Echeveria Agavoides

Echeveria agavoides is an eye-catching succulent that blooms lantern-shaped, red flowers with yellow-colored tips during the spring and early summer. The succulent is also characterized by a rosette of thick leaves that have a triangular shape.

Its species-name, “agavoides” was attributed to the shape of its leaves which have a small spine on its back similar to those of an Agave plant.

The succulent’s leaves have a lime-green color that greatly contrasts with its red edges giving it a mesmerizing look and the nickname, “Lipstick”. Other popular names are “Wax Agave”, “Molded Wax Echeveria”, “House Leeks”, and “Crested Molded Wax Agave”.

There is another cultivar of this same species that have brown edges and is distinguished by the nickname “Ebony”.

Lipstick can grow up to 6-inches (15cm) tall and 6 to 12-inches (20-30cm) wide. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is native to Mexico.

General Information:

Also known as: Lipstick, Wax Agave, Molded Wax Echeveria, House Leeks, and Crested Molded Wax Agave
Plant Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: Mexico
Height: 6-inches (15cm) tall and 6 to 12-inches (20-30cm) wide
Exposure: Full to partial sunlight up to 6 hours per day
Water Needs: Light watering schedule during the summer months; very little to no watering in the winter or cold season.
Soil Type: Succulent soil mix in combination with equal parts perlite
Soil pH: Acidic (6.0 pH)
Tolerance: Drought

How To Grow And Care For Echeveria Agavoides

Succulent growers prefer to plant Echeveria agavoides in a container or a rock garden. This is not a cold-hardy plant. If you live in a region that experiences temperature drops that go below 20° F (-6.7° C), you would be strongly advised to move the Lipstick indoors.

1. Sunlight

Similar to other succulents of the echeveria variety, Lipstick thrives with exposure to full or partial sunlight.

If Echeveria agavoides will be planted in the garden, place it in a location that gets 6 hours of morning sunlight. Exposure to full sun will help bring out the most vibrant and brightest colors of Lipstick.

If grown indoors, position Echeveria agavoides in a window that faces the south or west so that it will get the most sunlight.

2. Watering

Echeveria agavoides is highly-resistant to drought. Lipstick can go without water for extended periods. It is better to under-water than overwater this type of succulent. Overwatering can lead to root rot which can contaminate the entire plant.

Before giving Lipstick water, check the moisture content of its soil. If the soil feels dry to the touch, you can give the succulent some water. Always water at the roots and never water the leaves.

3. Pot and Soil

Buy a pot that has good drainage to prevent the succulent’s roots from being immersed in water.

The type of soil you use should have excellent draining properties and allow for proper air circulation around the plant’s roots.

You can buy any commercially-available soil mix for succulents and cacti. You can also make your own by mixing one part potting soil with one part perlite to ensure proper drainage.

If Echeveria agavoides is looking dull, give it fertilizer that is diluted with water to reduce it to half-strength. Buy a fertilizer brand that is low in nitrogen. Fertilizer is best given during the spring and summer months.

How To Propagate Echeveria Agavoides

Echeveria agavoides can be propagated from 3 ways: Offsets, stem cuttings, and leaves.

1. Offsets

Lipstick produces small offsets that will sprout up around the base of the succulent.

Step 1 – Gently pull out the offsets.

Step 2 – Place the offsets in a dry and shaded area for 1-2 days or until they develop calluses.

Step 3 – Plant the offsets in a pot filled with well-draining soil.

2. Cuttings

Step 1 – Cut the stem away from the Echeveria agavoides by using a sterilized and sharpened knife or a pair of garden shears.

Step 2 – Allow the cuttings to develop calluses by transferring them in a location that is dry and shaded.

Step 3 – Place the cuttings on well-draining soil and allow it to take root.

3. Leaves

Step 1 – Choose a healthy leaf from the plant.

Step 2 – Remove the leaf by gently pulling it from the stem.

Step 3 – Leave the leaf to develop calluses for a few days.

Step 4 – Plant the callused leaf in a pot with well-draining soil and give it some water whenever the soil is dry to the touch.

Step 5 – Once the plant has established a root and a rosette has appeared, replant Lipstick in another pot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Echeveria Agavoides Toxic for Cats and Dogs?

Echeveria agavoides does not appear on the list of plants that are toxic to cats and dogs featured on the website of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Why is my Echeveria Agavoides Succulent Dying?

If your Echeveria agavoides is dying, there could be 3 probable causes: Overwatering, sunburn, and infestation.
1. Overwatering
Like other succulents, Echeveria agavoides should not be given too much water. Overwatering or having its roots immersed in water for a long time can lead to root rot.
You’ll know if Lipstick is developing root rot if you see that some of its sections are turning brown or black and feels a bit mushy. Once you notice discoloration, cut off the section right away by using a sharp and sanitized knife or pair of garden shears.
You may also have to dig up the plant and remove the roots that are rotting. Allow the plant to dry out before replanting it in new soil.
2. Sunburn
Echeveria agavoides loves the sun. But if you have been growing it indoors and decide to move it outdoors, do not expose it to direct sunlight right away or the leaves will burn.
When transferring Lipstick from an indoor to an outdoor location, do a partial exposure first. After a few days, gradually move the succulent to a place that gets more sun.
Start out on a cloudy day before giving Lipstick exposure to the full morning sun.
3. Infestation
Echeveria agavoides attracts pests such as aphids and mealybugs.
Aphids love the sap of the Echeveria agavoides. To keep aphids out of Lipstick, make sure the plant is dry. You can also put diatomaceous earth to the soil plus neem oil to the leaves which have been proven to deter aphids from inhabiting your plant.
Mealybugs are attracted by the presence of dead leaves. These pests secrete honeydew which brings in the ants. If you see white, cottony substances growing on the leaves of Lipstick, you are being colonized by mealybugs.
Remove the mealybugs by wiping the leaves with a cottonball that has been soaked in denatured alcohol.

Does Echeveria Agavoides Produce Flowers?

Yes, Echeveria agavoides blooms red flowers with yellow-colored tips in the spring and early summer.

Last Updated on June 10, 2022 by Sofia Lara

Crassulaceae