×Pachyveria 'Powder Puff'

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 grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall.

The small apricot flowers are bell-shaped and appear in clusters on branched stalks in summer.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 30 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Pachyphytum will not tolerate frosts well. Temperatures below 20 °F (-6 °C) will kill the plant, and temperatures that may go below 45 °F (7 °C) during an extended period 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 drying signs and water them then. Pachyphytum is far more likely to survive underwatering than overwatering. The thick, fleshy leaves will appear wilted and slightly "under-full" when they need water.

One of the most common pests to houseplants is the mealybug, and your Pachyphytum may fall prey to this pest. 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.

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