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At first glance, these beautiful succulents look like any old Echeveria until you see the bumps. Known for its unique droplet-shaped bumps on the ends of its leaves, the Echeveria Raindrops succulent is a beautiful addition to any home garden and quite an interesting one for succulent breeding fanatics. Developed by hybridizer Dick Wright, you’ll find varieties of this unique, gorgeous succulent in a vast array of colors. All variations of this succulent feature the same globular “droplets” that turn pink or red in cold weather and high sunlight.
For the pet-conscious plant parent, it’s important to know if your succulents are safe, just in case someone gets curious and wants a taste. Fortunately, Echeverias are non-toxic to dogs, cats, livestock, and humans, making them the perfect addition to a pet-friendly household. As always, it’s still best to keep your succulents away from pets and children to avoid any potential accidents and to keep everyone happy and healthy.
The Echeveria Raindrops succulent has care needs similar to any other echeveria and can be taken care of in a similar manner.
These succulents love a bright, sunny window. Like all echeverias, they can tolerate full to partial sun and thrive in areas that get steady, indirect sunlight for long periods of time. When exposed to full sun, you may find your “raindrops” changing color– they turn pink or red when exposed to full sunlight for extended periods. When you choose where to place your succulent, be sure that it receives relatively indirect sunlight for most of the day to avoid damaging any leaves from the sunlight.
Echeveria raindrops store water in their “droplets” but still need plenty of drainage to thrive. When you water your Raindrops, wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. During their winter dormancy period, reduce the amount of water you give your Raindrops by half and water less frequently to avoid overwatering.
As we mentioned with watering, your Echeveria Raindrops will need proper drainage to avoid infection and overwatering. Well-draining soil like your traditional cactus mix works best here, but you can also modify potting soil by adding in more of an inorganic substance like perlite, sand, or gravel.
Echeverias prefer warmer temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Echeveria Raindrops are no different. As an ideal indoor plant, these succulents are not frost-tolerant and will enter dormancy once temperatures drop to 50 degrees.
You won’t need to fertilize your Raindrops often; they’re a hardy plant that can draw nutrients from almost anything, and the globules on their leaves act as a reserve for water and nutrients if needed. However, a little fertilizer never hurts! If you’d like to fertilize your Raindrops, use a slow-release fertilizer at the beginning of its spring growing season.
When you choose a pot for your Echeveria Raindrops, remember to prioritize drainage. A pot made from a porous material like concrete, terracotta, or ceramic will allow water to drain better than pots made from metal or glass. Always make sure your pot is at least 10% larger than your succulent, and if you’re repotting, 10% larger than its previous pot.
Repotting should always occur at the beginning of your succulent’s growing season, so the plant has time to adjust to its new home. For Echeveria Raindrops, the best time to repot is at the beginning of spring, once the succulent has adjusted to the weather after its dormancy period.
Echeverias bloom at the height of their growing season in the late springtime. With delicate bell-shaped flowers ranging from white to pink, The Echeveria Raindrops’ blossoms come when exposed to bright sunlight. To encourage blooming, provide your Raindrops with around one hour of extra sunlight, and consider adding a drop of liquid fertilizer when you water the succulent. These flowers grow on stalks, which you can trim off when the blooming period ends.
It’s normal for an Echeveria to shed some leaves as it grows, and to prevent potential pest infestations, it’s best to remove these leaves as soon as you see them. Fortunately, healthy fallen leaves make for great starters when propagating new succulents! To propagate leaves, transfer the leaf cutting to a new pot with the same soil mixture you use for your mother plant. Mist it with water to keep the soil moist and ensure new growth appears!
Just like any succulent that requires high drainage, the Echeveria Raindrops succulent is particularly prone to infections and infestations that come with overwatering. Root rot, black mold, mildew, and fungal gnats are all common for an overwatered Echeveria, so be sure to keep an eye on your soil’s moisture levels.
Another common problem many Raindrop parents may face is the signature “droplets” falling or disappearing from your succulent’s leaves. These bumps store water and nutrients in the succulent and are most likely to disappear when the plant is under some form of stress. Whether it’s from a transplant, new arrival, or sudden change in lighting or temperature, your Echeveria may lose its raindrops to cope with stress.
To help prevent this (or to get your drops back), there are a few things you can do. First, make sure your succulent gets more sunlight; this will help it absorb more water to rebuild the globules. Second, increase your time between waterings. And finally, water less, or at least make sure you’ve got sufficient drainage. If the succulent feels that extra water storage is necessary, bumps will begin to reform.
Happy gardening!
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