Echeveria Dark Vader - Succulent Care

How to care for Echeveria ‘Dark Vader’

Echeveria ‘Dark Vader’ is an exciting new hybrid from Taiwan. Volarth Chi crossed E. ‘Topsy Turvy’ and E. ‘Black Prince’ to create this unique new succulent species.

“After years of visiting succulent nurseries around the world, I was truly excited by the fresh new look of this Echeveria. I feel it will be a benchmark new standard which many breeders will aspire to achieve.”

-James, co-owner of Succulents Australia

Dark Vader’s Topsy Turvy heritage shows through the green leaves which are folded and upturned, exposing the undersides with an elegant curve. With healthy sun stress, Dark Vader’s colors deepen and the upturned surfaces shift to pink, red, or burgundy.

Check out Echeveria ‘Dark Vader’, available exclusively in our shop.

Care Tips

LIGHT: Indirect light, shade, or early morning sun.

WATER: Dark Vader thrives with infrequent watering, make sure the soil has ample time to dry completely between watering. During winter dormancy, water once every 3–6 weeks.

SOIL: Use a well-draining soil mix.

PLANTING: Dark Vader, like other Echeveria, are susceptible to fungal disease and rot. A top dressing of stones will help keep the bottom leaves from resting on wet soil. Plant in a pot containing holes for drainage. Terracotta, as a porous material, works well to keep moisture levels low.

This single-head succulent can grow to 20 cm in height and width when grown with low levels of nutrients, optimal lighting, and minimal water.

FERTILISER: Fertilise sparingly only when the plant begins looking lackluster using a diluted fertiliser.

BLOOMING: Blooms from spring to summer.

DORMANCY: Dormancy begins in autumn and carries on through winter.

PROPAGATION: Dark Vader isn’t the easiest Echeveria to propagate. As it grows upward and sheds its bottom leaves, the stem is exposed where pups can grow. Every 18 months to 2 years it can be deadheaded, or beheaded, to reroot and restart the stem. Don’t toss out the old stem because offshoots can grow from it even after the head has been cut off.

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