Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ Plant Care Guide
What is the Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’?
The Perle von Nurnberg, or Pearl of Nurnberg, is an awesome little succulent that packs a punch when it comes to aesthetic beauty. It is, in fact, a pearl in the world of houseplants! The Perle von Nurnberg is actually a hybrid plant created by Richard Graessner in Germany in the 1930s. Its two parent plants, Echeveria gibbiflora ‘metalica’ and Echeveria elegans, are native to Central America.
This Echeveria is known for its greyish-green dusted color and eye-catching shape. The thick triangular leaves are arranged into a hypnotizing rosette shape. The leaves at the center of the rosette take on a pink, purple tone when this amazing succulent gets lots of sunshine. If you have a love of the great indoors and want to step up your houseplant game, the Perle von Nurnberg is a great place to start. As with most succulents, this low-key indoor plant will only require minimal effort to keep happy and thriving!
Light Care
As a native of Central America, the Perle von Nurnberg loves sunshine. This succulent will soak up those radiant rays and flourish when provided with direct sunlight. Ideally, this Echeveria should get about 6 hours of direct light per day. During the spring and summer months, when the sun shines strong, the center leaves of this fascinating succulent will take on a beautiful pink, coral hue. The Perle von Nurnberg can also tolerate living in partially shaded areas if necessary.
When deciding on the perfect place for your houseplant, it is important to consider the light levels, in addition to aesthetics. As a lover of direct sunlight, the Perle von Nurnberg will flourish on a window sill, or else on a table or shelf directly next to a window. During the warmer months of the year, this succulent can be even moved outdoors to a backyard or apartment balcony in order to soak up some extra rays.
Water Care
When caring for succulents like the Perle von Nurnberg, the “soak and dry” method is the best way to go! This method includes fully saturating your plant’s soil and allowing it to dry out completely prior to watering again. Simply water your Echeveria when the top couple inches of soil are dry to the touch. During summer and spring you may need to water your Perle von Nurnberg more frequently than during the winter. This lovely houseplant likes to be watered thoroughly and infrequently, which honestly makes plant care a breeze.
The Perle von Nurnberg is drought resistant and is more susceptible to over watering than under watering. Be sure to keep your beloved houseplant in a pot that allows for adequate drainage. It is beneficial to water your Echeveria in the morning so that the sun has all day to dry out the soil. If watered in the evening,your plant may suffer from root rot during the cooler evenings.
Food Guide
The Perle von Nurnberg doesn’t require too much extra effort when it comes to food care. Fertilizing is typically not necessary. However, if you choose to fertilize it best to use a liquid cactus or succulent fertilizer that is low in nitrogen levels. Excess fertilizer can actually burn the plant, so it is always best to err on the side of caution and dilute the solution to half of the recommended concentration. In addition, it is very important to only give plant food at most once a month and only during the growing season (summer).
When it comes to soil for your Echeveria Perle von Nurnberg the number one priority to consider is drainage. A soil that is gritty in texture will allow for fast and adequate drainage, which will prevent detrimental root rot. Commercial succulent or cactus soil will work well. Or you can even make your own mix, by combining regular potting soil with an add-in to increase drainage. This add-in can be perlite, sand or shredded bark. Just mix a 1:1 ratio of the potting soil and add-in.
Staff Holy Grail Tip:
Every few years it is a good idea to transplant your Perle von Nurnberg. With watering overtime, the soil around your succulent can become compacted and devoid of nutrients, making it more challenging for the plant to grow. These houseplants, like most succulents, are very resilient and will survive without occasional transplants. However, if you want your Perle von Nurnberg to flourish, repotting it is a wonderful way to give a little extra tender loving care. The time to transplant is during the warmer months of summer. Simply use a shovel to remove the rosette and gently knock away any old soil from the roots. Be sure to pull off any rotted leaves or roots, and lastly pot it in fresh soil. In order to prevent root rot and allow the Echeveria to get established in its new home, don’t water for a few days after repotting.
