About Echeveria Olivia (4 inch)
Echeveria Olivia is a small rosette succulent that belongs to Echeveria genus of Crassulaceae family. This succulent is prone to form clusters and woody stems. To encourage the growth of a woody stem, it is recommended to keep the E. Olivia thirsty until it has consumed its bottom leaves. Its smooth, obovate leaves can turn orange or even red when thriving.
How to care for Echeveria Olivia
Sun/Location: Echeveria Olivia is not a cold hardy succulent, and requires full to filtered sunlight to maintain the rosette shape and healthy appearance. To encourage an attractive orange-red color, it is recommended to put it near windows with bright sunlight or locate it outdoors with full sun exposure in spring and autumn. In summer, move potted Echeveria Olivia to a shaded outdoor location to avoid the succulent sunburned. The leaves would stretch out for lack of sunlight in summer and winter.
Water: The bottom leaves of Echeveria Olivia are prone to drying out. It is a sign of underwatering. In spring and autumn, only water the succulent when the soil dries out (typically once per week), and water the potting soil profoundly and let the excess water drain out from the bottom holes of the planter. If you prefer a succulent tree look, you can reduce the watering frequency to once or twice monthly.
Planter/Soil: As Echeveria Olivia quickly grows succulent clusters, providing a planter pot with a big mouth is essential besides the drainage holes. Typically, the dimension of the pot is twice as large as the succulent. Besides providing good ventilation, adding more gritty rocks, perlite, and vermiculite to the soil is helpful in improving the drainage of potting soil, which efficiently prevents succulents from rotting and dying.
Propagation: Echeveria Olivia responds well to leaf propagation. Similar to Echeveria Mebina, E. Olivia can also be propagated from side-grown babies. Carefully cut off the babies from the stems, allow the wound to form a callus, and then plant them in fresh cactus soil in new pots.
More Information
Primary color: green/lime
Secondary color: pink/red
Bloom color: yellow
Cold hardiness: Zone 9b-11b (from 25°F to 50°F)
Product format: rooted in 4'' pot
Suitability: window, garden, balcony
Propagation: leaf, seed
Special characteristic: pet safe