How to Grow Echeveria 'Lola'? Watering, Fertilizing Tips and Leaf Cutting Propagation Methods

Echeveria 'Lola' has high ornamental value, with leaves generally in light green, and some have red coloring at the leaf tips, resembling blooming flowers. It is precisely because of this that so many people are willing to grow it. Its cultivation methods are surely something many people want to know.

Echeveria 'Lola' Cultivation Methods (Watering, Fertilizing)

1. Watering. During the growing season of Echeveria 'Lola', keep the soil moist and avoid waterlogging. In other seasons, water according to the dryness and humidity of the season; water more when the weather is dry, and appropriately reduce watering frequency when the weather is humid.

2. Sunlight. Full sun is acceptable; if the light is sufficient, the leaf tips of Echeveria 'Lola' will develop a delicate reddish hue, which is when the Echeveria 'Lola' looks its best.

3. Soil. Prioritize drainage and aeration; you can refer to a soil mix of cinder mixed with peat and a small amount of perlite, at a ratio of approximately 5:4:1.

4. Propagation. Propagation of Echeveria 'Lola' is divided into leaf cuttings and division, both of which are very convenient. Leaf cuttings have a high success rate, though they take a longer time, but the sprouting rate is very high. Division requires waiting for the growing season of Echeveria 'Lola'; during the growing season it grows very fast and easily produces side shoots, and once the side shoots grow a bit larger they can be divided. Once you master these techniques, achieving a full pot will be very easy.

Echeveria 'Lola' Cultivation Tips (Watering, Fertilizing)

1. Summer care. Echeveria 'Lola' enters a dormant state in summer; if placed outdoors, it will easily die from sun exposure, so we should place it in a shaded area to avoid direct sunlight. At the same time, pay attention to watering frequency; summer weather is humid, so watering once a month is about right.

2. Winter care. Echeveria 'Lola' can tolerate low temperatures of around -2°C, which refers to indoor temperatures, not outdoor exposure. At lower temperatures, the growth points at the leaf tips will suffer frost damage, dry up and die. Basically cut off water throughout winter; below 5°C, you need to start cutting off water.

Echeveria 'Lola' Leaf Cutting Propagation Methods

1. First, removing leaves. If the leaves have already been removed, they can be used directly. If you are picking leaves from a robustly growing Echeveria 'Lola', do not pick immediately after watering; wait until it is slightly dry, as the leaves will be easier to remove. Remove the leaf evenly from the base; gently pinch the leaf and shake it left and right a few times, and the leaf will fall off. New life is produced from the base of the leaf, so if the base of the leaf is not clean, leaf cutting may not succeed; please note this. After removing the succulent leaf, first place it in a ventilated and cool place to let the wound dry; after three or four days, proceed with leaf cutting to avoid leaf rot.

2. Next, the container. Place the succulent growing soil into a pre-prepared container, level the soil. Generally, leaf cutting soil is mixed with some vermiculite to help with water retention. Peat soil, granular soil, and vermiculite at a ratio of 1:1:1 is sufficient. Then, leaf cutting, though called leaf cutting, does not mean inserting the leaf into the soil; arrange the leaves prepared in step 1 one by one in the container. The leaf surface should face upward toward the sky, with the back facing down. However, there is now a new leaf cutting method where the leaf tip is inserted diagonally into the soil. Additionally, if the climate is suitable, placing the leaves on a cement board will cause the succulent leaves to sprout pups on their own.

3. Then, waiting. Waiting for the succulent to grow pups also has requirements. The soil should maintain a certain humidity; when watering, try not to water the leaves, otherwise the leaves will easily rot. During this period, not much light is needed; if exposed to strong light, the mother leaf's nutrient consumption accelerates, which will reduce the success rate of leaf cutting. Placing it in a bright, ventilated area without direct light is sufficient. After the mother leaf grows seedlings, you can appropriately increase light a little to avoid leggy growth; when watering, be very careful not to knock over the seedlings.

4. Finally, repotting. Wait until the leaf cutting pups grow out and reach a certain size, then you can repot. If the mother leaf is still intact at this time, you can gently break it off and do a second or third round of leaf cutting; do not discard it after just one time.

Pest Control for Echeveria 'Lola'

1. Whiteflies. Control methods: In addition to improving environmental ventilation, in the early stages of infestation, spray with 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000-2000 times dilution; you can also spray with malathion at 500 times dilution or dimethoate mixed with dichlorvos at 1000 times dilution. Two days after spraying, use a strong water stream to wash away the dead pests along with the black powder.

2. Red spider mites. Control methods: You can increase environmental humidity to reduce and avoid spread; use 40% dicofol at 1000-1500 times dilution to kill by absorption, or abamectin.

Growing Echeveria 'Lola' is relatively simple, but when growing it you need to distinguish between summer and winter differences, so as to ensure it grows well in different seasons. Its propagation methods are similar to general succulents; the most common is leaf cutting propagation, which is described above, and we hope it can help everyone.