We have three different echeverias which were all, originally, indoor plants. They have absolutely thrived since being moved outside & are growing so fast that they threaten to take over. Just as well they are in containers. The only one that hasn't really flourished is a "Violet Queen" but it was probably overwhelmed by the "Topsy Turvy" & the unknown echeveria. Both of these haver grown at an unbelievable rate. Theyhave been repotted a few times but am loath to try to repot them again. May have to prune them instead & grow the prunings. If I have the room, that is.

When they were little.

This is the unknown echeveria 2 years ago. Notice the little yellow caterpillar on a lower leaf. The only reason I felt this was an echeveria is because of its colouring & growing habits, which are similar to that of the other echeverias. Its flowers are on long stalks with heads of many small, white flowers.

PS Have since found out this plant is a senecio appropriately called "Blue Chalk Fingers". Actually found out what it is when I was searching for the name of another "mystery" plant of ours which turned out to be the stapelias.



Two years later & this is a pic of only part of the whole plant.

The beautiful "Topsy Turvy". It has lovely bright coral/orange flowers, images of which are posted in another topic, "A Few Succulent Flowers".

When it was young. Also two years ago. As with the above plant, this is only a small part of it.

Today's pic of the main :Topsy Turvy" echeveria.



And with most of its offshoots.

Our third echeveria is the "Violet Queen", of which, we now have two. The first was bought the same time as the other two & grew & grew & grew while inside. When it was placed outside it stopped growing but it did get the purple/pink edging of its leaves during winter. Do believe it grew taller than it was supposed to do, as the second hasn't grown in this fashion but stayed in the lovely rosette shape, which is its norm.

Two years ago.

As it was during winter of last year.



This winter. It hasn't grown.



Today. Has become the shape it is supposed to be. It also has two containermates that are taking over. These [plants do lose their lovely pink colouring in the warmer weather.

Here are the three of them while they still lived in separate pots indoors.



When they were potted together & placed outside. They have since moved to a larger home.

Echeverias are easy to grow, especially in the subtropics where we are, but can be grown quite easily in colder regions. However, some websites say they are all frost tender & others say many echeverias are frost hardy. We don't have frosts so do not have any firsthand knowledge on how they would cope with frost. In warmer climates echeverias enjoy half day sun, preferably the morning & early afternoon sun. while in colder weather or climates they may need more sun. While they are drought hardy, nonetheless they do appreciate more watering during the warmer months. Mine are potted in that special cactus & succulent potting mix which allows for quick drainage. They are, also, fertilised regularly with liquid fertiliser.

A section of our back patio where our succulents & cacti reside. They do seem to like this spot as it gets sun until early afternoon. This first one was taken in September, when the sedum clavatum was covered in flower bunches, which the bees adored.



Taken today.

Here are some images of the second "Violet Queen" which we bought a year ago. Hasn't it grown since then!!



When first potted with the sedum clavatum & an aloe vera, both bought at the same time. The aloe vera has since been removed from the container, as it was growing so rapidly & is now over 60cms tall. Its offshoots are taller than it was when we bought it a year ago!!



As it is now with just the sedum clavatum for company. It is becoming a little crowded by the sedum.

We bought a graptoveria tricolour early last year. Graptoverias are a graptopetalum & echeveria X. Ours was such a small plant &, like most of the other succulents, was an indoor plant for quite a while.



Six weeks later it was showing some growth.

A couple of months later I decided to send it out onto the back patio & potted it with the cacti. Despite it being winter It grew & grew.

Four months later.

Growing rapidly now. Was about to take over from the slower growing cacti.

Finally moved into another container with some aloes.

Also made up a container with some offshoots of the graptoveria, aloe vera & sedum clavatum. their parent plants were threatening to take over their containers.

The main plant spreading. It is the middle of winter & the graptoveria is showing signs of pink tingeing.

It has certainly filled out this container & has, also, flowered. Might need to do a bit of pruning. One thing for sure, it doesn't mind being outside, as do the other succulents.

This mornings images og our succulents. They certainly have grown, especially the graptoveria!!

A closer look at the graptoveria & friends.

Graptoveria ~ images of its spring flowers taken a couple of days ago. It has many more flowers than it did last year.

The sedum clavatum or "Giant Stone Crop" is flowering very well this spring. Its flowers are in clusters of small, pretty flowers. This is an easy plant to grow.

The echeveria "Topsy Turvy" is flowering again. It is such a pretty little spray of flowers. Love the orange/coral shade of them.

The echeveria "Topsy Turvy" flowers are a really pretty coral shade. We love the colour. There are four flower heads this year but the other two ard to shoot. They seem to be hiding.

A fine colection of Succulents you have there Joy .I enjoyed looking at them so much . :grrl:

Thank you, Pixie. The graptoveria, particularly, enjoys life on the back patio & is currently trying to take the "world", though the "Topsy Turvy" is also quite vigorous.