Echeveria akaihosi is a variegated variety of Echeveria runyonii which is originally from Japan. These plants are sometimes called Macedonia.
Echeveria akaihosi is not a plant which you would commonly come across. They are rare, but when they grow in a succulent garden, you could identify them at once due to their variegated nature.
These are quite fascinating succulents which anybody would love. When they get stressed, they tend to become bright orange in color.
Many people get confused and find it identifies these plants along with Compton Carousel (Echeveria Lenore Dean).
How do I identify Echeveria akaihosi?
You could spot these plants mainly in silvery blue, vanilla to sunset pink colors right throughout the year.
Chances are that they tend to curl their leaves when they get exposed for strong slight. When it comes to their leaves, they would be fleshier and tend to form in rosette types.
In addition to that you could expect them to flower in mid late spring. Once these plants go into stress, chances are that you could spot them along with nice streaky variegations of green, yellow, or pink leaf margins. It would be so lovely to look at them along with their center pinks on them.
Size of the plant
Echeveria akaihosi plants would consist of rosettes which would be about 2-2.5 inches.
Growth rate
You could spot them grown in clusters usually.
One look care guide
| Botanical Name | Echeveria akaihosi |
| Common Name | Macedonia |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Mature Size | Rosettes of 2-2.5 inches. |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sunlight |
| Soil Type | Well-draining |
| Soil pH | 5.5-7.0 |
| Bloom Time | mid late spring. |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C). |
| Native Area | Japan |
| Toxicity | Non toxic |
| Average price | 35 USD |
How do you take care of Echeveria akaihosi?
Light Requirement
Echeveria akaihosi would require full sunlight to perform well. Having said that, you need to refrain from exposing them to intense sunlight particularly during summer.
Moreover, avoid exposing them for drastic changes in sunlight at once. Ideally you need to slowly acclimate them for full sunlight. Unless chances are that your plant would get traumatized.
As such if you have grown them indoors and are planning to shift them outdoors, you need to gradually expose them for sunlight.
Ideally you should first expose them to sunlight for a couple of hours in the morning and then gradually increase the exposure for the sun.
On the other hand, the sunrise in the afternoon could be so harsh and it could lead to sunburns in the plants.
Unfortunately, if you have any sunburns in the plant, it is very unlikely that you could get rid of them, and they will remain on the plants forever.
If there is a severe sunburn in the plant, best is to propagate them and make new plants.
When you locate them indoors, you should place them near a bright sunny windowsill. If your plant lacks adequate sunlight levels, they cannot thrive well.
Further you could consider growing them closer to grow lights to supplement them with light.
Temperature and humidity
Echeveria akaihosi are not tolerant of extreme colder conditions.
Hence, if any hard frost condition is forecasted, you need to bring them indoors to protect them. Once those conditions pass, you may bring them outdoors.
Is it cold hardy?
Echeveria akaihosi are little frost hardy. In fact, they could tolerate a minimum temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
USDA hardiness zone
Echeveria akaihosi fall under USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
Watering Requirement
Echeveria akaihosi watering requirement is similar to the rest of other typical succulents. Literally you need to avoid leaving them in soggy and damp conditions.
If you provide excess water, it will create so much trouble for the plant. Having said that, do not keep them to be bone dry also.
When you water them, you should ensure that you are watering the plant’s soil. Avoid spilling water on the rosettes of the plants.
First, soak the plant with water and then let the excess water drain through the draining holes of the pot.
Further when you water them again, ensure that the plant is completely dry from the previous watering session.
If you do not practice proper watering habits, it could lead to over watering and for under watering as well. both would cause trouble for the plants.
If you over water them, it could lead to root rot etc. you could spot them wilting, shriveling in case they lack enough water.
In fact these are the signs of underwatering. Further chances are that they will start shedding their leaves too.
As such I urge you to always observe your plant to see if there are any signs of over watering or under watering and then attend to them accordingly.
Soil Requirement Type / pH
Echeveria akaihosi would prefer to have a ph. around 5.5-7.0 in their soil mix. They have typical requirements in soil just like the other succulents.
Like the rest of other succulents, it is imperative that your soil mix has good drainage. Consequently, that will avoid any potential root rot.
If you wish you may make a soil mix on your own by mixing soil and perlite. However, you may also use a good succulent soil mix or a cactus soil mix which would also perfectly fit in for them.
If you wish to fasten the drainage of the soil mix, you could consider adding coarse sand in the soil medium.
Moreover, consider repotting them once every couple of years as that will allow you to change their old soil mix to a fresh one.
Consequently, plants will be able to absorb and gain nutrients freshly and grow vigorously and healthily.
Flowering and Fragrance
They would usually flower in mid late spring.
Pot size Potting and Repotting
You could ideally select a pot which is slightly bigger than the root ball size. Avoid using a larger pot since that will not help the plant to thrive well.
In fact, they could retain excess moisture within the pot and make the plant rot.
When it comes to repotting, best is to conduct repotting during the warmer season. Before repotting, ensure that the soil is dry.
After that you could gently take the plant out from its pot. Then get rid of the older soil and see whether there are any rotten or damaged roots.
If there is any, you could snip them off. After that you could treat them with a fungicide. Finally, you may place them in a new soil mix.
Where to Plant
It is crucial that you plant them in a place where they can gain full sunlight. Further when there is any forecast of frost conditions, you may relocate them indoors.
Once the weather conditions get better, you could shift them outdoors.
Fertilizer and time of year
Echeveria akaihosi are not dependent on fertilizers a lot. If we consider them when they are in their natural habitat, they will usually grow in soil mix which does not have a lot of nutrients.
So, if you end up over feeding them, chances are that there could be fertilizer burns.
On the other hand, if you feed them with a slow-release fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer during spring, plant growth would be benefitted.
When you use a liquid fertilizer make sure it is diluted. Further use it less often than the labelled recommendations.
Dormancy
Echeveria akaihosi goes semi dormant during winter through early spring.
Can be toxic to pets
Echeveria is not toxic to pets
Common bugs and illnesses
Echeveria akaihosi could encounter pests’ attacks from Fungus gnats, spider mites, mealybugs.
However, this is something you could spot less often. It would be somewhat difficult to deal with them as they are tiny.
Fungus gnats – You could spot them in black and they tend to look like mosquitoes. They could be usually spotted in soil. They would cause stunt growth in the plants.
Spider mites – These are tiny little creatures. If you shake the plant, you will see how they fall on to a piece of paper just like dust.
When any spider mite attack is present on the plant, you will spot them grown in webbing form. Further there would be small brown dots covering your plant as well.
They are usually present underneath the leaves, and they usually depend on the plant’s sap.
Mealybugs – Mealybugs also depend on the Echeveria akaihosi plant’s sap. They could be identified usually from their white cottony substances.
They would usually form along the plant’s leaves. However, it is important that you constantly keep checking your plants to spot any early signs of any pest’s attacks.
That will help you to identify these issues in advance and treat them.
Apart from the pests’ attacks, there could be other issues such as root rot which could be caused by over watering.
It is important that you overcome this problem as early as possible. If not,y ou may even lose the plants.
Special Care tips
These are usually hardy plants. You only have to provide them the typical succulent care. There is nothing special you need to do to take care of them.
They would actively grow during late spring to late summer. During this season you may consider providing them additional nutrients by feeding them.
Further you may keep checking these plants on a constant basis. It would allow you to spot any signs of diseases if there are any.
How to propagate Echeveria akaihosi
You can propagate them by leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or through offsets.
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