Echevarias

I don't know if any of you are into echevarias but right now they have some really cool looking large ones at Walmart. For $6.97. I got hooked on them last year when I got the second Hobbs book. It has gorgeous pics.

Personaly I think he should have named the second one Shocking Beauty!

Thanks for the heads up Liz.......I'll have to take a closer look there. :)

You're right there Pam, the second book makes the first look pale.

got 2 from Walmart in St. Vital yesterday. They came from sorensen Nursery on the lower mainland. Actually I bought one and my GF bought the other. I'll be away soon so she will babysit them forthe winter. I'm in love with these things.

No names but they are so pretty. there is an echevaria forum I think, mainly murricans.. Maybe it is a tropical forum. Elaine has a lovely pot of them.
Inanda - who now has 5

and I really pronised myself I would not addto the must haves. Was perfectly happy with lilies & iris for years, then met hosta/heucera/hens & chicks people. Even have a hem bed now but am NOT going to fuss over names.
Am sure Echoes will shout at me for that sentence.

Listening to tail end of VP debate. Don't know why trhey have two sets of debates.

Inanda

I always thought they were boring, then they started to release ones with great colour. I'm a colour hound. The plus is that they are so easy, especially in winter. I love a plant that is perfectly happy to be ignored in winter.

Inanda, actually I don't know the names of any echiverias and very little about hens and chicks. I have not been bitten, will not be bitten and will not be shouting at you. Too bad you got a babysitter that knows nothing about these echiverias. But ignoring all winter sounds easy enough.

Are they all related to the common hen and chicks I have in my garden? Are most of them hardy here or only a few?

Liz, you think you're HOOKED! I, as you know have been nuts about these for a long time now! E

They have to come in for the winter Lynn.

Yes, very cool books Shocking Beauty and Jewel Box - gives me lots of ideas.

I bought 6 echevarias this summer. They all grew well but none have flowered yet. Ignoring them all winter sounds easy but do they need sun or can they be stored in the basement? More details please.

I'm just going to keep mine in my office over winter.


Echevaria
Family: Crassulaceae.
Plant type:Evergreen perennial.
Plant Size: 20cm in height by 30cm in width.
Depth and Spacing:Plant to the same depth as potted at intervals of 30cm.
Soil: Any moderately fertile well drained soil.
Aspect: Full sun, this plant will tolerate a little shade but the foliage colour will be muted.
Watering:Water minimally while in growth, drier soils lead to more intense foliage colours.
Fertilising: If applying fertiliser, apply a half strength balanced fertiliser every month. Avoid over fertilising these plants as the results will be weak and lanky growth.
Climatic Tolerances: Cool to sub-tropical. Protect from frosts.
Flowering time:Summer (decorative heads of foliage remain all year).
Pruning:After flowering remove old stems.

Last Reviewed: 13/02/2004 11:30:33 AM

I have this one. I bought it the beginning of Aug.I have it inside now, under lights in the basement.

We seem to have so many diff. ones here. Love your picture Starrzz. Think I'll have to start diging around Amazon ^ andthe web to see what I can find out.

I keep mine in a west window. Got quite lanky last winter so am sure they will be happier being babysat under lights this winter.

I was NEVER going to be involved with yet another species. Ha ha.
inanda

Gorgeous plant and picture Starzz.......I will have to keep an eye out for that one! :D

Ditto - think I might actually stop at wallymart - something I said I would never do.

Oh Lynn.....a whole new world is about to open up for you! LOL

OK - been there - bought stuff - don't like those big box stores but those are cooool plants. What do you think the chances are of them carrying bugs - think they should get the Dr Doom treatment before they enter the house? They are like from outer space.

I've never had bugs on any of mine.
You have to shut your brain down about Walmart. Ignore everything but the tropical plant section. They get good stuff occasionally. This is the time of year that they bring in tropicals.
You can bypass the sping/summer outside stuff. Don't look left or right as you make your way to the inside plants. It's easier that way.
These echevarias that I mentioned are the ruffled ones. Last spring I got a Kalanchoe thrysiflora for the same price. $6.97. I love it. Planted in the garden all summer it went from green to burgundy.

OK Liz I will just rely on you to tell me when to make the trip.

One that I ordered by mail in the spring, arrived very crunched up. I planted all the broken leaves and .... eureka - many babies now. All given away so don't bother to ask B U T .... was thinking, next spring we can all start swopping leaves, just like the AV guys/gals I mean.

Hows that for an idea. We just need some walmart shopper to let us know where they have some more.

Think I'll go search for Sorensen's Nursery on lower mainland now. Can't THINK why I didn't notice any, when running around Victoria nurseries.

Inanda

After thinking about it..I believe mine came from Home Depot Garden centre.Thanks for the kind comments girls.I thought it was just the most unusual looking plant.I bought one for my sister as well.
The flower stalks got longer and kept blooming and blooming..I have no idea of which variety of Echveria it is though.

that sounds great, Carol..........Liz put me on to the ones at Wal-mart! I'll take a photo of them today! E.

here they are and I don't have the faintest idea of their names?? E

I'll have to get babysitter to take a photo of ours. Those look fab, Roselaine.

Actually, don't need a babysitter now as am not tking off till the spring. Spent a day setting up table (door on a grooming table) in front of west window. Looks VERY empty. hmm... Better start digging me thinks. Was going to let all tender whatevers die down and keep bulbs only for the winter. Was only going to grow on the bay tree (bay laurel) and alstromeria. Will have to rethink things now.
Inanda

Mine are very similar Elaine but look at the one with the trekky bumps on it; isn't it cool. (Hope it isn't some kind of disease)

Here is the grouping.

Nice colours on all of your plants, girls.

They look quite different than the one I have.
Mine is still all that grey blue colour.

Off topic..but...look at this..

Launched back in March, our NEW PERENNIAL CLUB now has over over 1800 Members!! Each time you register or rate a new plant, it qualifies you for another chance to win our monthly contest draws.
Our SEPTEMBER WINNER (drawn at the end of the month) is CAROL of Newcastle, Ontario. Congratulations! Carol will be receiving a gift certificate for $50, redeemable for Heritage Perennials at a Dealer of her choice. Our October 2004 contest winner will be picked on November 1, 2004.

I'll have some fun in the spring!
Just wanted to share the joy..I know you will all understand...LOL

Happy Thanksgiving all
I know I am very thankful for so many things........

Cheers,
Carol

Good for you, Carol

Here are the babysitter's pictures of Ginny's echs. Although what all the fuss is about, I'll never see. I suppose if they aren't hardy for our zone, that makes them more desirable.

And the big one.

I saw that note in the Perennials.com newsletter Carol but didn't know it was you. I guess you'll just have to list all your gardening 'handles' in the future LOL

Come on Echoes, one gardener's gardenia is another's goutweed. I personally have never understood all the fuss about hems; but a low maintenance totally forgiving in-house/out-house plant like a succulent. They seem to be the cats of the gardening world. Go away for several days and no one has to visit.

Wowsers!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought a wonderfully delicious book on Succulents at Save on today! 14.95!!

Congratulations Carol! Looking forward to seeing what you will buy with your prize money. :)

Thanks Gals..

Congrats Carol. Saw your name on the website. You Go Girl!

Way to go, Carol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Elaine

I haven't actually received the certificate in the mail yet..but I am already dreaming of the plants I will buy ........LOL
Thanks for the congrats!