Echeveria Lola Succulent Care | A Beginner’s Guide

Echeveria Lola Succulent at a Glance

Echeveria Lola is one of the most popular succulents that comes with pale gray-blue leaves. It can reach a diameter of up to 6 inches and offers bell-shaped coral pink or yellow flowers. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zones for this plant are from 9b to 11b.

Nomenclature

• Scientific name: Echeveria Lola
• Common name: Lola Succulent
• Synonyms: Mexican Hens and Chicks, Lola Succulent, and Echeveria Lola

Classification

• Genus: Echeveria
• Tribe: Sedeae
• Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
• Family: Crassulaceae

How to Grow or Propagate Echeveria Lola

When it comes to growing/propagating Echeveria Lola, you can use divisions, offsets, stem cuttings, or leaves. Both offsets and cuttings usually yield somewhat the same results. You can follow the steps listed below to get started.

1. Use a sharp and clean knife (use alcohol-based sanitizer for cleaning and let it dry) to cut the stem of Echeveria Lola.
2. Cut the lower leaves if there are any and let the stem dry for 3 to 5 days. Make sure that you place the stem cutting in a dry place and cover it with a towel.
3. Use succulent potting soil to fill the container and stick the dried stem upright.
4. Mist it with water and leave it until it develops roots.

You can also follow the same steps for leaf cutting. Keep in mind that a leaf cutting will take a long time to grow but at the same time, it offers an exponential yield rate.

You can also use divisions to propagate Echeveria Lola if it has some healthy pups. All you need to do is to divide these pups carefully by cutting the attached roots or stems.

The wounds of both plants will dry within 3 to 5 days and you’ll need to stick the division back in the pot or ground.

How to Take Care of Echeveria Lola

Echeveria Lola is not a fussy plant and that’s one of the biggest reasons for its massive popularity. You can grow this plant in different landscape types as well as containers. However, you need to make sure that you provide this little plant with suitable growing conditions.

Not only is it a low-maintenance plant but it’s also sturdy and alluring. Consider using the following tips to take care of your Echeveria Lola plant most effectively.

Soil Requirements

Just like other Echeveria types, Echeveria Lola thrives greatly in traditional succulent and well-draining soils. You can mix your potting soil with the following materials for adequate drainage and enhanced nutrient intake:

• Organic matter
• Gravel
• Coconut coir
• Pumice
• Coarse sand

You’ll need to make sure that the mixture of soil is moist, not wet, because most succulents die due to excessive amounts of water.

Water

When it comes to watering, Echeveria Lola, just like most succulents, needs the bare minimum to grow. It can even survive under arid climate conditions. If the roots of this succulent remain in the water for a longer period of time, it can lead to irrecoverable damage.

Following the soak and dry technique is the best way to water Echeveria Lola. Simply, add water to the soil until it starts coming out of drainage holes and let the pot completely dry before watering again.

Using a spray bottle is undoubtedly a convenient and fancy way to water plants but avoid doing so with Echeveria Lola. Consistent water supply even in small amounts weakens the root system of this succulent.

Light

Echeveria Lola can tolerate full sunlight but it’s best to place it in a spot that receives partial sunlight, especially while it is growing. You can also place it indoors but if your house has poor lighting, you’ll need to use indoor grow lights.

This plant also needs ample airflow. So, if you want your plant to produce the best results, consider placing it on a windowsill that blocks the sunlight partially. However, exposure to the full sunlight during the hours of sunrise and sunset doesn’t harm Echeveria Lola.

Just like most succulents, Echeveria Lola needs a little time to adjust to the sun. It means you’ll need to change the location of your plant gradually to provide it with enough time to adapt. It’s especially true for young plants that are still growing.

Temperature

Echeveria Lola falls under the hardiness zones of 9b to 11b which means it thrives on average to cool temperatures. It can grow outdoors easily if the temperature and humidity levels are low.

Echeveria Lola can’t tolerate temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, this plant needs a temperature of more than 45 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive.

If you live in a cold place, you’ll need to place your Echeveria Lola indoors because it’s not frost resistance

Humidity

Echeveria Lola doesn’t like humid places and you should also use pots that allow water to evaporate faster. You can use a terracotta pot that comes without a glaze to minimize humidity and the risk of overwatering.

Fertilizer

Echeveria Lola doesn’t need fertilizer too often. However, you’ll need to use fertilizer once or twice a month during the growing season. You can also use fertilizer if you observe that your Echeveria Lola is looking malnourished.

Any organic fertilizer that comes with succulent or cactus nurturing formula will do the job. You can buy fertilizers in the form of capsules that stimulate the stem development and root growth of Echeveria Lola.

Pruning

Echeveria Lola doesn’t require pruning as it naturally discards the old leaves. However, you can manually remove the dead leaves that are clinging to the lower side of the stem using your hands.

It’s also important to remove the fallen leaves from the pot or underneath the plant because they can invite diseases and pests with time when they start to decay.

Maintenance

As mentioned earlier, Echeveria Lola is a low-maintenance plant. You only need to perform the following in order to keep your plant healthy.

• Remove offshoots if required
• Remove any dead or wilted leaves
• Water the plant only when the soil is dry completely
• Use fertilizer during the growing season once or twice a month
• Place it in a spot where they receive partial sunlight (especially young plants)
• Keep the plant’s rosettes from contacting water directly. You can use a cotton piece or paper towel to dry rosettes immediately if they catch water.

Repotting Echeveria Lola

Typically, Echeveria Lola reaches 3 to 6 inches in height if it receives direct sunlight. If the pot is small and the plant starts to outgrow it, consider transplanting your Echeveria Lola to a bigger pot.

Transferring Echeveria Lola to a bigger pot also allows the plant to grow its roots further to improve nutrient absorption. The soil you use for Echeveria Lola should also be rich in essential elements that that plant needs including phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen.

Echeveria Lola should be repotted at least once in two years. The best time to re-pot this succulent is spring because it’s the most suitable time to inspect the plant for any damage or signs of rotting.

Be extra careful while repotting your succulents because it’s easy to accidentally damage the plant. Not only will it affect the appearance of Echeveria Lola but it can also harm the mechanisms responsible for the plant’s overall growth.

It’s also important not to water Echeveria Lola right after repotting because it’ll need some time to adapt to its new home for cell rejuvenation and recovery. Ideally, Echeveria Lola should be watered a week after repotting.

Diseases and Pests that Commonly Affect Echeveria Lola

Most succulents including Echeveria Lola are highly prone to pest attacks such as mealybugs. It commonly happens due to overwatering as the water gets trapped between the plant’s leaves.

Not only does it drain the juice from leaves but it also causes the entire plant to wither or suffer from discolored foliage. That’s why it’s critical to keep the soil free from old leaves and other debris and keep your succulent dry all the time.

If your Echeveria Lola is infested with mealybugs, consider spraying or rubbing neem oil or insecticidal soap on the plant once or twice a week. You can also use alcohol-infused swabs to clean the leaves if the infestation is at its earlier stages.

Etiolation is yet another common issue with Echeveria Lola succulent. It’s the process in which the plant stretches out to find sunlight. It can actually take up your entire space if it continues growing and you don’t change its location.

Providing your Echeveria Lola with plenty of light is the best way to keep it compact. You can cut the rosette up if etiolation has already started to carry out the propagation process.