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Echeveria cante
Named for the CANTE institute at the Botanic
Garden in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. As Echeveria subrigida,
it was collected near Mexico City as long ago as 1892. Since then it
has been grown and shown under the old name until recent times, when
the true subrigida became available. Whatever name people use, this
plant is
the undoubted Queen of the Echeveria's.
One of the most beautiful succulents of all time, it excels both in
foliage colour and its absolute superb inflorescence. What more can
one say.
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The
leaf rosette eventually reaches 30 cm dia, the flower stem 40/50 cm.
The plant exists in several
clones or variations, my clone is one of the few which will develop
offsets- a great bonus. It
is tricky to overwinter as it easily looses its roots.
Kept in a dry atmosphere in full light at 7ºC,
with water from a pot saucer, it stands a good chance.
Propagation is easy from offsets taken in the summer. Re pot every 2/3
years using a well drained compost with slow release fertiliser. Lots
of dead leaves persist at the base these must be removed regularly.
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