Echeveria Pollux: Low Maintenance & Trouble Free House Plant

Echeveria Pollux Succulent.

Echeveria Pollux succulent, also known as “Mexican Hens and Chicks,” is a genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, comprising about 2000 species distributed worldwide. The succulents vary widely in appearance, from tiny plants with soft leaves that look like fine sand to enormous rosette plants with tough leaves and bright red flowers.

Some succulents are grown as houseplants, especially the larger varieties, although it is becoming increasingly popular to plant them outdoors in summer in pots and containers. The smaller types can be grown in small pots or tubs in a greenhouse. They do best in light or partial shade, but some species like the Sansevieria require bright full sun.

In recent years, gardeners have started growing more and more succulents because they require little water, are very low maintenance, and look great. They are an attractive plant for various reasons, not least because their unusual appearance can lead to confusion over exactly which species they are and because many have recently become highly fashionable.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Echeveria Pollux
COMMON NAMES: Plush Plant, Red Echeveria
-Family– Crassulaceae
-Subfamily Sempervivoideae,
-Tribe – Sedeae,
–Genus – Echeveria
FLOWER COLOR (Primary and Secondary): Pink, Orange inside, bell-shaped
LEAVES: Silvery-Grey Leaves
BLOOM COLOR: Slight lilac blush when exposed to sunlight
COLD HARDINESS: Zone 9b to 11b (Minimum 25° F (3.9C) |to 50° (10 F)
RECOMMENDED LIGHT CONDITIONS: Filtered / Partial Sun, Bright Indoor Light
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 8 (20cm)″
GROWTH HABIT/SHAPE: Vertical Grower
GROWTH: Tall Stem, Shrub
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTIC: Easy to Propagate, Pet Safe

How To Care For An Echeveria Pollux

If your plants are still in a new pot, you will need to take care of them on the same basis as they would have been in their original location. This is because the roots were still receiving adequate nutrients before they were transplanted. If you are repotting, the first thing you need to do is to wash the new pot with warm water so that its roots do not settle into a cold pot. You may also give your plants a gentle scrub. Make sure that you use a container with holes so that all the water drains out and doesn’t pool at the bottom. Finally, you will want to drain the old soil from the pots by placing them in an upside-down position. 

Common Diseases and Pests.

Because these plants are so easy to grow, they attract a lot of garden pests. That is why you will find all sorts of bugs and worms crawling around them. They may be covered in white aphids or may have a leaf curling caterpillar. As a matter of course, you will need to keep them free from weeds, but if you have a problem with insects, take immediate measures to resolve it. The most effective way to prevent infestations of echeverias from happening is by using sprays with neem oil. You can buy this from your local garden center, and it is relatively inexpensive.

Neem oil is a natural pesticide, and while the spray isn’t going to kill the insects completely, it will keep them away from your plants for quite some time. As mentioned before, echeverias are susceptible to infestation because they are so easy to grow. Once you see that bugs crawl around your plants, you need to act quickly to stop them from multiplying. It is best to clean the entire plant from top to bottom, including the soil. That way, you don’t have any chance of spreading the disease into other plants. When this has been done, you can place the plant back into a pot. This action should stop any infestation of your plant. You may also wish to use insecticidal soap. 

Aphids

Aphids are small sap-sucking insects that live on plants in the family Brassicaceae. They are most likely to infest succulents in warmer climates and can be particularly destructive. These pests suck nutrients from your plants, and they also produce a sticky honeydew that is very difficult to clean off the leaves. Aphids usually start as tiny green spots on the underside of a leaf. As they mature, the aphids grow into white, fluffy-looking clusters. You may be able to see them sucking away, or they may be invisible until you get a closer look.

Aphids will not harm your plants as long as they are small, and you remove them as soon as you see them. If you don’t, they will soon produce many more aphids, and you will have a lot of trouble getting rid of them. You will need to use a soft brush with a long handle to remove the aphids from your plants gently. 

Spider Mites

Spider mites are small, light brown, oval insects. They are usually seen as small red dots or “spots” on the leaves of your plants. Spider mites suck the plant juices from your plants when they are small. As they grow bigger, they can eventually start to turn your plants yellow. When they get too big, they can cause leaves to drop off. There are two types of spider mites, one of which you can treat by spraying with plain water. The other, which you may not be able to remove, and will have to be treated with an insecticide.

Propagation

Propagation of Echeveria Pollux Succulent involves a process known as tip cutting. Propagation can be achieved through your plant cuttings, or you can allow them to root and then transplant into a new pot when they are ready. You can also grow echeverias from seed. While this isn’t easy, it is worth trying if you’ve had issues growing your plants from seedlings in the past. 

For your new echeveria to flower and produce new plants, the plant needs to have a robust root system. The first plant cutting should be placed in a container with rich, moist potting soil. Water is applied every 2 to 3 days until you see the roots develop. Your plant will need to be repotted into a larger container as soon as it is large enough. It may be necessary to put some fertilizer in the new soil and continue to water your plant regularly. You may also wish to add liquid fertilizer to the mix as your plant grows. There is a wide variety of fertilizers available, but the most common one used in the propagation of succulents is “10-10-10. 

Once your plant has produced several sets of leaves, you can start to cut them back. You should never forget that the more you cut your plant, the more it will grow. While it is acceptable to cut the foliage of Echeveria Pollux Succulent down to 1/4 to 1/2 inch. The plant’s soil should not be allowed to dry out. If it starts to do so, you can give it some freshwater, or if your plant is very young, you can water it with a spray bottle. If you have too many leaves on your plant, you can remove them by pinching them off with your fingers. If you do this, you should make sure that you leave some healthy new leaves behind.

Cultivars

There are over 20 cultivars of Echeveria Pollux that plant breeders have created. They are available as seedlings or clippings. Seedling varieties of Echeveria Pollux are usually more floriferous, producing more flowers than the older cultivars. The older cultivars can be grown year-round due to their ability to store water in their tissues.

Echeveria Pollux Flowers

Echeveria Pollux flowers are delicate and should not be handled roughly. They require a little more attention than other succulents, but it is worth it to give these flowers the care they need. Echeveria Pollux flowers require a dry rest in the winter months. This will help to prevent rot and allow the plant to take a break from watering. The flowers will go dormant and may turn yellow or brown.

Echeveria Pollux Growing Tall

This section will briefly talk about the height of your echeveria pollux plant. It can grow up to 2 feet tall with a single stalk of leaves about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. As you may know, it grows best in bright, indirect light but can also grow up to 2 feet tall with a single stalk of leaves about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide.

Echeveria Pollux Succulent’s Perfect Growing Conditions & Climate Requirements are as follows:

• Light Requirements: The amount of light your plant needs depends on where it is located. If it is outdoors, you should allow it to receive at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. When the weather is dry and hot, your plant may need to be watered more frequently. You will probably grow it with less light if it is kept in a greenhouse. Plants grown in a greenhouse should be exposed to 6 to 10 hours of direct sunlight each day.
• Soil Requirements: If your plant gets its water naturally from the soil, it should not be planted in well-drained soil. If you want your plant to grow tall, then you should use good quality potting soil. You can get these types of soils in garden centers, nurseries, and even from suppliers of potting mixes. It’s best to use compost because it helps to add nutrients to the mix and makes it easier for the roots to absorb them.
• Sunshine: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Moisture: Average Watering – Moist but not constantly wet
• Temperatures: Warm temperatures (65-85 degrees Fahrenheit) and Cool nights. This cultivar is susceptible to high heat and humidity.
• Fertilizer: Use a high Nitrogen fertilizer in the Spring and Summer. Do not over-fertilize, especially in the Fall and Winter.
• Watering: Keep your soil moist but not constantly wet. Wait until the foliage has dried out to water again. Be aware of any dry rot.
• Repotting: Repot when necessary. Never let your echeveria sit in stagnant water or get root-bound. Echeveria is very tolerant of a wide range of soils. However, it is always best to use well-draining soil. If your potting soil is heavy with organic matter, you may want to remove some of that before repotting.
• Pruning: Prune to shape. Echeveria is very easy to care for, and pruning is the easiest way to control their growth. Remove any branches that are crossing over others or if you see any brown tips on a leaf. You can pinch the leaves back by grasping them with your thumb and forefinger.
• Propagation: Propagate by cutting, layering, and division.

Conclusion

It is always best to do your research before purchasing any plant. Still, after doing so, we can safely say that Echeveria Pollux Succulent is an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor cultivation. It grows well in almost any environment except very hot or cold temperatures. Echeveria can also tolerate most soils but does not like standing water. However, they require an excellent growing medium, which is usually a mix of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. If you plan on planting your echeveria in the ground, ensure you provide them with adequate light and water. Keep your plants well-watered and moist but not constantly wet. It would be best if you repotted them every two years. Be sure to follow these guidelines, and you will be pleased with the results.