Graptoveria is a hybrid genus betwixt Graptopetalum and Echeveria. There are many different cultivars in this family with their own cute and stylish common names. Graptoveria is one of the favorite choices for succulent collectors and houseplant aficionados. This succulent is known for its compact, perfectly formed, and bright-colored rosettes.
The resilience and durability of the hybrid Graptoveria are remarkable for a succulent. Follow all the directions regarding soil, water, feeding and light requirements. Plus, temperature, propagation, and maintenance needs – and you cannot wrong with this amazing succulent!
How to Grow Graptoveria
The Graptoveria is one of the most resilient and durable succulents. If you do not have so much time to tend to your plants or are new to gardening, this succulent is an ideal choice.
1. Soil Requirements
This succulent thrives on porous and well-draining soil to prevent its roots from rotting. A combination of 70% succulent soil and 30% perlite makes a good well-draining soil.
You can also opt for coconut coir with minerals (sand, grit, or perlite) or peat-free soil.
Another option could be ready-mixed cacti or succulent soil.
You need well-draining soil for your ‘Fred Ives’ so its roots receive enough oxygen and do not retain moisture.
Planting this succulent in the right type of soil will promote healthy growth and will prevent diseases as well as root rot.
2. Watering and Feeding
Water this succulent once every 4 weeks in the winter and once a week in the summer.
The thick leaves of the Graptoveria, just like all succulents, retain water and are drought tolerant.
Water the top inch of the soil only when it is completely dry. The leaves of this succulent wrinkle a bit when it needs water.
When watering, make sure water does not hit the top rosette of the pant or its leaves because they may rot. If water accidentally gets into them, immediately wipe the water off with a tissue.
Remember that, just like all succulents, the ‘Fred Ives’ prefers low humidity and dry roots over damp soil.
The technique is to drown the soil during watering and leave it to dry. This will allow the roots to grow and get the oxygen they need.
This succulent does not need fertilizer. But if you want to encourage strong and good roots, it can use some cactus or succulent fertilizer.
Dilute the fertilizer to 25%. Fertilize this succulent only once – during the growing season (summer).
3. Light Requirement
Your Graptoveria needs bright light to grow and thrive. It should get at least 7 hours of bright sun every day.
If this succulent does not receive its required amount of sunlight, it will lean sideways and stretch out (etiolation).
Remember that once your plant etiolates, it will no longer shrink back to its original compact rosette shape.
When grown indoors, place your ‘Fred Ives’ in a south-facing window. Make sure to rotate your plant every week so each side receives an equal amount of sunlight.
The Graptoverias love the sun, but they do not like to be moved from a shady area to an area with more sun.
This will cause their leaves to burn. Sunburned leaves have brown spots on the surface of the leaves.
4. Temperature
Graptoverias thrive in areas with dry and warm temperatures. They are not cold hardy plants.
This succulent thrives in dry, hot climates with temperatures from 65 °F to 75 °F (18°C to 24 °C). They cannot tolerate temperatures lower than 300F (-10C).
These succulents need average humidity. The humidity indoors is ideal for this plant. When exposed to excess humidity, the roots of this plant will rot.
Graptoverias are not hardy succulents so they cannot tolerate frost for a long time. When it starts to get cold, bring your plant indoors.
They also are not good at tolerating extreme temperature changes. So, when transferring your plant from outdoor to indoor, re- reacclimatize it first for a week or so.
5. Propagation
Graptoveria can be propagated through offsets, cuttings, and leaves.
• Propagation through Offsets
This succulent produces pups or offsets. These offsets are grown around the base of the pant.
• Remove an offset from the parent that is about 1/4 inch in size. Use a sterile and sharp knife.
• Allow the offset to dry for about a day or two.
• Repot the offset in well-draining soil.
• Wait a few more days before watering your new plant to give it time to adjust to its new home.
• Place the pot in bright, filtered sun.
• Water your plant every 4 to 5 days or when the soil is dry.
• Propagation through Cuttings
This is an ideal propagation method when your succulent has already lost its vigor or when it no longer has its rosette shape.
• Cut about 1 1/2 inches below the stem of the rosettes. Use a sharp knife or garden shears.
Make sure the cut is as close to the mother plant as possible. Make sure it is clean-cut, too.
• Allow the stem to dry for about 3 days on a tray or container with kitchen paper.
• When roots start to appear, plant the stem in a pot with well-draining soil.
• Place your new plant in a spot with bright, indirectly
• Water the new planter after a week. Continue to water weekly.
• Propagation through Leaves
• Choose a healthy leaf. Choose one that is not dried out or wrinkled.
• Carefully twist the leaf off the mother plant. Make sure to remove the entire leaf.
• Allow the leaf to dry for 2 to 3 days in a tray with paper towels.
• Lay the leaf in well-draining soil.
• Place the leaf in a spot with lesser sunlight than its parent succulent.
• Mist the soil of your new plant every 2 days or so.
• The propagated leaf will shrivel after a few days.
• Repot the new plant.
• Water it every 5 days.
• Place the pot in bright, filtered sun.
• Rooting will occur after several weeks.
How to Maintain Graptoveria
Graptoverias will grow best when planted in terracotta pots with drainage holes to remove excess water that can cause root rot.
This succulent is slow-growing, so you do not need to repot it often unless it outgrows its original pot.
Pruning is also done for aesthetic purposes such as to tidy the plant.
Pruning can also be done when some parts of the plant have been damaged or have died. Cut them off so as to keep the rest of the plant healthy and disease-free.
If you need to prune, use a sharp and sterilized knife or pair of scissors.
If you think your plant is having root rot, carefully remove it from the pot. Brush off excess soil from the plant.
Black, brown, or soft roots are rotten and should be trimmed off. Let it dry for about 3 days and then repot the plant in fresh soil.
Mealybugs and aphids can also get into your Graptoveria, usually in the portion where the stems and leaves meet.
You can use household insect sprays to remove these pests from your plant.
Always remember not to overwater this succulent.
It is overwatered and has developed root rot when its leaves turn translucent yellow or mushy; its stem turns black or brown; and it looks soggy and loses its shape.
Names and Origins: Graptoveria
The Graptoveria is a hybrid succulent. It is a result of cross-breeding the Graptopetalum and Echeveria succulents.
This succulent is characterized by its rosette appearance and waxy leaves. Graptoveria is also called ‘Fred Ives. Most experts also refer to it Graptos experts.
Most Graptoverias have 6 to 8-inch rosettes. Their leaves may be pink, blue, red, or purple depending on their exposure to the sun, the temperature of the area they are grown, and watering frequency.
The plant grows tiny star-shaped flowers that generally appear in the late spring and early summer. Its flowers can either be orange, light pink, or white and yellow.
Other Useful Facts About the Graptovera
In addition to looking so pretty with its different coloured flowers, the Graptoveria – when grown in your home – is useful in other, most surprising ways.
Look at these benefits you receive just from having a Graptoveria in your home:
Apart from adding a little color to your life, Graptoveria grown in your home may have some other benefits as well:
• It can clean the air in your home because succulent plants can help remove toxins, improve airflow, and humidify dry indoor air.
• It increases the amount of oxygen in your room because when we inhale, we introduce oxygen into our body and in turn release carbon dioxide.
Plants, including succulents, go through this respiration process, too, but in reverse. They absorb the available carbon dioxide in the environment and give off oxygen.
• It adds moisture to the environment and indirectly protects you from minor ailments such as colds, sore throats, etc.
We don’t know how this happens but have been assured on many occasions that this is truly the case – this from people who have experienced the benefits!
Final Thoughts
The Graptoveria will make a great addition to your succulent collection.
Grow it outdoors but more especially, cultivate it as an indoor plant. With the right growing conditions this succulent will be a beauty to behold, and a cure-all for much of what ails you. We’re already believers!
Clearly, it’s a must-have! Our order has already been placed!
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited By
Patricia Godwin
