Korean Echeveria succulents are beautiful. Their vibrant and colourful flowers have made them a worldwide trend. Their demand is out of the roof and in all fairness-this does not surprise me.
The first time I stumbled across these succulents, I was in awe of their beauty, colour and appeal. They are the perfect indoor succulent for you to grow.
Hence, if I have got your attention- keep reading. Today, I will help you learn how to care for these succulents so they stay healthy, colourful and alive!
Lets dive in.
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What are Korean Echeveria succulents?
Korean Echeveria succulents are the crossbred of two or more succulents grown in Korea. This have given them another name- ‘hybrid’ succulents. Most planters today use this plant as an extra decorative element to home décor.
Why choose Korean Echeveria Succulents?
Korean succulents are diverse- varying in colour, size and appearance. But out of the many, many different types, the Korean Echeveria has caught my eye. Their vibrant colours, blooming sacs and unusual textures have made them a favourite. So if you are one of those who are making an indoor succulent garden, this is a perfect succulent to add.
However, their beauty and appearance is not the only reason why.
Like all succulents, the Korean Echeveria is simple to grow.
They can be left with the bare minimal resources but still continue to sprout and give vibrant colours. For those who think this isn’t possible, you are mistaken. Succulents originate from dry, desert locations with little water available.
You must be thinking how do they even grow? I don’t blame you.
Well…the key to their growth is the properties of the plant. They have excellent characteristics to allow growth even in the harshest of conditions.
Hence, for those who have little knowledge of plants, or those who do not have a lot of time- the Korean Echeveria is perfect.
How to grow Korean Echeveria Succulents?
There are two ways to grow a Korean Echeveria:
You can buy the hybrid and get it imported to where you reside.
Or,
You can breed two different succulents yourself.
I would recommend all beginners to buy the succulent. It is important to learn how to grow and maintain a succulent before getting into the exciting stuff.
But then again, the choice is yours.
Buy
If you want to buy, you will be spoilt for choice. The marvellous thing here is that there are so many charismatic, blooming succulents to
choose from.
So regardless if you purchase for home décor, or for your succulent garden, or because have a passion- you will not be disappointed.
Grow yourself
Breed your own. This may be the best option as currently Korean succulents are in high demand but short supply.
The process can be complicated and challenging, but if you are eager to get your hands on these marvellous succulents, then why not?
It might work out cheaper too!
How to care for Korean Echeveria Succulents?
Korean succulents do not require much care. However, a few important tips should be noted:
Choose the right pot
Choose a pot that has holes to allow drainage. This prevents succulents from being waterlogged and damaging the plant. Also, the roots will not rot due to excess moisture.
Aim for a pot around 5-10% larger than the plant. A pot bigger than this can make the roots grow quicker than the leaves. Whereas, if the pot is too small, the roots will not spread out and remain cramped.
Good Tip
Succulent roots are fragile, be extra careful when placing succulents in to the pot.
Terracotta or ceramic (both clay) allow good water drainage. These containers are porous and dry out quickly which makes them ideal for succulents to grow.
Potting soil
The soil needs to have good drainage properties also. Choose a soil that allows good aeration to allow the plant to breathe and exchange. Also, make sure the soil is rich in oxygen and nutrients for the roots. A good idea would be to add part compost. Compost has many benefits for the soil and plant alike.
‘Dressing’ your pot with Bonsai Jack, crushed rock, cobbles, pebbles, crushed charcoal, coarse sand, or gravels can help add a decorative element to your containers. Not only that- a top dressing of a mix of above also helps to improve drainage and anchors the plant roots into the soil.
Light
Korean Echeveria love the light. Aim to give the plant around at least 6 hours of sun per day. This allows the succulent to produce vibrant colours.
If you decide to grow the plant indoors, keep the plant close to a window so it can receive a good amount of light. Avoid areas such as book shelves or the bathroom as light is limited in these places.
Succulents.net explain the importance of light and the factors to control to allow healthy growth of your succulent.
Good Tip
You should keep the succulent at a place that receives direct to partial sunlight. Avoid for keeping in direct sunlight for too long as this can burn the leaves.
General Popular choices of Succulents
I love the Korean Echeveria.
But, the exciting thing here is that there are so many Korean succulents to choose from.
The colours, beauty and cuteness. Gosh! It took me hours before I could choose.
So why not have a browse. See what you like and grow it.
The majority of hybrids have Echeveria cross bred with other cultivators.
Korean succulents are made by crossbreeding many popular succulent such as:
Echeveria
Aeonium
Variegated vs Cristata
Digging in a bit deeper here, you will notice that Korean Succulents come as two different types. These are:
Variegated
With normal plants- Chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour. However, when the leaves get burnt due to the sun, there is an uneven distribution of chlorophyll. This is what causes leaves to change from a green to a white/yellow/brown colour.
With variegated- leaves change into other colours (pink, purple, red for example). This pigmentation isn’t caused by chlorophyll. Instead, the change in colour happens when stronger pigments, such as carotenoid or anthocyanin take over. Interestingly, these variegations are less likely to get sunburnt.
Variegations do not include colour changes alone. It can also include spots, stripes or blotches.
Today, you get many variegated succulents all unique in their own way. There are hundreds to choose from (and this can be great for your indoor succulent garden!).
Cristata
Cristata (also known as crested form) are formed when the growing plant has a mutation that causes the stems to flatten out. The leaves tend to grow on the flattened wide surface which results in multiple growing points.
This leads to a bunching effect- the growing tips push against each other, forming a wavy fan shape.
This process is natural and can’t be forced. This makes it rare, which also explains the expensive price tag of crested succulents.
How to buy Korean succulents?
Korean Succulents are currently in short supply and high demand. Hence, Korean succulents can be expensive.
Most often, The succulents are imported from Korea and can take weeks before arrival.
However, do not get put off! They are definitely worth the wait.
And worth the money.
Online shops like Etsy sell plants worldwide. Etsy has a huge succulent collection online and may be the perfect place for you to buy Korean Succulents.
Boni Suci is another great online store that imports Korean Succulents. They explain very well how the succulents are sprayed to kill off pests or diseases, and then inspected before being shipped out to the UK.
Indoor vs outdoor
Some people I know would rather keep their succulents indoors and add aesthetic beauty and comfort to their homes. Whereas, others would prefer to add to their gardens.
This is your choice.
Below I will give you some tips on how to grow indoors or outdoors:
Outdoor
- Ventilation is necessary so leaving the succulents outdoors is a good option.
- Try not to leave in direct sunlight for too long.
- Succulents thrive in sunny, dry climates and do not require much care. Do not worry if you haven’t checked on your succulents for a couple of days.
- You can grow your succulents in-ground or in pots. Just make sure to add the correct soil.
- Occasional rain is good for your succulents. However, excess rain can make the soil soggy and cause root rot.
- Soft succulents- be wary of temperature drops close to 0 during the night or day. A temperature drop can cause the tissues to crystallise, expand and burst. This, in turn, will damage the plant.
Good Tip
Cover your succulents with sheets, lightweight fabric or frost cloth in winter. Avoid plastic as this retains moisture.
- Hardy succulents tend to survive better in lower temps. Examples include:
- Hens and Chicks
- Pink Ice Plant
- Chinese Dunce Cap
- Blue Elf
- Parry’s Agave
If your succulents do become damaged due to frost, Gardening Know How have a great post on how to revive frozen plants.
Below is another great video to inform you what needs to be done if your succulent is exposed to frost.
Indoor
- Succulents require good ventilation to grow. it might be a good idea to purchase a dehumidifier.
- Keep the succulent in bright areas avoiding direct sunlight.
Good Tip
Rotate the succulent every couple of days. This allows all parts of the plant to receive light.
- If regular sunshine is not available (in winter for example) invest in a LED growing light.
- Don’t water indoor succulents daily. Use the dry and soak method
- Stick to drainage pots. I know home décor is important but avoid glass containers. This is because they restrict good airflow and prevent water drainage.
Important- what to do when succulent arrives
This is perhaps the most important part to read if you are buying succulents.
It’s upsetting how many people damage their succulents upon arrival.
You can avoid this.
Below are vital steps to follow once your succulents arrive:
- Wash the plant to remove any soil or pests.
- Spray an anti-fungal to prevent any diseases.
- Cut off any dry roots to stimulate the growth of succulent
- Place the succulent in a cool, dry and ventilated area
- Leave for a couple of days and then pot your succulent.
Below is a great video that demonstrates how to plant your succulents.
Final Thoughts
Korean Echeveria are simple plants to grow. As long as you follow the succulent care tips above, you will get beautiful, colourful and vibrant flowers.
This is assured.
For those questioning ‘Why they should grow Korean Echeveria?’
Well… There are many reasons why.
A few examples include: you may be a beginner, you don’t have the time other plants require, you want to improve your home décor or you have a passion for succulents, and you just want to explore the vast array of species.
Whatever the reason, I believe you are only one step away from falling in love with their beauty.
Good luck!
