Echeveria gigantea - 20 seeds

Echeveria gigantea is a large succulent plant in the Gibbiflorae group of Echeveria that rises up on unbranched stems up to 18 inches (45 cm). It has 2 foot (60 cm) wide open rosettes of large, broad, spoon-shaped, green to gray-green leaves with a slightly wavy apex and reddish margin. Older leaves flush purple to pink. It bears up to 6 foot (1.8 m), usually unbranched, inflorescence with nodding rose-red flowers in late fall through early winter.

HOW TO GROW?

1. Sterilize substrate (3+ minutes in microwave or 50 mins in oven)
2. Planters should be about 1.5 inches deep. Fill a container with good draining soil. Good drainage is important, 50% regular potting soil with 50% coarse sand, perlite or pebbles (~0.15 inch)
3. Echeverias have tiny seeds which should not be covered with soil. They germinate best at 18-20 °C temperatures.
4. Equally Water the substrate with water - place a piece of a napkin on top of the substrate and slowly pour the water over it.
5. Let the container soak up water for 5 minutes. Leave the container to drain out the water surplus.
6. Spread the seeds over the substrate, leave some space between them.
7. Put the whole container into a zip bag to keep humidity
8. Avoid exposing to direct sunlight, but provide them light on some bright place.
9. The germination process usually starts within 4 days – 2 weeks
10. Start opening the container gradually so that the seedlings can get used to the new air conditions. Seedlings need some moisture, substrate shouldn’t be dry, but don’t overwater. and they need an ample amount of light – but not direct sunlight
11. Repot them when you notice that seedlings are space-limited
12. Examine pots daily for fungus infection. Treat with fungicide if appears

Water moderately from March to September and allow the plant to dry between waterings. Avoid getting the leaves wet as they do not welcome overhead waterings! Overwinter, keep in a cool and ventilated environment and keep plants dry, Hardy to -3°C. Need a full sun position but tolerate light shade (shriveling up and falling of leaves along with gaps in the leaf spaces may indicate low light levels. This means that it is necessary to increase the amount of light gradually over a few days to a week).