2022 | How to Care for Echeveria Pulvinata (Chenille Plant)

The Echeveria Pulvinata, also known as the Chenille Plant, Ruby Slippers, Plush Plant, Ruby Blush, and Red Velvet, is a perennial succulent plant with multi-colored leaves and beautiful flowers. Due to the abundance of red color on the edges of its leaves and flowers and their velvety look, they are called the Red Velvet.

Chenille Plant grows small red flowers during the spring. They are native to Central America, Mexico, and northwestern South America. They need full sun to partial shade depending on the weather, they are not cold hardy plants but can survive the cold climates for a short period of time. They are considered winter dormant. They can grow up to 12 inches in height.  

How to Water Echeveria Pulvinata (Chenille Plant)

The Chenille Plant is a succulent plant and like all other succulents, it has similar water needs. They can survive the drought conditions but do not like to be overwatered. You need to follow the soak and dry method to water them, a detailed explanation is given below.

Follow the instructions below for proper watering:

• First check if the soil is dry or not, if it is not completely dry, do not water it.
• If the soil is completely dry, then provide it water sparingly and make sure that water reaches the bottom of the pot.
• Do not let any water stop on the foliage or between the leaves, this can cause the leaves to rot.
• You need to prepare a watering schedule based on the climate and seasonal factors, during the summer and in hot climates, they need frequent watering while in the cold climate and winter season, they require less frequent watering.
• Mostly you can water them once every 10 to 14 days.

Lighting and Temperature needs for Echeveria Pulvinata (Chenille Plant)

The Chenille Plant requires a lot of sunlight to show faster growth and thrive. They need full sun to the partial sun during the winter and partial sun to partial shade during the hot summer days. They can be grown indoors easily; all you need to do is to place them somewhere bright 

The Chenille Plant can survive in the minimum temperature of 20° F or -6.7° C. Temperatures below this and frost for a long time can kill the plant. So, if you are planting it in the cold regions you might need to keep it indoor to protect them. They show accelerated growth when provided temperatures between 75° F (24°C) to 86° F (30°C).

Soil needs for Echeveria Pulvinata (Chenille Plant)

The Chenille Plant is a succulent plant and has similar soil needs as other succulent plants such as cacti. You can use the same type of soil for both as well. They need a soil that can quickly drain the water.

This type of soil contains sand and pumice, plant fertilizers, perlite, and other objects that make it porous so that it can quickly drain water. This type of porous soil protects the roots of the plant from the effects of overwatering.

Fertilizer for Echeveria Pulvinata (Chenille Plant)

Fertilizers are important as they can help you boost the growth of your Chenille Plant. Mostly when you grow them inside, they will show are retarded growth and to boost their growth you can add home plant fertilizers.

You can mix the home plant fertilizers in the potting soil before planting and you can also create a mixture of water and house plant fertilizers. You can feed your plant this mixture once every 30 to 40 days.  Try not to overfeed your plant with fertilizer as this is harmful as well.

How to Repot Echeveria Pulvinata (Chenille Plant)

The Chenille Plant needs to be repotted once a year. Repotting helps you boost the growth rate of your plant. This is done mostly because the plant outgrows the pot it already is in and you need to transfer it into the new pot. The best season for repotting the Chenille Plant is the start of the spring.

You can create the new pot ready for the repotting by adding some soil (porous soil) and some fertilizer to boost the growth. Then you need to transfer your plant from one pot to another carefully without damaging the roots of the plant. After that leave it in a bright place and give it some water.

How to Propagate Echeveria Pulvinata (Chenille Plant)

Mostly the Chenille Plant is propagated through the cuttings from the stems and leaves. This is an easy method to propagate it. First, you need cuttings from the stem with the help of a sharp knife, or you can detach or twist the leaves from the mother plant completely.

Now, let the leaves or the cuttings dry out the latex in them and then you can plant them in the pot. After that provide them some water and place them somewhere bright. Once they start growing, take care of them like a normal plant.

Growing from the seeds:

You can also grow the Chenille Plant from the seeds as well. To do this, you need to sow the seeds under the 2-inch layer of the soil. Provide it some water and leave it under the sun for a few days.  They will sprout in a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How often do you water Echeveria Pulvinata?

Answer: Most of the time watering depends on the climate and season, in hot climate and summer you need to water it more often, and in winter and cold climate you do not need to water it more often. It is recommended to water them once every 10 to 14 days.

Question: Is the Echeveria Pulvinata poisonous to humans and pets?

Answer: No, they do not have any toxins or poisons in them, they are completely safe for humans and pets.

Question: Why my Chenille Plant is dying?

Answer: Most of the time it is overwatering and overfeeding of fertilizers is responsible for the death of your plant. So, it is advised to learn and follow the proper guidelines related to watering and fertilizer.

Questions: Can I grow the Chenille Plant from the seeds?

Answer: Yes, the Chenille Plant can be grown from the seeds as well. You need to sow the seeds under the 2-inch layer of porous soil and water it. Place them under the full sun.