If you are a great succulent lover, Echeveria atropurpurea is a succulent which you should definitely have in your succulent garden. They are cute and unique in their outlooks.
Furthermore, they are specially known for their stout stems as well as for their fascinating red colored blooms.
Additionally, I would fancy having these succulents as growing them is not a complex task. You simply have to provide the main growing necessities of them.
The scientific name of these plants is Echeveria atropurpurea and it is known as Cotyledon atropurpurea, Echeveria sanguinea in common too.
Echeveria atropurpurea plants are native to Mexico. So, let’s commence discovering these stylish plants.
How do I identify Echeveria atropurpurea?
As aforesaid, Echeveria atropurpurea are quite eminent in the way they look. In other words, they are so graceful, and anybody can keep staring at the plants for so long.
So, to identify the plants ; their leaves would be clad in brown to dark purple colors. They would be 10-12 cm long and 3-5 cm wide and about 20 cm ( 8 inches ) in diameter.
The leaves would tend to take a glabrous, oblong, or even an obocate spathulate shape. They will further carry a moderate thick texture.
On the other hand,the Echeveria atropurpurea stem would be stout and short. The stems would reach a maximum height of 10-15 cm at maturity. Further they would be 2-2,5 cm in diameter as well.
Echeveria atropurpurea plants are rosette forming plants. They would be either lax or dense and would host about 20 leaves all together. The top part of the rosette would be dark purple, green to brown, red color.
In addition to aforesaid characteristics, Echeveria atropurpurea flowers would be bright red in color. Those blossom sepals would be about 4mm in length.
Further their petals would be orange too. The Echeveria atropurpurea plant would emerge with flowers from July to February.
To be more precise, they would flower in winter and those flowers would stay alive for about three months. Last but not least. Echeveria atropurpurea produce seeds too. They would tend to take a dark brown color.
Growth rate
Echeveria atropurpurea usually grows at a steady, moderate pace.
One look care guide
| Botanical Name | Echeveria atropurpurea |
| Common Name | Cotyledon atropurpurea, Echeveria sanguinea |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Mature Size | 20 cm ( 8 inches ) wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sunlight to partial shade |
| Soil Type | Well draining |
| Soil pH | Slightly acidic |
| Bloom Time | Winter |
| Flower Color | Bright red |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b |
| Native Area | Mexico |
| Toxicity | Non Toxic |
| Average price | 14 USD |
How do you take care of Echeveria atropurpurea?
Light Requirement
Echeveria atropurpurea would prosper if you expose them for full sunlight in the morning hours and to light shade during the extremely scorching hours during the day.
So, if you wish to raise them as outdoor plants you need to choose a spot where they can gain their preferred levels of sunlight.
On the other hand, if you cultivate them indoors your first preference should be a bright sunny spot which would most probably be a bright sunny windowsill.
The exposure for adequate sunlight is a fundamental requirement of these plants as only then they can properly come up with the best colors. Literally the more you expose them, the better it would be.
Besides that , it is critical that you expose the plants for ample sunlight so that they can maintain their best shape.
Unless they would tend to etiolate and misshapen their looks. Having said that, if you leave the plants under direct sunlight, it will burn the plants and result in scorching of the plants.
This is something which you need to avoid as once your plants scorch, it is very unlikely that you can get rid of those burnt patches.
This is commonly visible when you keep growing the plants for too long indoors and suddenly exposing them to outdoor full sunlight.
Temperature and humidity
Echeveria atropurpurea grows in warmer temperatures right throughout the year. So, an average temperature of 65ºF / 18ºC – 70ºF / 21ºC would be more fitting for these plants to grow optimally in summer.
On the other hand, a temperature range of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 10 degrees Celsius would work well with them in winter.
Be wary, that you do not disclose them to much colder conditions as simply they will not tolerate those conditions. That said, Echeveria atropurpurea can withstand a colder temperature of -6.7°C (20°F).
Is it cold hardy?
Echeveria atropurpurea have a cold tolerance up to -6.7°C (20°F).
Growth Zone
The optimal conditions for these plants’ growth would be in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b.
Watering Requirement
It is crucial that you water the Echeveria atropurpurea plants correctly as it is one of the most critical factors in providing the right conditions for the plants.
If I further describe this, you need to water them regularly during summer and spring. Always you need to check whether the soil medium is dry from the previous warring session. If you are sure it is dry, you could begin watering the plants.
You need to ideally water the soil to make it moistened and not too soggy.The dampness and sogginess are two critical factors you need to avoid when growing these plants.
On the other hand, you need to limit watering the plants during the colder conditions. Never water the Echeveria atropurpurea plants redundantly in winter. If you do so, it will result in unnecessary adverse effects on the plants.
Soil Requirement Type / pH.
Echeveria atropurpurea plants would grow rich in a fast-draining soil mix. The ideal ph. level which would suit these plants would be around 6.
This literally means a slightly acidic soil mix would work well with the plants. Additionally, a soil mix which has equal parts of sharp sand in an all-purpose soil mix would also help the plants to thrive well.
Pot size Potting and Repotting
When it comes to choosing the right pot for the Echeveria atropurpurea plants, I propose you utilize a pot made out of a porous material.
Literally the porosity of a pot would ensure that all the excess moisture is not retained in the pot. Instead, they would make the excess water evaporate faster.
If you chose to grow them in a non-porous material pot, those conditions would not be favorable for the healthy growth of the Echeveria atropurpurea plants. Needless to mention that your selected pots need to have one or two draining holes as well.
Repotting wise, you could do that if it is required only. However, I urge you to conduct repotting only in the warmer seasons.
When you do that, you need to ascertain whether their soil is dry first. Next you may swiftly remove the plants from the plants in a gentle manner.
However, ensure that you don’t damage the root system of the plants. Once you remove the plants, clean the older dirty soil around the roots.
After that, snip off whatever the rotten blackened roots you may come across in the plants. Further you need to treat those cuttings with a fungicide.
Lastly you can plant them in a fresh pot and fill it with potting mix Next allow it to wither for some time and give them a light watering.
Where to Plant
As mentioned above, generous sunlight exposure is very crucial when selecting a place to plant them.
Therefore, Echeveria atropurpurea plants would flourish anywhere as long as they can gain sufficient sunlight.
Additionally, they would opt to have warmer temperatures right throughout too. So, if you are someone who lives in 9a 11b zones, you could grow them outdoors.
On the other hand, if you live somewhere where there will be extreme colder temperatures for most of the year, I suggest growing them as indoor plants.
Fertilizer and time of year
Echeveria atropurpurea plants do not depend on fertilizers a lot. Hence you may use a controlled release fertilizer when they start to grow actively.
In addition to that you may also use a weak liquid fertilizer once a week in spring and in summer. If your plants are mature, you could proceed with a fertilizer type which has equal amounts of N,P,K components.
However, before applying them, you need to dilute them to ¼ strength and then use. On the other hand, if your plants are younger, I suggest you use a fertilizer which has a less Nitrogen component.
Flower
Echeveria atropurpurea inflorescence would be bright red in color. Besides, their petals tend to take an orange color.
Botanically speaking, Echeveria atropurpurea plants are polycarpic plants. This defines their ability to set seeds and produce blooms for several years.
Echeveria atropurpurea plants would emerge with flowers mostly in winter. It is noteworthy that those flowers would stay alive for about three months.
Dormancy
Echeverias in general are dormant in winter.
Toxicity
There are no records to show the toxicity of the Echeveria atropurpurea plants.
Common bugs and illnesses
Echeveria atropurpurea plants can combat any pests and diseases problems quite effectively as they are strong contenders.
Having said that, Mealybugs could be problematic creatures for the Echeveria atropurpurea plants to deal with.
You may commonly go through this condition if you neglect removing the dead and decaying leaves from the plants. Not only that but also, it could make your plant more attractive towards other pests’ types and insects’ types also.
Furthermore, likewise with the other succulents and cactus in general, watering in abundance would result in root rot of the plants.
Hence it is important that you act smart and water them moderately while providing a well-draining soil mix.
Special Care tips
Echeveria atropurpurea can thrive well with a minor supervision from you and you do not have to do anything in particular when taking care of the plants. However, I suggest you remove the older and decaying leaves if you spot any on the plants
How to propagate Echeveria atropurpurea
You could conduct propagation of these plants by using the seeds propagation method, offsets propagation method and the leaf cutting propagation method during spring. You may continue with the regular steps that you do with other plants when you propagate them.
Echeveria atropurpurea benefits
Echeveria atropurpurea are fancy as perfect indoor plants. They would add so much grace and elegance to wherever you grow them.
Conclusion
Before wrapping things up , if I am to sum up what we covered here, Echeveria atropurpurea are one of the finest succulent species which you may come across. Their uniqueness, exceptional looks and the possibility to flower make them extra special set of plants.
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