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Sweetheart Hoya Plant: A Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift

by Giancarlo Perlas

Sweetheart hoya plant (Hoya kerrii) is also called Sweetheart wax plant, Hoya hearts, and Valentine plant. As its names say, it is a heart-shaped succulent plant, and it makes a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your partner especially if he or she is a succulent-lover or a green thumb.

Sweetheart hoya is a very charming plant, which is a nice addition to your indoor succulent collection. It requires low-maintenance as well, so it is very easy to propagate and keep. Find out more about this amazing succulent plant as we go on.

Appearance

Sweetheart hoya is a climbing plant that can grow up to four meters high or 13 feet. However, it is hard to find a fully-vined version of the plant because stores usually sell it as a single leaf cutting measuring up to five inches each. Each fully-grown leaf can cost you around $10-$15, so a vine of it should be very expensive and hard to find. The demand for this product is especially high during St. Valentine’s Day.

The succulent is slow-growing but taking care of it until its maturity definitely pays off. Upon full growth, the plant becomes a bushy mass of green fleshy leaves so it is eventually transferred to a hanging basket. It also produces up to 25 white blooms with dark red accents at the center during the summer if given the right conditions for growth.

Conditions for Growth

Sweetheart hoya is a plant native to Southeast Asia. It prefers indirect sunlight but it can tolerate even low-light environments. Just don’t place it in a full shade though. The ideal temperature for the succulent is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 and 26 degrees Celsius.

Hoya kerrii is drought-tolerant so it only requires little watering. One or two waterings for the plant per month can suffice. Another sign that it needs watering is when its soil is already dry to the touch. Overwatering or soggy soil can lead to rotting while super-dry soil can result in dehydration, so plan your interval watering carefully.

Propagation

Sweetheart hoya can be propagated with a single leaf cutting placed in a small pot. See to it that the container has holes for drainage and filled near the brim with well-draining soil to let excess water flow through it freely.

Although the succulent only requires little fertilizer, it is recommended that you feed it with a light solution monthly to optimize its development and maintain its healthy color. The solution should be a mix of one-fourth teaspoon of balanced, water-soluble, indoor fertilizer diluted in one gallon of water.

Transfer the plant with a fresh batch of well-draining soil to a hanging basket with drainage when vines begin to appear. Put the plant in a location that gets more sunlight during the day and cooler nighttime temperatures to stimulate its flower growth in the summer season.

More Valentine’s Day Gifts

Be sure to check out our unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas for more choices. Visit our special rosette collections, glazed vases, succulent party favors, and artificial roses too for more ways to spice up the occasion.

CAL Farms Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents Starter Kit Great Gift Box (9pack)

5 Reasons Why You Should Use Clay Pots Instead of Plastic Containers for Succulent Plants

by Giancarlo Perlas
Photo Source: Pinterest

Plastic and clay pots are very easy to acquire. Both can be used as containers for your growing succulent plants. However, that does not mean that you can achieve the same results when choosing one over the other.

Here we will enumerate 5 reasons why clay pots are better than plastic containers for your succulent plants.

1. Better Air Circulation

Clay is a porous material so it allows better flow of air in and out of the pot. Its cooling effect is beneficial for your plant during hot weather conditions.

2. Water Absorbent

The pores of the material also help absorb excess water in the soil. Then, it makes it easier to identify if the plant has too much moisture because clay turns dark when it is wet.

3. Better Drainage

Clay pots usually come with holes at the bottom, which help prevent stagnation of excess water in the soil and roots of the plant. Stagnant water has the same effect as overwatering your plant. It makes the leaves of your succulent soggy, which may eventually result in wilting.

4. Budget-Friendly

Clay pots are very common, and they come with a very simple design. Therefore, they are cheaper than other types of containers for succulents.

5. More Accessible

Clay pots are easier to make, and more preferred by buyers. These make them easily available in gardening stores.

The Downside

There are some trade-offs that you have to keep in mind when choosing clay pots for your succulents though. The most obvious disadvantage of using clay is its less durable trait than plastic. Dropping a clay pot on a solid surface will certainly break it, or accidentally hitting it with a hard object will likely cause a crack on it.

The simple and uniform design of clay pots may play as a downside too. The uniform design of clay pots may look good when used in clusters, but this may not be the case if you want variety or a more elaborate design for each of your succulent pots.

Ceramic Pots

A good alternative for clay pots is ceramic pots for your succulent plants. Ceramic may not be as absorbent as clay but it offers a more attractive decorative piece. This is perfect if you are placing your plants indoors or at the façade of your home, office, or business establishment. Moreover, this material is more resilient than clay, and it’s a nice gift for succulent plant lovers.

Not all ceramic pots are ideal for succulents though. So make sure to choose the ones that have holes in them for drainage of excess water. Luckily, you no longer have to look further because CAL Farms is offering an ornate set consisting of six 2.5-inch Ceramic Flowing Glaze Pots for a very affordable price, which will be delivered directly to your address for your extra convenience.

Just hit the link below if you want to see a more detailed description of the product, or if you wish to order it now:

6 In Set 2.5 Inch Owl Pot Ceramic Flowing Glaze Base Set Succulent Plant Pot Cactus Plant Pot Flower Pot Container Planter

How to Care for the Crassula Baby Necklace

by Giancarlo Perlas

What’s the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the word “babies”? They are adorable and cute little creatures. These are the things that you can associate with Crassula Baby Necklace succulent plants.

The Crassula Baby Necklace belongs in the Crassulaceae or Stonecrop family. It is also known for its other names such as Chinese jade, vine baby necklace, and worm plant. By now you must have figured out that, as the names say, the plant has an elongated shape. However, that’s not always the case. The succulent actually starts really small but it can grow up to a foot tall upon maturity. It has puffy green leaves with red tips that are stacked on top of each other like a bead or necklace. White flowers bloom from the plant during late spring to early summer too.

Here are the things you must remember if you want to make sure that your Crassula Baby Necklace grows in tiptop shape:

Temperature

The Crassula genus of succulents can be found in many parts of the world but the ones usually bought by collectors and people fond of gardening mostly come from South Africa. Winters in the region can be as low as 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers can be as warm as 68 degrees Fahrenheit but there are times when the climate can go scorching hot when the desert air from the eastern part is blown towards it.

Basing on its natural habitat, it is safe to assume that the Crassula Baby Necklace can thrive within the mentioned temperatures, which makes it a good outdoor plant. However, it would be safe to bring it indoors if you start to notice that the low or high temperature outside is damaging your succulent.

Propagation

The Crassula Baby Necklace can be propagated via its offsets, leaf cuttings, or division. The best time to do this is during the warm season.

The easiest way to propagate the succulent plant is thru its offsets and division, but if you are looking to maximize your output, simply do it using its leaf cuttings. For this process, carefully cut a leaf using a clean pair of scissors or a cutter. Place the leaf in a dish and pour a potting mix over it. When it starts rooting, transfer it into a pot with well-draining soil and drainage at the bottom. 

Watering

The Crassula Baby Necklace only requires little water, and overwatering can result in wilting. It is recommended to water the plant only once a week during summer and once every three weeks during winter.

Pest Extermination

This succulent is susceptible to pest infestation, particularly mealybugs. These pests can reproduce really fast, and not only will they drain your plant of its needed nutrients, but they also have the tendency to dig their way into the flesh of the plant. These may cause the plant to decay over time.

Mealybugs attached to a succulent plant

These pale white insects can be easily removed using running water or a brush with soft bristles. For serious infestation problems, use pesticides or better cut the infected portion. A more detailed discussion on how to remove mealybugs from your succulent plants can be found here.

3 Unique DIY Gift Ideas For Valentine’s Day Using Succulent Plants

by Giancarlo Perlas

It’s February and it’s that time of the year again when we have to come up with ideas on how to surprise our loved ones this coming Valentine’s Day. Forget the usual flowers and chocolates as they are too overrated already and too overused for this occasion.

Why not level up your game with some of these amazing gift ideas for Valentine’s Day using succulent plants?

1. Succulents Bouquet

As we have discussed before, succulents are better alternatives to the conventional bouquet of flowers during Valentine’s Day. A bouquet of flowers can drive you from $30 up to a hundred dollars, and buying them during Valentine’s Day can cost you more because sellers tend to notch up their prices due to high demand.

For less than the said prices, starting at $25.99 to be exact, you can already get your partner CAL Farms Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents Starter Kit Great Gift Box consisting of nine carefully handpicked, rooted, healthy varieties of rosette succulents in different colors. Each plant comes with 2-inch carefully packaged nursery pots and guide on how to care for it.

CAL Farms Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents Starter Kit Great Gift Box (9pack)

All you have to do is fashion the contents of the Succulents Starter Kit into a bouquet using a crepe paper, tissue paper, or any decorative type of paper. Voila, you just made yourself a bouquet of succulents.

2. Succulents Necklace

The succulent necklace is perfect for your plant-loving partner. However, this entails a lot of work so it’s better if you just buy one online. If you really want to make an effort for the recipient of your gift though, better get the materials ready for some DIY affair. Note that you are not actually using an organic succulent plant for this. Use a faux succulent instead.

To give you a rundown on what you have to do, first you have to make a small pot using a Sculpey Oven Bake Clay. Insert a pair of shortened eye pins on each side of the molding, which will later be used to attach the lace or jewelry chain. Color or decorate the molding as you please, and bake. Finish it up by attaching the faux succulent on it, and the lace or jewelry chain.

3. Heart Tin Can, Decorative Pots or Mini Decorative Bottles Filled with Succulents

These are pretty straightforward because you just have to find yourself any of the mentioned containers that are big enough to house your plant. Next, partly put some loose garden soil or potting mix in your chosen container. Replant some rosette succulents there, and you’re done.

6 In Set 2.5 Inch Owl Pot Ceramic Flowing Glaze Base Set Succulent Plant Pot Cactus Plant Pot Flower Pot Container Planter

More Valentine’s Day Gifts From CAL Farms

If you still want to go with the traditional roses for Valentine’s Day, we highly recommend the CAL Farms Artificial Flowers, which is on sale now. The handmade faux roses are made of premium latex foam materials to make them very realistic. Each rose head measures 3 inches in diameter with a 10-inch stem. You can spray these imitation flowers with any of the natural fragrance oils that your partner prefers to make them as real as possible.

CAL Farms Artificial Roses, Artificial Flowers Fake Roses Look so Real, Made of Foam for Weddings, and Home Décor (Burgundy, 25 Count, 3″ Rose, 10″ Stem)

Aside from the fact that these are more affordable than organic flowers, it’s also hard to tell them apart from the real ones. As a bonus, they do not wither and could make a fine everlasting decorative piece at home.

Caring Tips for the Haworthia Cymbiformis Var. Obtusa

by Giancarlo Perlas

Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtusa is a rather strange-looking succulent plant. It comes as a dense rosette and it is the appearance of its leaves that make it very interesting. We will be discussing here the things that you need to know about the plant and its most important maintenance tips.

Characteristics

Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtusa is a small rosette succulent that grows up to four inches in diameter. The name of the plant is derived from the Latin word “obtusus” meaning “blunt” or “dull”, which describes the obtuse tips of its leaves. This can be easily mistaken with the Haworthia cooperi var. truncata because of their strong resemblance with each other at a glance, especially their pulpy leaves. However, further examination of the two will reveal that the Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtusa has a different leaf shape and it is less translucent.

Normally, Haworthias reach a height of 3 up to 5 inches. However, it takes a long time for the plant to grow. It starts in small clusters but it spreads out over time.

Ideal Temperature

The Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtusa is native in Eastern Cape, South Africa. It thrives in warmer temperatures but it can also withstand climates going as low as 30 to 50 degress Fahrenheit.

Many species of the plant love full exposure to the sun, but some adapt better in partial shade. If you are not sure about the type or temperature requirement of your succulent, better keep it under partial shade where it is protected during the hottest part of the day.

Keep the plant indoors if the temperature in your area tends to drop lower than recommended. Utilize a grow light to compensate for the lack of sunlight.

Watering

Like other succulents, the Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtusa may become soggy and it may eventually die out with too much watering. Only put water when its soil or leaves appear to dry out. Use a handy water spray bottle when applying the liquid to avoid overwatering.

The only time when the succulent requires a more frequent watering is during its propagation stage. As it nears maturity, only water it sparingly.

Propagation

The Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtuse can be propagated using its seeds, leaves, and offsets. The easiest and most common method preferred by growers is via its offsets.

When doing the latter, make sure that the offset already has roots of its own before separating it from the mother plant. In the lateral stem connecting the parent plant and offset, it is recommended to make the cutting somewhere near the mother plant.

Now that you are ready to replant it, choose a succulent pot with holes as a bottom. The holes serve as drainage for excess water to avoid stagnation at the bottom of the plant. The water trapped under the roots may yield effects similar to overwatering. Use also a well-draining soil to keep the free flow of water from the topsoil down to the drainage of the pot.

Haworthias are not heavily dependent on fertilizers. To ensure its optimum growth though, it is strongly advised that you apply an ample amount of dilute fertilizer during the propagation phase.

5 Facts About the Albuca Spiralis Succulent Plant

by Giancarlo Perlas

Albuca spiralis is known for its many names. Among them are Corkscrew Albuca, Sticky Corkscrew Lily, Curly Albuca, Helicopter Plant, Slime Lily, Spiral Albuca, Spiral Leaves Albuca, and Fizzle Sizzle. It’s common names imply, the leaves of this succulent spiral out as they grow like the tip of a corkscrew, metal spring, or coiled snake.

The plant is definitely a nice addition to your succulent plant collection because it serves as a beautiful decoration to your house, garden, or office space. Before buying it, you might want to see these five important facts about it first:

1. Albuca Spiralis and Albuca Namaquensis

The Albuca spiralis closely resembles the Spiral Grass plant. Because of that, the latter is often mistaken as A. Spiralis. However, the Grass Plant’s scientific name is actually Albuca namaquensis.

It’s totally hard to tell the two apart. Albuca spiralis is native to the Western Cape province of South Africa. Meanwhile, Albuca namaquensis is native to Namibia and Cape Province also in South Africa.

2. Appearance

Aside from its corkscrew shape, the Albuca spiralis has green leaves. It is during winter when the foliage starts twisting, which is what defines the succulent and what gives its unique look.

The leaves grow up to eight inches if given the proper care. Then during spring, stalks begin to appear, which eventually bloom into beautiful yellow flowers. Like the Spring Grass, the flowers of the Corkscrew Albuca emit a buttery fragrant that gives quite a refreshing and relaxing scent in any area where it is placed.

3. Required Lighting and Temperature

Since the succulent plant is native in South Africa, it follows that it thrives under the full sun. However, it can also grow well in partial sunlight. Therefore, see to it that it gets as much sunlight as possible or at least six hours of exposure from the sun daily.

Despite its hot natural habitat, the Albuca spiralis can survive between the 9a to 11b USDA hardiness zones. That means the plant can live even in cold climates ranging from 20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s not recommended to push it to that limit though. To be safe, keep it in temperatures not lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit instead.

The Corkscrew Albuca may survive the mentioned temperature but its bulbs are not that frost hardy. So it’s better to cut them to prevent damaging them during the cold season because the rot may eventually extend to the nearby parts of the plant.

4. Planting

The succulent can be propagated using its seeds or offsets. The latter is the more preferred method because it is easier. Simply cut the offset from the mother plant and put it in a separate plant container. It should be noted that some species of Corkscrew plant do not produce offsets, so in this case, use its seeds.

Spring is the best time to propagate the Albuca spiralis. Just fill the succulent pot that you will be using with well-draining soil, and make sure that the container has drainage. You can use any type of garden soil for this one but utilizing a mixture of sand and loam is more advisable. Keep the young plant under partial sunlight, but once it matures, you can already move it to a warmer area.

5. Watering

During the propagation phase, make sure to water the Albuca spiralis regularly to prevent wilting. Make sure that the water goes through the drainage of the pot though to prevent stagnation at the bottom. Excess water may cause the succulent to rot. When the plant matures, only water it sparingly.

5 Things to Know About the Strange Spiral Grass Succulent Plant

by Giancarlo Perlas

The spiral grass plant is a bit of an oddity or almost alien in its appearance because of its snake-like coiling look. As its name says, it’s green, has a long spiral shape, and grass-like. However, don’t let that fool you because what you are looking at is a succulent plant. It is very resilient and a nice addition to your home garden.

These facts and other things about this peculiar plant shall be discussed further as we go along. Here are the 5 things you need to know about the spiral grass if you wish to add it to your collection:

1. It’s Not Grass

As mentioned above, the spiral grass is not grass, technically speaking. It’s only called that way because of its grass-like color, shape, and texture. The succulent starts from bulbs, and when they bloom, they produce the coiled leaves that usually grow up to one foot. The leaves are either rough, hairy, or smooth to the touch.

The scientific name of spiral grass is Albuca namaquensis. It belongs in the family of Asparagaceae, which consists of flowering plants with 114 genera and 2,900 known species, including the edible tender succulent, asparagus. Meanwhile, its subfamily is Scilloideae, which include hyacinths. This plant in the Albuca genus can easily be mistaken for the Albuca spiralis, commonly known as Corkscrew Albuca, because of its strong resemblance to it.

2. It Grows Flowers

Given the ideal conditions, the spiral grass will produce flowers. Over time, a thick stem grows with a huge bulb on top. Then it blossoms into a yellow-green flower that dangles at the tip of the succulent. Owners describe the refreshing smell of its flowers as something between butter and vanilla.

3. Ideal Environment

Albucas are native in South Africa so they can adapt better to warm climates, but they can also survive the cold. Based on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, the spiral grass can survive somewhere in the 9b and 11b scales. That means the succulent can withstand temperatures as low as 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Certain conditions must be met when taking care of the plant during the cold though, which will be discussed in the last part of this article. During spring, flowers will bloom from the bulbs of the spiral grass.

4. How to Propagate It

Spiral grass can be grown from seedlings produced from the flowers after pollination. Propagation through seeds can be hard though so the most preferred method so far is through division or bulbs from the mother plant.

5. Maintenance Tips

The spiral grass looks better in rock gardens where it is exposed to full or partial sunlight. If you happen to live in an area where the climate tends to get cold, it is recommended that you place it in a succulent pot or container so you can easily transfer it to an area at home where it is warmest during that period. Remember to prune the bulbs of the plant during the winter too because these are sensitive to cold and can easily be damaged by frost.

Like most succulents, spiral grass only requires consistent watering upon planting. When it matures though, only water it lightly when it already appears very dry. Use quick-draining soil and pot with drainage so that excess water can flow freely out of it. Excessive watering or stagnant water at the base of the pot may result in soft, mushy, and translucent leaves for the succulent, or worse, the whole plant may rot.

How to Make Aloe Vera Flowers Bloom

by Giancarlo Perlas

Aloe Vera is one of the most popular succulent plants out there. It is easy to grow, highly-resilient, a decorative piece, and it has medicinal properties.

The most common species of this succulent plant comes with a healthy green tint on its leaves, which makes it quite refreshing to look at. Other species have red, golden, or orange leaves. However, a lot of people do not know that Aloe Vera also produces flowers.

Benefits

The flowers provide a nice contrasting look on a typical green Aloe Vera. The more common types of this plant have flowers in shades of red, yellow, and orange. Other kinds yield purple, blue, grey, and green flowers.

The flowers have antibacterial properties as well so these are very effective in treating wounds, sunburn, insect bites, burns, and skin abrasions. These are edible too when picked before they bloom.

Around 500 species of Aloe Vera produce flowers. However, this is somewhat difficult to achieve. Then again, given the right conditions and proper care, you can make its flowers bloom in no time.

Age of Aloe Vera

Only mature Aloe Vera plants can develop flowers. In other words, it should be at least four years of age. The processes mentioned here will not work if this key condition is not met.

Needed Environment

Aloe Vera plants that are grown indoors have lesser chances of producing flowers. So the trick is to bring them outdoors during summer or under the sun with temperatures around 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and no lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. During spring with temperatures below 60 degrees, it is advisable that you bring your plant inside at night.

If your location does not meet the ideal temperature for the flower growth of your Aloe Vera, an alternative would be to put your succulent plant indoors under a grow light. Make sure that its exposure to grow light does should not exceed 12 hours. Succulents need around 12 hours of darkness to enable Crassulacean Acid Metabolism or CAM in their photosynthesis cycle.

Watering

The raw pulp of Aloe Vera is made up of approximately 98.5 percent water. Due to its high water content, it may wilt due to overwatering. The same thing happens when it lacks watering. Therefore, water only the plant when its soil is completely dried up or allow at least three weeks interval in between watering. Do this sparingly during winter.

See to it that the Aloe Vera is placed in a well-draining succulent plant pot filled with either loose garden soil or potting mix. These will help drain excess water quickly and prevent it from stagnating at the base of the container.

Fertilizing

Fertilize your Aloe Vera at least once a year to enable flower growth. The best fertilizers to use are the liquid-based mixtures with a 10-40-10 blend of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Keep away from the granular fertilizers. Lastly, if you are unsure about the sensitivity of your plant, opt for a lesser application of fertilizer.

Effective Succulent Plants Pruning Tips that You Should Know

by Giancarlo Perlas

Succulents are definitely resilient, but just like other plants, they can also wilt. Withering can be due to different factors such as too little or too much water, lack or too much sunlight, extreme temperatures, and pests. If you see that your succulent plants are experiencing this problem, you should consider pruning them.

Pruning helps maintain the beauty of your succulents. It also helps divert the nutrients into the healthier parts of the plant, which guarantees its survivability. If your plant has pests, the immediate removal of the infested area can prevent its spread too.

Here are the tips you should remember when pruning your succulent plants:

1. Prepare a Clean and Sharp Knife or a Pair of Pruning Shears

The main tool that you will need for this is a knife or a pair of pruning scissors. We highly recommend using pruning shears to make everything easier for you. Of course, wear gloves for the added protection of your plant and hands.

Sharpening

Before anything else though, see to it that the blades of the pruning shears are sharp enough to ensure a clean cut on the part of the plant that you are trying to remove. Dull blades may cause a lot of damage to the stem and the cells of the plant, which may lead its wound to rot. Use a whetstone or an industrial blade sharpener to maintain the sharpness of your cutting tool.

Disinfection

The blades should be clean as well. A dirty pair of shears can introduce fungi and bacteria to the open wound of the succulent, which may result in diseases. They should be free from rust as well to avoid contamination.

You may use ethanol or isopropyl alcohol for sanitizing your cutting tool. Rubbing alcohol with at least 70% of alcohol content is ideal. These can easily be purchased in variety stores or drugstores.

Another effective cleaning tool is bleach. Prepare a container and fill it with nine parts water and one part bleach to dilute its acid content. Use it to clean your shears.

Rust Removal

If you notice some sort of reddish or yellowish-brown flaky coating on the surface of your blades, these may be indications of rust build-up. Simply rub the rust off with sandpaper or you can just utilize your sharpening tool for it.

2. Cutting the Withered Parts of Succulent Plants

When cutting dead or withered leaves, make sure that you make a clean cut at the base of each leaf where it connects to the stem. Be extra careful so you do not damage the crown or the center of the plant when you are pruning a rosette succulent.

If the damage comprises the whole stem or branch of the plant, and all the leaves on the area are already wilted, that means you should remove a larger portion of the succulent. To do this, locate an inflamed leaf node under the withered region of the succulent. Make the cut one-fourth inch above the node.

3. More Tips

Check out our earlier article detailing tips on how to revive withering succulents for more ways to successfully bring back the health of your plants or our guide on how to remove mealybugs if they are experiencing pest infestation.

Planting and Caring for the Rare Vampire Red Ball Succulent Plant

by Giancarlo Perlas

If you are looking for another succulent plant that you can relate with Halloween monsters, look no further because here’s the Vampire Red Ball.

The plant is a new hybrid that originates from South Korea making it is very rare, expensive, and subject to stringent import requirements if purchased overseas. So if you happened to be lucky enough to own one and you want to propagate it, here are some tips on how you can successfully grow and maintain it.

Appearance

The Vampire Red Ball is from the Echeveria genus of succulents. So like all other plants of its kind, it comes in a rosette formation. However, what makes it stand out is its deep red color like it was drenched in blood, which is why it was called such.

Like other Echeverias the Vampire Red Ball is slow-growing. Its maximum spread and height will not exceed 12 inches.

The Vampire Red Ball can be an amazing addition to your rosette succulents. You can combine it with other Echeverias such as the Agavoides Lipstick, Neon Breaker, Violet Queen, Painted Lady, Harmsii Ruby Slipper, Tippy, Subsessilis, and Chroma. You can also plant it together with the other cacti or even your regular roses for added variety.

Ideal Environment

Winters in South Korea can go below 30 degrees Fahrenheit and summers can be as hot as 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, it is safe to say that the Vampire Red Ball is accustomed to temperatures within those marks.

For places with climates that go lower than 30 degrees Fahrenheit, we recommend placing the plant indoors. It should be positioned near a window or any part of the home that gets adequate sunlight during the day but not in direct sunlight during hot afternoons. We recommend using a grow light as well to ensure the survivability of the succulent indoor during cold conditions.

Propagation

Similar to other Echeverias, the Vampire Red Ball can be propagated from its seeds, offsets, or cuttings from its leaves. The ideal time to propagate it is during spring and summer when plants are more active in their cycle. If you are living in a tropical climate, you can plant it all year round.

From Seeds

Growing the succulent from seeds is pretty straightforward. Just sow the seeds in a clean pan filled with soil mixture. Spray the container lightly with water if you notice the soil getting dry. In around three weeks, you will likely notice germination.

Simply repeat the whole process, and in about six months after germination, it should be ready for transplant into permanent succulent pots.

From Offsets

Look for the offset or small clone of the parent plant. Carefully cut the lateral stem that connects the two in order to separate them. The cutting should be somewhere close to the parent plant.

Place the offset to a succulent pot filled with moist soil, and that’s it. All you have to do is water it when the soil dries up.

From Leaf Cutting

For us, this is the most convenient and effective way to propagate a succulent because you can cut several leaves at a time. After that, just let the cuttings dry or callus over for a day or two. You can use a rooting hormone to stimulate the growth of new roots from the node.

When it has already rooted, just stick the stem of the cuttings into a succulent pot with moist garden soil. Again, sprinkle some water only as needed or if the soil appears to have dried up.

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