Dudleya succulents comprise a genus of over 40 different species. They are best known for their rose-like look and silvery, powdered foliage. These plants are often called liveforevers because of their extraordinary life-span.
It’s not unusual for these plants to live for in between 50 and 100 years with correct care. These distinct, long-living plants are fantastic for rock gardens or containers and are understood to be a low-maintenance succulent.
Branching liveforever plants produce many little rosettes of foliage. Non-branching varieties just produce one rosette of foliage, making them an eye-catching specimen plant.
Common Name: Liveforever
Botanical Name: Dudleya
Family: Crassulaceae
Plant Type: Succulent, perennial
Mature Size: 24 in. tall, 18 in. wide
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Sandy, well-drained
Soil pH: Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Bloom Time: Spring
Flower Color: Red, Pink, Yellow
Hardiness Zones: 5-11, USA
Native Area: North America, Central America
How To Take Care Of Dudleya – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
When given the ideal environment, Dudleya succulents are hardy, long-living plants. They prefer a lot of sunshine and well-draining soil. You might think about these plants for your rock garden or as a unique specimen plant to contribute to your collection.
A waxy layer known as Farina results in Dudleya plants with have a powdery appearance. As a result, the plant has a natural protection from extreme sun direct exposure or bad weather condition. When tending to Dudleya plants, make it your objective to prevent interrupting the farina through extreme touching of the plant or watering over the foliage.
These plants are also prone to rot. To avoid any water trapped inside the foliage, ideally plant these succulents at an angle.
Some ranges are safeguarded by law because of their rarity. Plant poachers have actually been understood to target Dudleya varieties. Be sure to buy your plants from a trustworthy garden.
Light – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
As expected when growing succulents, Dudleya plants grow in an abundance of sunshine. Plant them in an area with full sun for the best results, especially in areas along shorelines. When grown inland, these plants might choose some afternoon shade. Look out to any legginess or stretching, as this is a sign of insufficient light.
Soil – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Dudleya plants need rocky, well-draining soil. Soaked soil can trigger rot problems. Sandy, rocky cliffs, or steep walls can also support Dudleya development. They can endure slightly acidic to mildly alkaline soil pH levels.
Water – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Water Dudleya plants just when the soil is almost dry. It is finest not to water these plants at all throughout the summer season months, as they go inactive and grow in dry conditions.
When deciding whether to water a Dudleya plant, make certain the plant has actually experienced a dry period ahead of time. After watering, wait until the soil is dry prior to watering once again. This may require to be done when a month or less. When you do supply water, do so deeply and just at the roots, as succulent plants do not tolerate wet foliage well.
Temperature and Humidity – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Not surprisingly, liveforever plants are rather hardy and can tolerate both cold and hot temperature levels. As long as the temperature level does not drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, Dudleya plants will remain feasible. Some varieties are more cold-hardy than others, but many choose dry summers and moderate, cool winters.
Fertilizer – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Due to the fact that these plants flourish in sandy, low-nutrient soil, they do not require much fertilizer. Prevent providing any fertilizer while they are dormant during the summer season. A slow-release liquid fertilizer can be given up the spring or fall.
Dudleya Species Types – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
D. cymosa: The vibrant orange-red and yellow blooms of this variety make an excellent contrast the plant’s silvery-gray foliage. It’s likewise known for having a cold-hardy nature, making it a great choice for planting in the coldest zones of this plant’s strength range
D. arizonica: This non-branching range is known for its colorful foliage. The leaves begin as a silvery-green while young, then turn red as they develop. They produce red stalks and red flowers with orange.
D. brittonii: A non-branching variety, these plants produce a big, 12- to 18-inch broad rosette of whitish blue-green foliage. It’s accompanied by a tall, vibrant red stalk and brilliant yellow flowers when in blossom. Because of its size, it is frequently referred to as a giant chalk Dudleya.
How To Propagate Dudleya – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Dudleya plants can quickly be propagated through department and cuttings. Cuttings can be taken in the spring. These need to be spin-offs, as individual leaves will not root from these succulents. Department is finest done every couple of years to prevent a leggy, unpleasant appearance. With time, Dudleya plants develop high stalks covered in old, shriveled leaves. Department removes this.
To propagate with cuttings, you will require a sharp knife or a pair of garden snips, a small pot, a mix of cactus soil and perlite, and some sand. Then follow these directions:
- In the spring, use the garden snips or knife to cut a spin-off far from the mother plant. Pick a spin-off that is not blooming.
- Leave the cutting in a dry and warm area. Keep it out of direct sunlight.
- Enable the cutting to dry out for a week or more up until the end begins to callus.
- Transfer the combination of perlite and cactus soil into a small planter.
- Gently moisten the soil and develop a hole.
- Locate the stalk of the cutting into the hole. Strongly push the soil around it.
- Sprinkle some sand on the top of the soil.
- Place the cutting in a warm location with brilliant, indirect lighting. Keep it slightly moist.
- Prevent big quantities of water, as this can trigger rot.
- In a couple of weeks, gently pull the cutting to look for resistance, suggesting that roots have formed.
- In a month or 2, move the cutting to its long-term location.
To divide Dudleya plants, you will need a pair of garden gloves and a sharp set of snips. Follow these directions.
Select the stalks you want to divide.
Utilizing the snips, cut the stalk right at soil level.
Separate each different stalk with the snips.
Using the gloves, carefully brush away all the shriveled, dead leaves on the lower end of the stalk, leaving only the healthy foliage.
Plant each department in its brand-new location, burying them in well-draining cactus soil. Carefully moisten the soil prior to planting.
How To Propagate Dudleya From Seed – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Each Dudleya flower produces hundreds of small seeds, making seed proliferation simple. They can be gathered simply by collecting the seed pods and squashing them open. Aside from seeds, you will need a seed tray, a well-draining soil less mix, such as sand and perlite, a knife, and a misting bottle. Follow these directions.
- Fill the seed tray with the well-draining soil less mix.
- Spray the tiny seeds throughout the whole tray.
- Gently mist the soil up until it is damp. Then put the tray in an area that gets brilliant, indirect light.
- Check the soil a couple of times a day, misting every day to keep it uniformly moist, but not wet.
- Germination must occur in roughly 10 days. Spread out the seedlings out by moving some to another tray when this occurs. This enables them more space to grow. To do this, carefully choose them up with the idea of a knife.
- Once the seedlings grow larger, place each plant into its own little pot.
- After growing for 4 to 6 months, each plant can be potted in cactus mix or in an irreversible place.
How To Pot And Repot DudleyaHow To Pot And Repot Dudleya – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
If you opt to grow these plants in this technique, be sure to choose a pot with free-flowing drainage holes and only use well-draining soil. If the plant outgrows its container, carefully remove the plant and either divide it, or location it in a container that is a couple of inches larger.
How To Take Care Of Dudleya – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
When put in the proper environment, Dudleya succulents do not have lots of problems. Nevertheless, even sturdy plants might run into a couple of problems. Let’s look at some typical issues to develop with this genus of succulents.
Soft Soggy Foliage – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Soaked, soft foliage can be an indication of overwatering or soggy soil. If you see any foliage beginning to look clear, soft, or soggy, cut back on watering. Make certain your soil drains pipes well, and amend it with sand if need be. Not resolving overwatering rapidly can cause rot. If rot happens, you might require to begin a brand-new plant from healthy cuttings prior to the plant is taken in with rot.
Wilted Shrivelled Foliage – How To Keep Your Dudleya (Liveforever) Alive And Healthy
Wilting foliage takes place during the hot, dry summers where these plants are grown. It might appear to be a problem, this is not in fact an issue, as long as it is during the summertime.
