The Echeveria ‘Lola’ plant is a popular succulent known for its distinctive and elegant appearance. This guide details its specific care requirements to ensure its health and beauty.
Understanding the Lola Plant
Echeveria ‘Lola’ is a hybrid succulent, a cross typically between Echeveria lilacina and Echeveria derenbergii, created by Dick Wright in 1980. This plant forms small, compact rosettes of fleshy leaves, generally reaching about 4 inches in diameter and 3-6 inches in height. The leaves are typically pale bluish-green, often displaying delicate pink or lavender hues, especially when exposed to sufficient sunlight or cooler temperatures. A fine, powdery coating, known as farina, covers the leaves, giving them a pearlescent, marble-like texture and helping the plant retain moisture. During spring and early summer, ‘Lola’ can produce bell-shaped flowers, often in shades of peach or pink, on tall stalks that emerge above the rosette.
Essential Care for Lola Plants
Light Needs
Echeveria ‘Lola’ thrives in bright, indirect sunlight, ideally receiving at least six hours of light daily. While it can tolerate bright direct light, too much intense afternoon sun, especially in hot climates, can scorch its delicate leaves. Indoors, a south or west-facing window is often suitable, or the plant can flourish under grow lights. Insufficient light causes etiolation, leading to a leggy appearance.
Watering Practices
Watering ‘Lola’ requires a “soak and dry” method, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. This succulent stores water in its plump leaves, adapting it to dry conditions, so overwatering is a common issue that can lead to root rot. When watering, thoroughly drench the soil until water drains from the pot’s bottom, then ensure the soil is completely dry before the next watering. During winter dormancy, the plant needs significantly less water.
Soil Requirements
Well-draining soil is important for Echeveria ‘Lola’, preventing root rot. A specialized succulent or cactus potting mix is ideal, formulated for quick drainage. You can also enhance drainage by mixing regular potting soil with perlite or coarse sand. Always use a pot with drainage holes.
Temperature and Humidity
‘Lola’ prefers warm temperatures, typically thriving in a range between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C). While it can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures, it is not cold hardy and requires protection from frost, ideally brought indoors if temperatures drop below 20°F (-7°C). This succulent prefers low humidity. Avoiding consistently damp or overly humid conditions helps prevent disease.
Fertilizing
Echeveria ‘Lola’ generally does not require frequent fertilization. If desired, apply a diluted, low-nitrogen liquid succulent fertilizer at half-strength during its active growing season (spring through fall). Avoid fertilizing during dormancy, as this can harm the plant.
Propagating Lola Plants
Propagating Echeveria ‘Lola’ can be done through leaf cuttings or offsets, also known as pups. For leaf propagation, gently twist a healthy leaf from the stem, ensuring the entire leaf is removed cleanly. Allow the leaf to dry for a few days until the cut end forms a callus, then place it on top of well-draining soil. Mist the soil lightly, and in several weeks, roots and a tiny new rosette should emerge.
Offsets are small plantlets that grow around the base of the parent plant. Once these pups are a reasonable size and have some roots, they can be carefully separated from the mother plant using a sterile knife or scissors. Allow the separated offsets to dry for a day or two to callous over before planting them in their own containers with well-draining succulent soil. Both methods are best performed in mid to late spring when the plant is actively growing.
Troubleshooting Common Lola Plant Issues
Etiolation, where the plant stretches and becomes leggy due to insufficient light, is a common issue. This results in increased spacing between leaves. To prevent it, ensure adequate bright, indirect light. Once etiolated, the stretched growth will not revert, but you can propagate the healthy rosette.
Root rot, primarily caused by overwatering, is a frequent problem. Symptoms include yellow, mushy leaves that easily fall off, and the stem or roots turning brown or black. If suspected, remove the plant, trim affected parts, allow healthy sections to dry and callous, then repot in fresh, dry, well-draining soil.
Shriveled leaves indicate underwatering. While ‘Lola’ tolerates drought, prolonged lack of water causes its leaves to wrinkle or shrivel. A thorough watering usually rehydrates the plant and plumps the leaves. Mealybugs are a common pest for succulents, often appearing as white, cottony masses in leaf crevices. They can be treated by dabbing them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or by using insecticidal soap.