Historical Background and Market Value

"Echeveria Malgan succulents" refers to all hybrids derived from the Echeveria Malgan rather than a specific variety. E. Malgan was created by the Korean nursery Air Magic in 2015 as a hybrid of Echeveria elegans 'alba' and Echeveria Ebony. Initially, the plant was known as Echeveria Cream Rose. It wasn't until 2019 that the high-quality E. Cream Rose variety gained popularity during the hype surrounding live sales from numerous succulent nurseries, leading to its new designation as E. Malgan.

During this time, E. Malgan commanded a high price in the market due to the challenges associated with propagation. The number of hybrid seeds produced by the Echeveria elegans' alba' series and Echeveria agavoides succulents was very limited. Consequently, even those willing to pay a premium often found it challenging to purchase purebred Echeveria Malgan!

The Introduction of E. Malgan

Echeveria elegant 'alba,' a variety of E. elegance, displays a range of colors, while Echeveria Ebony, a variety of Echeveria agavoides, showcases different shapes. As a hybrid offspring, E. Malgan exhibits various forms and gives rise to different varieties of E. Malgan.

After genetic optimization, E. Malgan resembles Echeveria agavoides with its strong waxy texture, which appears even more prominent and shiny in sunlight. However, the variety, which leans more towards Echeveria elegance, features thick leaves with red edges and distinctive shade, creating a matte appearance under sunlight; this variety is called as Echeveria Queen of Malgan. In this blog, we only talk about more about Echeveria Malgan. If you want to know more about Echeveria Queen of Malgan, please feel free to comment with your questions.

E. Malgan is relatively tiny, with a rosette size similar to a rose flower. However, it is very easy to grow side buds and form clusters. The leaves of E. Malgan are thick, oval, flat on the front, arched on the back, and have sharp tips. Under normal conditions, the leaves are predominantly green or yellow-green. In environments with ample light and significant temperature variations, the leaf edges turn red, and the leaves become more translucent, making the waxy texture more pronounced in sunlight. As a hybrid variety, E. Malgan can show distinguished lines on the leaves, elongated tips like eyelashes, and "sugar hearts." Its delicate appearance and crystal-like wax make E. Malgan a coveted variety among succulent collectors.

How to Care for Echeveria Malgan?

Lighting and Location

E. Malgan prefers an environment with sufficient light, dryness, and good ventilation. In spring and autumn, they can be placed outdoors for direct sunlight. In summer, consider placing E. Malgan near a south-facing window that avoids the midday sun. In winter, to ensure E. Malgan receives at least 6 hours of light a day, the best way is to provide effective plant growth light, which can promote stable growth and a beautiful pink color.

You may wonder How to Care for Succulents with Artificial Lights

Soil and Planter

E. Malgan is a small and delicate plant. Mature E. Malgan prefers cactus soil with a higher particle content. It is recommended that the soil for mature plants consists of approximately 70% particles, with sizes around 3 mm. Horticultural perlite is a suitable addition to the soil mix. For young E. Malgan plants, a recommended soil ratio is 6 parts peat soil to 4 parts particles.

When choosing a succulent pot for E. Malgan, opt for one that provides good air permeability, such as clay or maifantium pots. The pot's diameter should be slightly larger than that of the plant to help E. Malgan maintains its shape. Using a pot that is too large can cause the plant to become elongated or "spread out" as it grows roots and adapts to its environment.

Watering

Watering E. Malgan should follow the principle of thoroughly watering only when the soil is completely dry. When the potting soil is dry, water the succulents until water flows out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Additionally, I strongly recommend delaying the watering frequency by 2-3 days before watering the succulents again. For example, if you typically water the succulents every 7 days, you can extend this interval to 9 or 10 days. This slight "abuse" is actually an effective biological stimulation, as it encourages the root system and overall growth of the succulents to be more vigorous in cases of mild drought. Maintaining a regular watering schedule may lead to "spoiling" your succulents. In extreme cases, they become more susceptible to diseases and pests, which can lead to their decline.

Moreover, I highly recommend bottom watering for E. Malgan. Keep in mind that, due to the small size of the flower pot, the time it spends in the water should be shortened. Here's a helpful tip: when bottom watering, place a piece of tissue paper on the soil surface. Once the tissue paper is wet, you can remove the pots with the succulents from the water, drain any excess, and place them in a well-ventilated area.

As a succulent of the Echeveria genus, Echeveria Malgan typically has a short dormant period in summer and winter. If you are using indoor plant lights for E. Malgan, you may slightly adjust your regular care based on the seasonal changes. However, if you do not provide grow light or you grow E. Malgan outdoors, it's important to monitor the watering during some extreme winter and summer time points. Here, "extreme time points" refer to summer rainy days, summer noon, winter rainy or snowy days, and winter nights.

When watering thirsty Echeveria Malgan, avoid watering them during these extreme time points. If the leaves of E. Malgan are soft and wrinkled, that means the succulents are very thirsty; avoid wetting the soil near the root ends. Instead, pour a little water along the flower pot's inner wall to ensure the succulents' average survival during their dormant period. This method also effectively minimizes the risk of pest diseases and frostbite.

Temperature

The ideal temperature range for Echeveria Malgan is between 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F), indicating that spring and autumn are the best seasons to purchase this succulent. During summer, daytime temperatures can become excessively high. It's important to be cautious of sunburn and to monitor the rainy weather, as high temperatures combined with humidity can make succulents more susceptible to diseases and pests. Incorrect watering can lead to rot and death.

To manage summer heat, consider misting cool water around the succulent pots after sunset. This can help lower night time temperatures. If your budget permits, using air conditioning is also an effective way to keep them cool.

During the winter months, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain elevated daytime temperatures. Constructing a greenhouse or utilizing plant grow lights serves as an effective strategy to mitigate the challenges posed by low temperatures.

Fertilizer and Repotting

To keep your Echeveria Malgan healthy, repot it with fresh soil that contains organic materials each year. You can fertilize the plant once in spring and once in autumn using a professional slow-release fertilizer or a diluted liquid fertilizer. If you don't do repotting every year, it is advisable to increase the frequency of fertilization from once per active season to two to three times. While succulent plants have low fertilizer needs, proper fertilization can help them thrive. It's best to avoid fertilizing your Echeveria Malgan in the summer and winter months.

Propagation

Echeveria Malgan can be propagated through leaf propagation or offshootings, and the propagation method is basically the same as that of other Echeveria plants.

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