The Plush Plant is another eye-catching and stunning variety of the Echeveria family. The Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii) is a small succulent with a stem that grows up to 12 inches tall and at the top forms a rosette of light green leaves with red linings at the edge that grows 12 inches in diameter.
The Plush Plant is like all the other succulents in its planting, growth, and maintenance needs – set out below. Like all the others, it loves the lovelight but, keep it away from the dangerous afternoon sun which can kill it. Otherwise, it’s a Succulent dream and easy to care for.
How to Plant the Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii)
There are three ways available to plant Echeveria Harmsii. You either propagate them through leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or seeds.
Performing all of these is a no-brainer and anyone can master this craft.
Before anything else, you need to prepare a scissor or sharp knife, a pair of gloves, and the growing pot.
For Leaf Cuttings:
• Remove A Healthy and Firm Leaf
Find the best leaf in your mother plant and gently twist the leaf until it is detached. Do not put too much pressure on the leaf as it will damage it. Just apply enough pressure to get ahold of it as you twist.
Make sure the leaf does not snap into two pieces because it can no longer be propagated. When this happens, try to search for another healthy and firm leaf but be extra careful the second time around.
Once you have your leaf cuttings, prepare for the next step.
• Allow The Leaf Cuttings to Dry or Callous
Place the leaf cuttings in a container and put them in an area with partial shade and good aeration. Leave them in that place for a few days until they have dried or calloused.
Check them if they have dried or are calloused perfectly before you begin the last step.
Do not rush this part otherwise your propagation will end up a failure.
Just forget about the leaf cuttings for a few days and by the time you attend to them, they should have dried or calloused quite well. After that, you shall proceed to the next step.
• Plant Them in A Growing Pot
Place the dried or calloused leaf cuttings in the pot filled with well-draining soil. Apply a little amount of water to help set everything and wait for the soil to dry completely before watering again.
Eventually, the old leaf cuttings will be replaced with new and fresh growth.
For Stem Cuttings or Offsets:
• Take A Clean-Cut of Stem or Offset
Using a scissor or sharp knife, take a stem or offset from a healthy mother plant. Do not forget to wear gloves for safety because you are dealing with sharp objects here.
Before cutting, clean the cutting object first to prevent infecting the plant with diseases.
You must cut with precision and make sure you do not damage the other parts of the plant as you perform the cutting process.
Once you have all your stem cuttings or offsets, you can proceed to the next step.
• Allow The Stem Cuttings or Offsets to Dry Or Callous
Like the leaf cuttings, the drying process of the stem cuttings or offsets is something you should not rush.
Planting them directly after cutting will expose the fresh wound to numerous bacteria causing the cuttings to die. Allowing the cuttings to dry or callous first will solve this problem.
Just place the cuttings in a container and put them in an area with partial shade and proper aeration.
Forget about them for a few days and when you remember it, they should be ready to be planted in individual containers.
• Plant Them in A Growing Pot
The last step is to place the dried or calloused stem cuttings or offsets in a pot with well-draining soil.
Put a little amount of water to set everything and wait for the soil to dry before applying water again. In a few days, you will notice new growth.
For Seed Sowing:
• Sow The Seeds During Fall
If cuttings do not work for you, propagating from seed is your last option. Sow the seeds in well-draining soil during fall so they will have grown when the next season comes.
You can sow them either indoors or outdoors but with a few requirements. For outdoor sowing, be sure you are in an area with a zone above 9a.
For indoor sowing, consider using a grow light especially in cooler areas.
How to Grow and Care for the Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii)
Since this plant belongs to the genus of Echeveria, it is expected that this plant requires minimal effort to grow and care for.
If you provide them the right conditions, they will tolerate neglect. Here are the things to look for when growing and caring for Echeveria Harmsii:
1. Light Requirements
The Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii) requires bright and indirect light when grown indoors while the full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon when grown outdoors.
These differences in lighting requirements in the different growing environments are mainly due to the amount of light they receive. Outdoor lighting is more direct and open compared to indoor lighting.
When the plant is not receiving enough sunlight indoors, it will result in etiolation. While others are okay with it, some growers find it unattractive.
To solve this, start using grow light to supplement their lighting needs.
In the case of outdoor planting, be sure to place the plant in an area with full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon. In some areas, afternoon sunlight is too extreme and can burn the plant. It could even kill the plant if left unattended especially during the scorching heat of summer.
2. Water Requirements
The Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii) could not stand overly wet soil and it can lead the plant to root rot. Hence, overwatering this plant should be avoided at all costs.
Also, this plant does not tolerate long droughts, so you must find the best time to water them.
When watering the plant, the climate in your area is the greatest factor when applying water. In colder or high humid areas, the soil retains moisture longer than in areas with high temperatures.
To find the right time, always check the soil before watering. If the soil is dry 2 inches from the surface, that is the time you should apply water.
Make sure the water drains from the bottom otherwise the drainage system in the soil has a problem and should be changed immediately.
3. Soil Requirements
It is important to use well-draining soil when growing a succulent. If the water does not drain from the bottom after watering, it means the soil is no longer ideal for the plant and should be replaced immediately.
You can use a cactus potting mix and combine it with perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage. Combine the cactus potting mix and perlite or coarse sand by 50-50.
If the mixture is crumbly after squeezing it, that is a sign of good drainage, but if it remains intact after squeezing, that is a sign of bad drainage, and you need to add more perlite to improve it.
4. Temperature Requirements
Remember, the Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii) is not cold hardy, and anything below 30 degrees Fahrenheit is a danger to the plant.
They are not cold tolerant, although they can tolerate a little frost, but not for long. In places with extreme winter conditions, you should plant your Echeveria Harmsii in containers for easy transfer.
The Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii) Names and Origin
Echeveria Harmsii is called with several names including “Plush Plant” (the most popular common name), and “Red Echeveria”.
The term “Harmsii” was a commemoration to a German botanist and taxonomist Herman August Theodor Harms. Nowadays, these three names are used interchangeably across different parts of the world.
The Echeveria Harmsii is native to Mexico particularly in the areas of Hidalgo and Oaxaca. Because of this, the Echeveria Harmsii is not cold hardy and rather prefers feeling the sun than cold temperatures.
Nevertheless, they are a great addition either in your garden or as a houseplant.
Final Thoughts
The leaves of the Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii) are fleshy and pointed which can grow up to 1.2 inches long.
In spring, they produce bell-shaped flowers that grow up to 1.2 inches long with vibrant colors of red, yellow tips, and golden throat that is heavily attractive to hummingbirds.
The Plush Plant (Echeveria Harmsii) is a particularly showy flowering plant which means they are grown for their lovely flowers instead of their well-defined foliage.
They, too, produce offsets which are great for propagation to increase the number of Plush Plants (Echeveria Harmsii) in your garden.
Planting them in a rock garden, Mediterranean gardens, or containers is a great choice.
We put ours in attractive containers so we could move them out of the afternoon sun and bring them indoors in the winter.
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited By
Patricia Godwin