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Today we will share Echeveria Orion Care tips. This beautiful succulent is easy to care for and you will learn how to take care of it from lighting to soil to propagation.
Echeveria Orion Key Takeaways:
- Echeveria Orion care involves providing bright light with some direct sun exposure to bring out its vibrant leaf colors.
- Watering it once the soil has dried out, and using well-draining soil to prevent water-logging.
- During the growing season, a light application of fertilizer can be beneficial.
- It’s essential to keep it indoors during colder months if you’re living outside hardiness zone 10, as it’s not frost-tolerant.
- Repotting is seldom required but can be done when the plant outgrows its current pot.
What Is Echeveria Orion?
Echeveria is a large species of succulents and Echeveria Orion is a small plant getting about 8 inches tall and 8 inches wide.
It also will flower in the spring and the leaves are often tinged a rosy purple which sunlight can help bring out.
Sometimes this plant is called hens and chicks but that name is usually used for Sempervivum which is a different plant. Here’s what Wikipedia says:
Plants may be evergreen or deciduous. Flowers on short stalks (cymes) arise from compact rosettes of succulent fleshy, often brightly colored leaves. Species are polycarpic, meaning that they may flower and set seed many times over the course of their lifetimes. Often numerous offsets are produced and are commonly known as “hen and chicks”, which can also refer to other genera, such as Sempervivum, that are significantly different from Echeveria. Many species of Echeveria serve important environmental roles, such as those of host plants for butterflies. For example, the butterfly Callophrys xami uses several species of Echeveria, such as Echeveria gibbiflora, for suitable host plants. Even more, these plants are integral to the oviposition process of C. xami and some other butterfly species as well. Echeveria – Wikipedia
Echeveria Orion Care
As with all succulents, Echeveria Orion needs bright light but can tolerate some direct sun.
The more sunlight it gets, the brighter its colors will be. It prefers well-draining soil and should be watered about once a week.
This plant is not frost tolerant so it only can be grown outdoors permanently in hardiness zone 10 and above.
However, you can keep it outside in your garden during the summer just remember to bring it back inside before the weather cools in the fall.
Echeveria Orion Lighting Needs
Echeveria Orion lighting needs are bright light with some direct sun. The sunlight will help bring out leaf color.
In too much shade the leaves will etiolate and the plant will become leggy.
Too much sun will scorch the leaves. Echeveria Orion does best in a spot where it will receive several hours of morning or late afternoon sun but is protected from the hot midday sun.
Echeveria Orion Watering Needs
Echeveria Orion watering needs are moderate. Don’t water on a schedule instead wait for the soil to dry out between waterings.
Then water it thoroughly but don’t let the plant sit in soggy soil for too long as this can lead to root rot.
Echeveria Orion is quite drought tolerant once established, so if you’re unsure when to water, it’s better to err on the side of underwatering than overwatering.
Fertilizing Echeveria Orion
Echeveria Orion is not a heavy feeder and can be kept without fertilizing.
But it will appreciate a light application of fertilizer during the growing season.
Use a succulent fertilizer or a balanced (20-20-20) fertilizer diluted to half strength once every month or so.
Be sure to water thoroughly before and after applying fertilizer. Never apply fertilizer to dry soil as this can burn the roots.
Potting And Repoting Echeveria Orion
This plant does not need to be repotted often but you should repot it when you buy it so it has more room to grow.
To repot Echeveria Orion, wait until it has outgrown its current pot and then carefully remove it from the pot.
Choose a new pot that is only slightly larger than the old one and has drainage holes.
Some people like to fill the bottom of the new pot with some gravel or pebbles to help with drainage.
Then add fresh cactus mix or well-draining succulent soil. This plant is used to growing in gritty rocky soil.
You can make your own potting mix and grow it in potting soil if you add about 50% extra perlite to it.
Gently place Echeveria Orion in the bottom of the new pot. Fill in around the plant making sure it is growing at the same height as before and then water it to settle the soil.
Echeveria Orion Care Problems
This is an easy succulent to care for and is usually problem free but occasionally like any plant, it can have problems.
Echeveria Orion is not known to be susceptible to any particular pests or diseases, but like all plants, it can be subject to mealybugs, aphids, and other common indoor garden pests.
These can usually be controlled with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
If you notice your Echeveria Orion is looking particularly stressed (leaves are wilting, discolored, or dropping off), it may be due to several factors such as too much sun, not enough water, overfertilizing, or a nutrient deficiency.
Try moving the plant to a shadier spot and/or increasing watering frequency until it recovers.
Be careful fertilizing because salt buildup can also cause wilting. If you suspect overfertilizing is the problem you will want to flush the soil with water to leach out the salt buildup.
Echeveria Orion Care – Propagation Methods
Echeveria can be propagated from offsets, leaf cuttings, or stem cuttings and from seeds.
Propagating from seed is very slow and these plants are cheap and readily available so this is not the preferred way to propagate this plant.
Echeveria Orion will produce offsets which is why it is sometimes called hen and chicks.
These offsets will usually develop roots on their own so all you need to do is separate them from the mother plant and pot them up.
To propagate from an offset, gently remove it from the main plant and repot it in fresh potting mix. Water it to settle the soil.
To propagate from a leaf cutting, cut a healthy leaf from the main plant and allow it to callous over for a few days.
Once it has calloused, you can plant it in fresh cactus mix or well-draining succulent soil. Water it lightly and wait for it to root.
To propagate from a stem cutting, cut a healthy stem from the main plant and allow it to callous over for a few days.
Once it has calloused, you can plant it in fresh cactus mix or well-draining succulent soil. Water is sparingly and wait for it to root.
Echeveria Orion FAQs
Incorporating indoor plants like Echeveria Orion into your living spaces not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also contributes to a serene ambiance.
It’s the succulent’s modest requirements and appealing look that make it a favored choice among indoor gardeners.
Here’s a deeper dive into some frequently asked questions regarding Echeveria Orion to ensure you have all the requisite knowledge for its healthy growth and propagation:
Q. How often should I water my Echeveria Orion?
A. Watering should be done once the soil has completely dried out, which typically translates to about once a week.
However, this may vary based on the humidity and temperature of your location.
It’s always better to under-water than over-water as Echeveria Orion is drought-tolerant.
Q. What type of soil is best for Echeveria Orion?
A. Echeveria Orion thrives in well-draining succulent soil or a cactus mix.
If you’re creating your own potting mix, a blend of coco coir with about 50% perlite will provide the drainage this succulent needs.
Q. Can Echeveria Orion tolerate full sun?
A. While it appreciates bright light, Echeveria Orion does best with morning or late afternoon sun.
Protect it from the hot midday sun to prevent leaf scorch.
Q. How can I propagate Echeveria Orion?
A. Propagation can be done through offsets, leaf cuttings, or stem cuttings.
For offsets, simply separate them from the main plant and pot them up.
For leaf and stem cuttings, allow them to callous over for a few days before planting them in a fresh cactus mix or well-draining succulent soil.
Echeveria Orion Care Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed these Echeveria Orion Care tips. This lovely succulent is easy to care for and makes a great addition to any home or garden. Happy gardening!
Echeveria Orion is a relatively easy plant to care for and makes a great addition to any succulent collection.
Follow these Echeveria Orion care tips and with proper care, Echeveria Orion will thrive for many years.
Read more about the benefits of keeping houseplants and be sure to check out our other articles on caring for houseplants and succulents for more tips on keeping your plants healthy and happy!
