Last Updated on September 17, 2022 by Plant Mom Care
This succulent, Echeveria peacockii, is from the Crassulaceae family. It is indigenous to Mexico and was introduced in California by Dr. J. N. Rose. This plant tends to grow on rocky outcrops at high altitudes. This kind of environment suits it perfectly as the water quickly drains away from its roots and prevents the plant from being water-logged.
This is a pretty and easy-to-maintain succulent that grows nicely as an indoor houseplant as well as growing outdoors in hot climates. It is distinguished by its spoon-shaped, blue-gray leaves tipped with red and grows in the form of a rosette.
The leaves are narrow, about 2–2.5 inches in length, and 0.7–1.5 inches wide. It has a rather short stem with around 50 or more leaves that crowd each other. The leaves are flat on top and rounded at the bottom. While this succulent is a rather slow grower, it can grow to 6 inches in diameter in the right environment.
This plant produces colorful orange-red flowers in summer that bloom from a 10-inch long slender stalk that extends from the middle of the rosette. It flowers every season, often creating 20 or more blossoms when grown under ideal conditions outdoors in June. Indoor plants might not produce so many flowers, but they will still bloom.
It is popularly cultivated as an indoor ornamental, and quite often utilized as groundcover due to its drought-tolerant capability.
Echeveria Peacockii Sunlight
This plant is a sun-loving succulent that requires ample light to promote healthy growth. When cultivating it indoors, give it as bright light as possible, either near a window or under grow lights.
When growing it outdoors (particularly in warmer climates) this plant should be located in an area that gets some shelter from the harsh rays of the sun as it can scorch the fragile leaves of the plant. While it naturally grows in a dry, sunny environment, it tends to grow in places that are often shaded. Insufficient light will make the plant gangly and unhealthy.
Echeveria Peacockii Watering
This plant can tolerate a few days of drought as its leaves store water and are rather sensitive to being over-watered. It should be generally watered once a week or once in ten days.
However, variables like the size of the pot and the size of the plant also play a role in this schedule. As a rule, always under-water this succulent rather than over-water it since it can very easily get affected by root rot. Just to be safe, ensure the soil becomes thoroughly dry before watering it again. Never let water get into the rosette.
Echeveria Peacockii Humidity
It prefers humidity levels around 40% or lower. High humidity levels can lead to leaf and root rot.
Echeveria Peacockii Temperature
It prefers growing under temperatures around 65-80°F. In winter, temperatures shouldn’t drop below 50°F.
Echeveria Peacockii Soil
This succulent requires soil that drains well to prevent water retention. Commercially available cactus or succulent mixes are ideal for this plant or you can concoct a good mix at home easily. Combine two parts of coarse sand with one part of regular soil and another part of perlite to get an airy, coarse, and well-draining mix.
Echeveria Peacockii Repotting
As typical with most succulents, this plant has shallow roots and does not need frequent repotting. It should only be repotted after it outgrows its present potting container when it can be moved up a pot size.
Ensure the soil is not wet before you repot it, and be careful dealing with the root ball during repotting as its roots are delicate and can easily break. Try and remove almost all the soil near the roots and repot it with fresh new soil. When you’re finished, water the plant to get the soil firmly settled around its roots.
Echeveria Peacockii Propagation
This plant can be easily propagated by offshoots, leaves, or cuttings.
Sometimes, mature plants grow offshoots. Wait until the offshoot has grown big enough and then carefully separate the offshoot from the plant.
Set it aside for a day so the cut can form a callus over. Transfer the offshoot to a pot of fresh soil and move it to a location that gets indirect bright light. Once the roots are set, you can now start watering and caring for it as usual.
To propagate it from leaves, carefully twist a healthy leaf off the plant, making sure the leaf’s base remains undamaged, place the leaf down on top of fresh soil and place it under indirect bright light.
Water in only after the roots start sprouting and then continue to water it after the soil dries. A small plant will soon begin growing from the leaf’s end. As the new plant grows bigger and matures, the leaf-cutting will dry and fall off. Now you can transfer the new plant to a pot and care for it as normal.
Additional Care
This plant is accustomed to living in poor-quality soil and does not need regular fertilization. Fertilizing it too frequently can cause more damage – growth will become leggy and the plant will suffer from fertilizer burn still, it will gain some benefit from an application of fertilizer suitable for cacti/succulents in spring to help increase healthy foliar growth during its active growing season.
Dead leaves should be removed whenever it happens dead leaves provide hiding places for pests and also allow water to collect. Remove dead leaves from the stem to allow new leaves to grow.
Echeveria Peacockii Common Problems
While this plant is not affected by any serious diseases or pests, it can suffer from attacks from pests like mealybugs and scale. If it is a minor attack, these pests can be manually removed using your fingers, but if it is a severe infestation, use suitable insecticides to eliminate them.
This plant, like other succulents, is very sensitive to overwatering and can easily develop root rot. Make sure you plant it in suitable cacti/succulent soil and water it only after the soil is totally dry to prevent root rot.