Scientific Name
×Pachyveria 'Powder Puff'
Synonym(s)
×Pachyveria 'Exotica', ×Pachyveria 'Kobayashi'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Nothogenus: ×Pachyveria
Origin
×Pachyveria 'Powder Puff' is a hybrid created in the United States in the 1970s. It results from a cross between Pachyphytum oviferum and Echeveria cante.
Description
×Pachyveria 'Powder Puff', also known as ×Pachyveria 'Exotica', is a beautiful shrubby succulent with semi-decumbent stems that terminate in dense rosettes of powdery, silvery-blue leaves that blush pink to violet in full sun or cold temperatures. It can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall.
The flowers are small, bell-shaped, apricot, and appear in clusters on branched stalks in summer.
How to Grow and Care for ×Pachyveria 'Powder Puff'
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 30°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Pachyphytum will not tolerate frosts well. Temperatures below 20°F (-6°C) will kill the plant. Prolonged periods below 45°F (7°C) should be avoided. It tolerates high heat and intense sunlight. As with most succulents from the Crassulaceae family, Pachyphytum can tolerate (and even appreciate) poor soil conditions so long as it is well-draining. It can thrive in full or partial sunlight.
Allow the soil to dry before watering, and avoid getting water on the leaves. The plants will require more water in winter as winter begins its active growth season. If you are unsure when to water your plant, watch the lowermost leaves for signs of drying and water them then. Pachyphytum is far more likely to survive under-watering than overwatering. The thick, fleshy leaves will appear wilted and slightly "under-full" when they need water.
One of the most common pests of houseplants is the mealybug, and your Pachyphytum may fall victim to it. The symptoms of a mealybug infestation are slowed or stopped growth (in summer, this is a typical sign of dormancy). If this occurs without apparent cause, remove the plant from the pot and examine the roots or the leaf-stem junctions.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Pachyphytum.
Links
- Back to nothogenus ×Pachyveria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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