Translucency ..the sign of Echeveria Agavoides root rot !

I don't like posting about negatives, but if you can learn from it, then its going to make you a better and more observant gardener.

Here was my prized seedling of a red edged Agavoides that was before the recent monsoon of rain, it was romping away with good growth.

Now after spotting signs off it being over watered I thought maybe we could save it, but alas as you can see from the colouring once it turned that translucent colour in the leaves, its a goner unfortunately !

So it begs the question, how do you recreate the ideal conditions of a Echeveria from Mexico to withstand the english climate?  For us soil for plant means growth, but if the plant in it's native habitat it grows on a rocky outcrop it will not enjoy literally drowning in a pot. 

Looking at the internet literally had me spinning in a circle, so many opinions but no firm answer. My recent import from Germany arrived in just pumice and lava rock, no soil at all. But I've also had bought plants in soil, dry soil mind you, but soil never the less.

With that in mind the experiment is to provide a fast drainage system, whilst lightly drenching th roots and providing minerals from the substrate to feed the plant.  

Easy eh ? No, but I'll find a suitable potting compost one day!

So disappointed to lose this one, as one of a kind. I'm hope the nursery grower has some more seedlings in the future.

Red Edged Agavoides..a new arrival

This is a recent arrival from a good nursery in Germany that thankfully isn't connected to ebay. Just a straight forward purchase, its quite refreshing to just know the price and pay.

Anyway after losing two quite special Agavoides to the monsoon of rain we had recently, this has been potted up to my soilless, yes soilless potting mix. 
I've decided its better to remember to water than to lose a succulent to root rot. 

Not on my watch!

Time will tell if I've done the right thing with the potting mix, and its always a learning process as I refuse to keep them under glass. I like the way the sun affects their coloring and blotching of the leaves.

Agavoides updates....signs of growth and a new arrival !

Amongst the collection are quite a few tiddlers and seedlings, but there's definite signs of growth .

Here's a few pictures to share

More colour and growth are making this one stand out as something special. 

Next up is Purple Dark Tips, slow to grow but in growth and developing those tell tale blotches.

This Red Edged seedling has produced a real growth spurt and again shows so much promise. It has great markings.

  

This quirky little fella is a cross from my friend Chris and is a Ebony seedling. 
His mature plant is a beauty and this is developing that character.

Honey Pink is blotching nicely too

This seedling is very structural in form, almost spiky and agave like

I really like the markings and here's a word, translucence of the leaves 

This quirky Pink Sirius puzzles me over its growing habits but seems happy to throw out pups.

Lastly is a new addition to make up for accidentally killing  another  specimen.
Known as Burgundy or Red Wine, its dark red colour make it stand out.

A few more Agavoides babies.

My friend Harry told me a great plant quote, which was " I don't  grow labels I grow plants "

And with hybrid seedlings you are growing the unknown, but they could be marvelous.

Here's a few of my recent additions

A pale green with red tips

Next Burgundy tips..

Now this was called Super Sirius, and is a very nice Agavoides

I call this purple spiky for now

and lastly one with a blush to it and great tips

Same, same but different

As well as loving my plants, I have a background in martial arts. There is a phrase from my teacher which was, 'Same, same but different'. And in this world of Echeveria Agavoides this is certainly true with the change of colour in different temperatures and levels of sunlight. Same plant, different outcomes.

For myself I'm not one to keep plants pampered under glass , I'm not looking for artificial perfection but what natures reveals in itself. And what does it do? Splodges and colour changes to name a few things.

Although its late spring here's a selection.

Aquamarine, a jade green specimen with a hint of red tips starts to change with red edging

Its called Honey Pink, but what's in a name?  Splodges !

Giant Purple/Purple Giant 

This one was interesting, bought originally as a plain green but nicely shaped Sirius, it is showing some great markings 

This is one of a group of hybrid seedlings from Plantlife Cactus  that could turn out to be something quite special.

This unnamed variety is from Portugal and is turning out to be a great looking plant with interesting markings.

  
Another cracking little seedling from Plantlife Cactus with great rich colouring

There are more pictures to come, as Im building quite a nice little collection now.
This year should see good growth and changes in colour.

Echeveria Agavoides....a succulent with attitude

The Agavoides group ticks a lot of boxes for me. It has colour, structure, and as the name suggests  looks a little Agave like, and is providing me with interest over these drab winter days. Judging by the prices going on ebay lately, they seem very en vogue at the moment.

I first saw these over at my friend Chris's garden, who has some exceptionally beautiful specimens. 

Here's a few I grow 

Ebony

Red Edge or to some Lipstick

Aquamarine

Romeo

I've got a few tiddlers to grow on, and some more I've recently purchased. There is still one that eludes me , a Pink Sirius.  But I will prevail, oh yes!