All-Round Aeonium Care Guide
Our best general tips for growing Aeoniums.
There are about 35 species of Aeonium, all in the Crassulaceae family. Most are native to the Canary Islands, but they are also found in Madeira, Morocco, the Cape Verde Islands and the east coast of Africa.
These succulents are adapted to very dry environments and store water in their leaves and stems. Aeoniums come in many shapes and sizes, from the ornamental Aeonium 'Medusa' to the large Aeonium 'Pomegranate' (shown) and the smaller Aeonium aizoon.
Aeoniums are surprisingly easy to grow and need very little care. Give them a free-draining soil mix and keep them frost-free in winter. If they are planted in the garden or in pots outside, cover them with horticultural fleece to protect them from frost and hail.
Most Aeoniums like full sun or part shade. The darker-leaved varieties in particular love full sun, while some others, such as the variegated forms and Aeonium tabuliforme, prefer part shade or morning sun.
Seasonal growth
Aeoniums can grow all year round if the conditions suit them, but their main growing season is in the spring and autumn.
In the long, hot days of summer, Aeoniums may go dormant. Signs of dormancy include colours darkening at the centre of the rosettes, or the rosettes closing up like a rosebud.
While they are dormant, Aeoniums don't need feeding or watering, and overwatering at this stage can lead to stem or root rot. Wait until the heads open up again before you go back to regular care.
To extend the growing season and reduce dormancy, you can move Aeoniums to a cooler, shadier spot.
In winter, Aeoniums can still grow, but more slowly. The ideal temperatures for Aeoniums are 12-16°C at night and 18-22°C during the day.
Flowering
Many Aeonium varieties produce large, cone-shaped flower heads covered in hundreds of daisy-like flowers, full of sweet nectar that attracts bees and other insects. Flowering usually starts early in the growing season and can last for several months.
This is the flower of an Aeonium 'Schwarzkopf'.
Soil mix
A simple compost mix for Aeoniums is 60% multi-purpose compost and 40% grit or perlite. It drains freely and lets air circulate around the roots, which keeps the plant growing strongly.
Watering Aeoniums
The general rule is to drench the soil thoroughly, then let it dry out completely before you water again. If your Aeoniums are outside in large pots or in the garden over summer, it's best to rely on rainfall. For plants grown under cover, we recommend watering in the early morning.
Growing a large Aeonium
A large Aeonium needs a substantial root system. As Aeoniums mature, their stems can become long, so when you repot or plant one, bury most of the exposed stem deeper in the soil. This encourages more roots to form, which supports bigger growth and helps anchor the plant. Many Aeoniums become top-heavy, and the extra roots help them stand up to strong winds.
Keeping the plant slightly hungry also encourages root growth, because it has to search for nutrients. When planting Aeoniums, use a fresh soil mix with enough nutrients for one growing season, which helps them build a strong root system. After the first year, start feeding with a standard all-purpose or slow-release fertiliser, and water in a balanced soluble feed every two months.
Repot pot-grown Aeoniums every year. Clean off as much of the old soil as you can and use a fresh soil mix. This helps keep plants healthy, especially show specimens.
Pests and diseases
A quick look over your plants each week lets you spot any pests or diseases and deal with them promptly. Pests that attack Aeoniums include mealybugs, aphids, vine weevils, caterpillars, slugs and snails.
Vine weevils can be controlled with nematodes. Snails, caterpillars and mealybugs can be removed by hand, and mealybugs can also be treated with a 70% isopropanol solution.
Thank you for reading!
If you have any other care questions, email us at info@surrealsucculents.co.uk and we will be happy to help.
You can find more of our care guides in the Plant Care & Advice section.
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