How to grow Echeveria 'Sword Si Nova'? Detailed growing methods and precautions

Echeveria 'Sword Si Nova' is a relatively rare and precious succulent, and when grown it produces very beautiful leaves, which has won it the affection of many succulent growing enthusiasts. So how do you grow Echeveria 'Sword Si Nova'?

1. How to grow Echeveria 'Sword Si Nova'

Habits: it likes a sunny, cool and dry environment, tolerates partial shade, fears waterlogging, and avoids muggy, humid conditions. It has the habit of growing in the cool season and going dormant at high summer temperatures.

Light: if light is insufficient, the plant's leaves will become leggy, and the wrinkles on the leaves will gradually flatten out; while plants grown in a spot with ample sunlight have a short, sturdy form, and the leaves are arranged compactly, layer upon layer.

Watering: during the growing period, keep the soil moist and avoid water accumulation. Cut off water in winter; cut off water below 5 degrees. When temperatures are high in summer, the whole plant grows slowly or stops completely; at this time there must be good ventilation and appropriate shading, avoid exposure to the sun, restrict watering, and do not let it be rained on for long periods, so as to prevent the plant from rotting.

Soil: cinder mixed with peat and a small amount of perlite, in a ratio of roughly 5:4:1.

Temperature: it can withstand low temperatures of around minus 4°C, which is an indoor temperature, not open-air; any lower and the growing point at the tip of the leaves will suffer frost damage, dry up and die.

Propagation: generally by beheading to produce small offsets for cuttings and by side shoots; the beheaded plant can be directly stuck into dry granular soil for cuttings, and once it has rooted, a small amount of water can be given.

2. The form of Echeveria 'Sword Si Nova'

It is a perennial succulent herbaceous plant, a medium-sized variety. The plant's fleshy leaves are arranged in a tight rosette. The greenish-white leaves are concave inward with obvious undulations; under strong light or with a large temperature difference, the leaves take on a beautiful white color, and the undulations of the leaves become even more beautiful. Under weak light, the leaf color is pale greenish-gray, the leaves stretch out, the color becomes duller, and the wrinkles on the leaves are no longer large. The leaf surface of Sword Si is smooth and not prone to water accumulation. The leaves have a slight powdery coating; Sword Si needs to receive ample sunlight for the leaf color to be vivid and for the plant form to be more compact and attractive.

Echeveria 'Sword Si Nova' is rather delicate, and growing it is relatively difficult; a moment of carelessness may cause it to die, so it needs careful tending.