist the soil to maintain it moist however not soggy.

Enable the plantlets to proceed rising in the identical container not less than till they’ve a number of leaves – and even longer – earlier than transplanting. There’s no rush!

In case you are rising a number of leaf cuttings in trays or massive pots, ultimately you’ll wish to transplant the person plantlets to a pot of their very own. You’ll discover transplanting suggestions arising shortly, so maintain studying!

Plantlets grown from leaf cuttings in small particular person pots can stay in the identical containers till they outgrow them.

Need to be taught extra about propagating succulents from leaf cuttings? Learn our information!

From Stem Cuttings

New specimens can be grown from stem cuttings.

Use a pair of unpolluted, sterilized scissors or backyard pruners to chop a rosette with a size of stem about three to 6 inches lengthy.

Subsequent, trim the reducing in order that there’s solely an inch of stem beneath the rosette.

Enable the reducing to callus off in a dry location out of direct daylight for 5 to seven days. Be certain the wound is dealing with up, in order that air circulation may help it heal over with out rotting.

When the reducing has fashioned a callus, pot it up as indicated within the transplanting part beneath!

From Offsets

Have you ever seen cute little child ‘Powder Puff’ pups rising from the stem of the mom plant?

These are referred to as offsets, and they are often separated into new vegetation – however wait till the offsets are not less than a 3rd of the dimensions of the mom plant earlier than dividing them.

To take away offsets, use a pair of unpolluted, sterilized snips to sever the pup from the mom.

Earlier than transplanting it into its personal pot, permit the offset to callus over – a course of which ought to take 5 to seven days.

Learn our article to be taught extra about propagate succulent offsets.

From Transplants

When you simply introduced dwelling a ‘Powder Puff’ pachyveria and are questioning if it is advisable to repot it, for now you can probably wait – except the plant is rising in a pot with out drainage holes.

You’ll be taught extra about one of the best time to repot later within the article, so maintain studying! For now, let’s assessment the steps required to transplant considered one of these pachyverias from one pot to a different.

Be certain to decide on a pot that has drainage holes and is only one dimension bigger than the present container the plant is rising in, if the pachyveria is already potted.

For naked roots, stem cuttings, or offsets, select a pot that accommodates the dimensions of the rosette – it will sometimes be between two and 4 inches large, relying on the width of the rosette.

You’ll additionally want some gritty succulent rising medium, reminiscent of the combo beneficial above.

For pachyverias with small or no root techniques, fill the pot largely full with rising medium, poke a gap within the medium, and insert the plant’s root ball or the bottom of the stem.

For these which have already got a well-developed root ball, put only a shallow layer of potting medium within the backside of the pot.

Take away many of the outdated rising medium from across the roots if you’re altering to a brand new combine. In any other case, loosen up solely the outer roots earlier than setting it within the container and filling in across the root ball with soil as wanted.

After transplanting, wait per week earlier than watering.

The way to Develop ‘Powder Puff’ Pachyveria

There are a couple of components of this pachyveria’s care routine which might be vital to get proper, and we’re going to deal with these subsequent.

‘Powder Puff’ wants not less than six hours of direct daylight every single day. When you’re utilizing a gentle meter to verify publicity ranges – that interprets into not less than six hours at 800-foot candles or extra.

When you’re conserving your ‘Powder Puff’ indoors as a houseplant for half or the entire yr, you’ll in all probability want to make use of a develop gentle to realize these gentle ranges.

With out adequate gentle this succulent will turn into etiolated – the middle will begin to develop into an extended stem, ruining its lotus-flower-like beauty, in addition to weakening the plant.

As for the way a lot water to supply, the method wanted right here is fairly straightforward – permit the rising medium to dry out completely between waterings. This can be much less usually in winter when days are shorter and cooler, than in summer season when days are longer and warmer.

Sticking your finger into the pot is one strategy to take a look at for dryness. One other means is to choose up the pot and be taught to acknowledge how gentle it’s when the potting combine is totally dry.

When you aren’t assured in your capability with both of these strategies, you can even use a moisture meter to provide you an goal studying of soil moisture.

When you resolve it’s time to water, take away the pachyveria from its saucer (if it has one), and place it in a bowl.

You may both water by way of the backside watering methodology, or use a houseplant watering can with a slim spout to evenly pour water over the floor of the soil.

Water till liquid runs out of the pot’s drainage holes, drain the liquid, and permit the pot to empty completely earlier than returning the plant to its typical location.

The rising medium for x Pachyveria ‘Powder Puff’ ought to have a pH vary between 6.1 to six.5.

As well as, it must be extraordinarily well-draining, with 50 to 70 % mineral content material and the remaining substances product of a mixture of non-mineral substances, reminiscent of biochar, compost, pine bark fines, and coconut coir.

‘Powder Puff’ thrives in temperatures between 60 to 80°F, and could be broken or killed by temperatures that drop beneath 35°F.

Because of this in summer season, these vegetation can do with some gentle shade in the course of the hottest a part of the day, particularly when you dwell in a sizzling local weather.

And in case you have an indoor ‘Powder Puff’ succulent outdoors for the summer season, remember to carry the houseplant again indoors earlier than climate cools to winter circumstances.

You’ll discover extra recommendations on caring for succulents throughout winter in our information.

This pachyveria additionally has low humidity wants – a spread of 40 to 50 % or decrease is ok.

For extra humid places, air circulation is vital, so don’t crowd vegetation collectively and use a fan if essential to maintain the air transferring.

Rising Suggestions

• Expose vegetation to not less than six hours of direct daylight, however present gentle shade throughout excessive warmth.
• Enable the potting medium to dry fully between waterings.
• Present glorious drainage by way of the rising medium and pot.

Upkeep

‘Powder Puff’ doesn’t require a lot upkeep, however you’ll little doubt have a couple of questions concerning repotting and fertilizing, so let’s dig into these proper now!

Are you having a tough time deciding whether or not it’s time to repot or not? Listed below are some clues that will help you with this resolution:

To begin with, autumn or spring are one of the best instances to repot these succulent vegetation, as they might have slower progress in the course of the summer season and winter, relying on the rising circumstances.

Has it been two to a few years because the succulent was final repotted? If that’s the case, it’s time to not less than refresh the potting medium.

Subsequent to think about is the foundation system. Carry the plant out of its pot and verify the foundation ball – if the succulent has turn into root sure, it’s time to supply the ‘Powder Puff’ a bigger pot!

If that is so, select a container that’s only one dimension bigger – and ensure it has drainage holes.

Additionally verify the rising medium. Does the plant nonetheless have loads of room in its pot, however the rising medium appears to be like like its the fallacious sort?

If ‘Powder Puff’ is rising in medium that’s holding an excessive amount of water, maintain the identical sized container, however change out the potting medium.

You may wait to repot the plant whether it is in the precise sort of rising medium, nonetheless has room for its roots to unfold, and has been repotted throughout the final two to a few years.

One other easy upkeep process it is best to embrace in your care routine is to take away useless foliage from the underside of the rosette as you discover it.

Why? If it’s not eliminated, this detritus can present a foothold for pests and illnesses.

It’s an ideal thought to verify for useless foliage every time you water!

Lastly, to maintain a ‘Powder Puff’ succulent in glorious form, keep away from touching the plant’s leaves the place doable to maintain the farina intact.

I do know it’s arduous as a result of the leaves are so cute, however oils from our pores and skin take away this protecting layer of wax, so deal with the plant from the underside of the rosette, the stem – or higher but – the pot, each time doable.

The place to Purchase

When you’ve determined so as to add a ‘Powder Puff’ pachyveria to your succulent assortment, know that whereas they aren’t the rarest of vegetation, they aren’t as widespread in backyard nurseries as hens and chicks both.

Nevertheless, when you’re fortunate and have an area nursery with a wide array of succulents, why not ask in the event that they carry this pachyveria?

After all there are on-line nurseries focusing on succulents as nicely.

Higher but, as a substitute of buying a specimen, you would possibly have the ability to commerce a reducing of considered one of your individual vegetation for a x Pachyveria ‘Powder Puff’ leaf or stem reducing on a plant buying and selling discussion board!

Managing Pests and Illness

Pachyverias aren’t usually bothered by illness or pests, however all the time quarantine new specimens for 2 months or so – simply in case! And concentrate on these potential dangers to the plant’s well being:

For these rising these succulents outdoor, maintain an eye fixed out for each deer and rabbits. To maintain rabbits away, you don’t want very tall fencing, however the kind of mesh used is vital.

Comply with our tricks to maintain rabbits out of your backyard.

If deer have a tendency to assist themselves to your backyard vegetation, maintain them away out of your potted succulents as nicely. The easiest way to do that is with a tall fence.

Learn to construct a DIY deer fence with our information.

The kinds of insect pests generally encountered with this pachyveria are succulent mites, aphids, and mealybugs.

Whereas the fuzzy white residue of mealybugs makes these pests pretty straightforward to identify on plant foliage – when they’re feeding on the roots of a plant, they’re much tougher to catch!

So when checking your specimen for pests, don’t hesitate to elevate it out of its pot and verify the roots too.

Study extra about figuring out and controlling mealybugs in our information.

Are the leaves turning mushy? The succulent is probably going rotting.

Rotting in succulent vegetation could be brought on by an excessive amount of water, insufficient drainage, or utilizing a potting medium with an excessive amount of natural matter.

Assessment the suggestions earlier on this article to find out what precipitated the rotting to begin.

Study extra about cope with rotting succulents in our information.

Greatest Makes use of for ‘Powder Puff’ Pachyveria

Are you cultivating a set of blue succulent vegetation? If that’s the case, you’ll undoubtedly wish to embrace ‘Powder Puff’ pachyveria!

‘Powder Puff’ can be loved as a houseplant when positioned subsequent to a sunny window or beneath a develop gentle.

And since this succulent is taken into account unhazardous, it’s protected in houses with younger youngsters and curious pets.

‘Powder Puff’ can be grown in a succulent planter or succulent fairy gardens with different drought-tolerant vegetation!

And for these in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11, ‘Powder Puff’ could be planted in xeriscapes, the place it will probably unfold as a floor cowl or path over low rock partitions in a rock backyard.