x Pachyveria ‘Bea’
Little jewel succulents have beautiful, faceted leaves that are fairly unique among fleshy plants.
If you’re curious about these plants’ gem-like foliage and are considering growing one of your own, you’ll want to know how to keep them healthy and happy.
You might consider bringing one of these pachyverias home as a low maintenance windowsill plant, or a drought-tolerant specimen to enjoy outdoors while weather is mild.
Or perhaps you’d simply like to indulge your botanical fascination while marveling at how this hybrid came to be.
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Either way, we have you covered in this article! As you’ll soon learn, growing this attractive succulent is fairly straightforward.
For general tips about growing pachyverias, check out our complete guide.
In this guide we’ll focus on the needs and background of x Pachveria ‘Bea,’ aka little jewel.
These succulents really aren’t hard to care for, but you’ll need to provide for their basic needs, including the right amount of sunlight and water.
Whether your little jewel is growing indoors near a bright window or in your yard, you’ll learn everything you need to know about caring for, propagating, and maintaining your succulent.
Here’s what’s to come:
If you’re feeling a little bit confused at this point in the article, perhaps you have in your possession not an x Pachyveria ‘Bea’, but an x Pachyveria ‘Glauca’ or a Pachyphytum compactum.
These closely related plants are both also – confusingly – known by the common name little jewel.
P. compactum has taller, more compact rosettes than x Pachyveria ‘Bea,’ its foliage turns deeper purple when exposed to bright sunshine than the subject of our article, and it has chunkier leaves.
x P. ‘Glauca’ also has more compact rosettes and fatter leaves, but it also lacks the faceting of the subject of our article.
Making matters even more confusing, ‘Bea’ is usually sold as ‘Glauca,’ so you’re less likely to find an actual ‘Glauca’ when looking to purchase one.
However, if you have a P. compactum or x Pachyveria ‘Glauca’ instead of the faceted-leaved hybrid, no worries, the care requirements are very much the same.
What Is Little Jewel Pachyveria?
Little jewel is a nickname for x Pachyveria ‘Bea,’ a cross between Pachyphytum compactum and an unknown Echeveria species.
This cultivated hybrid produces spiky-looking rosettes that grow up to five inches wide and are composed of pale, silvery greenish-blue leaves – the tips flush reddish purple when exposed to bright light.
The leaves have a slightly faceted appearance like cut stones, inspiring the common name little jewel.
These pachyverias reach up to twelve inches tall at maturity, and produce offsets, resulting in a clump-like growth habit that can spread to twelve inches or more.
The pale blue glow on the foliage of this and so many other blue succulents is a protective coating of epicuticular wax, also known as farina.
This layer of farina not only protects the pachyveria from the sun, pests, and diseases, but also makes the faceted angles in the leaves more visible.
As for flowering, little jewel pachyveria isn’t shy about blooming when it receives plenty of sun exposure.
It produces arching stems of bell-shaped flowers that are reddish peach.
Cultivation and History
Little jewel pachyveria is a member of the stonecrop family or Crassulaceae, and is related to stars of the succulent world such as hens and chicks, sedums, and crassulas, in addition to pachyphytums, and echeverias.
This pachyveria, related to others such as ‘Powder Puff’ and ‘Moon Silver,’ is an intergeneric cross between a member of the Pachyphytum genus and a member of the Echeveria genus, as mentioned earlier.
If you’re an orchid fan you likely already know this, but when it comes to reproduction many plants – succulents included – choose to ignore the taxonomic classifications that botanists have created, making such crosses possible!
If provided with protection from frequent and abundant rain, this succulent can be grown outdoors year round in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11.
For gardeners in cooler climates, they make great houseplants when situated on sunny windowsills or under grow lights.
Little Jewel Pachyveria Propagation
Little jewel pachyveria is a hybrid cross, so may not grow true from seed.
If you’d like to give it a try anyway, be sure to read our complete guide to growing succulents from seed.
But if you’re looking for a reliable way to grow more x P. ‘Bea’ specimens, consider propagating leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or offsets.
From Leaf Cuttings
To propagate new plantlets from leaf cuttings, you’ll need a mature pachyveria to take leaves from, a plant mister or spray bottle, growing medium, and pots or trays.
The size and number of pots and trays will depend on how many leaves you’re propagating.
One propagated leaf will grow well in a two- to three-inch pot, or you could grow three leaves in a four-inch pot, or lots of leaves in a tray. Just plan to space the leaves approximately an inch apart.
If you’re going with the small pots, and don’t have any on hand, here’s my recommendation:
These plastic nursery pots have become my favorites for propagating houseplants as well as starting tomato plants from seed because they’re incredibly tough.
I didn’t realize I was buying reusable pots when I purchased these, but I’ve used them for several years in a row now and they are showing no signs of wearing out.
Black Plastic Nursery Pots
These pots are two and three quarter inches wide, three inches deep, and are sold in packs of 48 from Comfecto via Amazon.
As for growing medium, instead of making my own succulent potting soil from scratch, I like to start with one of my favorite brands of cactus and succulent soil mixes and add additional grit to make sure there’s plenty of drainage and root aeration.
Rosy Soil Cactus and Succulent Mix
Rosy Soil Cactus and Succulent Mix is one of my preferred mixes to start with. It’s peat free and is available from Rosy Soil in four-quart bags via Walmart.
As I already mentioned, I add additional grit to this mix, such as mini horticultural pumice, available in a two liter bag from the Cz Garden Supply Store via Amazon.
Mini Pumice
Here’s how to proceed with propagating leaf cuttings once you have all your supplies:
Cut or break off one or more lower leaves from the plant, choosing healthy ones, and taking care to make a clean break.
Before you plant them, you’ll have to exercise some patience as the leaves need to callus over first, a process which can take a week or more.
To allow leaves to callus over, place them on a small plate or in a shallow box and locate them in a dry spot away from direct sunlight.
When the leaves have fully callused, they may even start to grow roots, which will expedite the rooting process.
Fill pots or trays with growing medium, leaving a half an inch to an inch of a gap between the surface of the growing medium and the rim.
Place the leaves horizontally onto the growing medium, and space the leaves an inch or so apart. If the leaf is already producing roots, bury them in the growing medium.
Keep the growing medium moist, but not damp, by spraying it with a plant mister or spray bottle.
You should see roots forming, small plantlets starting to grow, and the propagated leaves start to wither within a few weeks.
If you start multiple leaf cuttings in a larger pot or tray, once a plantlet has several leaves, you can transplant it to its own small pot – or let it continue growing in the tray or pot as long as you like! There’s no need to rush.
Want to learn more about propagating succulents from leaf cuttings? Read our article.
From Stem Cuttings
You can also propagate little jewel pachyveria succulents from stem cuttings by rooting one of the rosettes from a specimen with multiple rosettes.
You’ll need a two-and-a-half- to three-inch pot, growing medium as described above, and a pair of sharp, sterilized scissors or garden snips for this project.
Take a three- to six-inch long cutting, then trim the end of the stem, leaving just an inch or so below the rosette.
Before you pot up the cutting, allow its wound to callus over first. Place the cutting rosette side down, in a location out of direct sunlight and with plenty of air flow.
Within around a week, a callus should form. You may also see roots forming along the stem.
After the cutting has formed a callus, transplant it into a pot filled within an inch of the rim with growing medium, but wait a week before watering.
From Offsets
Much like rooting stem cuttings, you can also propagate this succulent plant from offsets.
Want to try propagating an offset?
Remove the mother plant from its pot and separate the offset using a sharp, sterilized pair of scissors or snips.
Allow the wounds on both the mother plant and the offset to callus over for about a week, then pot them up following the guidance in the next section.
Read our article to learn more about propagating succulents from offsets.
From Transplants
If you’ve just brought home a new plant and wish to repot it, if possible give it a month to acclimate to its new location before transplanting.
On the other hand, if the succulent’s current container lacks drainage holes, go ahead and repot it into the same sized pot right away – but this time, choose a container with drainage holes.
Not sure if the pachyveria needs to be repotted or not? You’ll learn what to look for later in the article, so keep reading!
To transplant a pachyveria into a different pot, choose a container that has drainage holes and is just one size larger than the current pot.
If the plant is a bare root, pick a pot that is just barely big enough for the root ball. If you’re transplanting an offset or small plantlet grown from leaves with a very small root system, choose a two- to three-inch pot.
For a plant with an established root ball, try to loosen the roots and remove as much of the growing medium as possible from around the roots if you’re using a new type of medium.
When you’ve chosen an appropriately sized pot and loosened the plant’s roots, place a shallow layer of growing medium in the pot, then situate the plant so that it’s at the same level in the soil that it was previously.
Add or remove growing medium if needed to settle the plant at the right level.
Rather than watering right away after repotting, wait a week for it to get acclimated.
How to Grow Little Jewel Pachyveria
If you just brought your little jewel pachyveria home, be sure to inspect it for signs of pests and diseases before you place it among your other houseplants. You’ll learn what to look for later in the article, so keep reading!
When you’re caring for succulents such as little jewel pachyveria there are a few elements that are really important to get right: sun, water, soil, and climate.
Let’s start with sun.
These plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, or the equivalent from a grow light. During summer, be sure to provide light shade during the hottest part of the day.
If you’re using a light meter, aim for at least six hours of exposure at 800 foot candles or brighter.
Learn more about how to use a light meter for your houseplants in our guide.
When it comes to watering these succulents, be sure to allow the growing medium to dry completely in between trips with the watering can or hose.
How often you need to water will vary depending on the temperature and the amount of light the plant is exposed to.
And in winter, this will be less frequent than the rest of the year, since the days are shorter, and the sun’s rays aren’t as hot.
Now that you’ve mastered sun and water needs, you’ll want to make sure the growing medium is right for these succulents as well.
There are many types of commercial succulent growing mediums out there to choose from, so understandably, you might have a hard time deciding which is the best.
Here’s what to look for:
Make sure the medium has excellent drainage, with 50 to 70 percent gritty mineral content, such as pumice, coarse sand, or small lava rocks.
The remainder of the mix should be made up of organic matter such as coconut coir and compost.
Try to avoid peat as an ingredient, both for ecological reasons, and because it becomes compacted quickly.
Also choose a growing medium that has a pH range between 6.1 to 6.5.
Finally, you’ll want to be aware of the temperature and humidity preferences of your succulent.
Succulents such as pachyverias don’t need extra humidity – a range of 40 to 50 percent is preferable.
If the humidity in your home is higher than that, you can compensate by providing more air flow – don’t crowd this plant together with other houseplant buddies.
Little jewel pachyveria will grow best at temperatures between 60 to 80°F.
If you like to place your houseplants outdoors for the summer, be aware that these tender succulents can be killed by freezing temperatures.
So be sure to return them indoors for the winter unless you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11.
Growing Tips
- Offer at least six hours of direct sun, but provide light shade in the hottest part of the day.
- Allow the growing medium to dry completely between waterings.
- Use gritty, well-draining growing medium.
Maintenance
Maintenance tasks for these plants are fairly simple.
But first let me offer a reminder about handling these plants for routine care and maintenance tasks:
Remember I mentioned the protective coating on these plants known as farina earlier in the article?
Farina shields these succulents from being scalded by the sun’s harsh rays, as well as offering protection from pests and pathogens.
So to keep your plant healthy, as adorable as they are, try not to touch the plant’s leaves since oils on our fingers can remove the farina, leaving little smudges in the pale blue glow of the foliage.
Instead, when you need to remove the plant from its pot, place your fingers under the bottom of the lowest rows of leaves.
As for maintenance tasks, here’s what you need to know:
Fertilizing
Since they tend to grow in poor soils in their native ranges, many succulents have fairly low needs for fertilizer – and little jewel pachyveria is the same.
You’ll only need to feed the plant once a month during the growing season, and be sure to use a gentle fertilizer, such Dr. Earth’s Succulence Cactus and Succulent Plant Food 1-1-2.
Dr. Earth Succulence
You can find Dr. Earth Succulence available via Arbico Organics.
Learn more about how to fertilize succulents in our guide.
Removing Dead Foliage
You’ll notice the bottommost leaves on the plant’s rosettes dying back periodically, and it’s important to remove these, because dead foliage can potentially harbor pests and pathogens.
A good time to check little jewel pachyverias for dead leaves is at watering time, and if your succulent is pest and pathogen free, you can chuck the dead foliage straight into your compost bin.
Repotting
You may be wondering when to repot your pachyveria. Here are some clues that it might be time:
If the root ball is filling up the pot, and the plant is becoming root bound, it’s time to move the pachyveria to a larger container.
Does your plant tend to tip over? You may want to transfer the succulent to a heavier container to help balance the weight of its foliage.
After checking the root ball, did you find that the pachyveria was potted in the wrong type of growing medium?
As mentioned earlier, give your plant a month to recover if you brought it home recently, but then switch it to a more suitable growing medium.
Finally, has it been a couple of years since the succulent was repotted? Even healthy plants that still have room in their pots benefit from having their growing medium changed out every two or three years.
If it’s time to repot, follow the directions in the transplanting section above.
Where to Buy
If you don’t yet have a little jewel of your own, and have already ruled out propagating one from a leaf cutting, stem cutting, or offset, you may be able to purchase one of these pachyverias at a local garden nursery with a good array of succulents on offer.
You may also want to check with your local succulent society, as they sometimes have sales.
And of course, online sources for succulents abound!
Little Jewel Pachyveria
You can purchase a live little jewel pachyveria plant via Walmart, in your choice of a two- or four-inch plastic or clay pot from Succulents Box.
Managing Pests and Disease
While these plants aren’t particularly prone to pest or disease problems, it’s wise to keep your new plant apart from other houseplants or ornamental landscaping plants when you first bring it home in case it is harboring pest eggs or hidden pathogens.
A quarantine period of up to eight weeks is not overly cautious in my experience! Keep checking plants for signs of pests or pathogens during this period as you water.
Here are the culprits you’ll need to look out for:
Herbivores
Are you a gardener with a very mild winter and plans to grow this pachyveria outdoors?
Whether you situate the succulent in a rock garden or are growing it in a container, there are a couple of mammals you’ll want to be aware of.
These succulents certainly wouldn’t place high on their list of food favorites, but deer and rabbit might nibble on these if given the opportunity.
The best way to protect outdoor plants from deer is with tall fencing. Learn how to build a DIY deer fence in our guide.
If rabbits are more of a problem in your neighborhood, you don’t need tall fencing, but you do need fencing mesh with small holes, so that rabbits can’t squeeze through.
Follow our tips to keep rabbits out of your garden.
Insects
Pachyverias aren’t particularly prone to pest infestations, however, weakened plants may become the target of succulent mites, aphids, or mealybugs.
When examining these plants for pests after first bringing one home or when returning a specimen inside for the winter, be sure to take the plant out of its container and check the root ball – root mealybugs can go undetected as they feed on the roots.
Root mealybugs look very much like grains of rice and cause weak, stunted growth.
Learn more about identifying and controlling mealybugs in our guide.
Diseases
Do the leaves of your little jewel pachyveria look soft and squishy? Or are leaves falling off at the slightest touch?
It’s possible that the succulent is rotting. Sadly, when these plants rot it’s usually due to – well, let’s call it user error:
Maybe you watered too much – or someone else in your household did.
Perhaps you are growing the pachyveria in a pot without drainage holes or in a container too large for the root ball.
Or did you use the wrong type of growing medium?
Once a succulent starts to rot, it can be hard to salvage it. The only recourse may be to propagate a leaf or stem and dispose of the original plant.
If you identify the problem, be sure to correct it so that your salvaged or newly propagated pachyveria can continue on, living a healthier life.
Learn more about how to deal with rotting succulents in our guide.
Best Uses for Little Jewel Pachyveria
Little jewel pachyveria will be an easy-care houseplant provided you offer it plenty of bright light as mentioned earlier in the article.
You might give it a home on a bright, south-facing windowsill, or group it with some other succulents on a table top or shelf, under a grow light.
Speaking of grouping it with other succulents, you might want to add this pachyveria to a succulent planter, or succulent fairy garden.
It will mix harmoniously with other pachyverias, as well as echeverias, anacampseros, or jade plants.
And since they are considered nontoxic, if you have young kids or curious pets you shouldn’t have to worry about this pachyveria representing a risk.
Even so, it can be hard to find out what the garden nursery might have applied to houseplants in terms of pesticides, some of which can be hazardous to human and pet health, so it’s best to keep it out of reach.
And if you’re gardening in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11, and are able to provide plenty of drainage and protection from frequent rainfall, you may want to grow little jewels a ground cover in a xeriscape or rock garden.
Quick Reference Growing Guide
| Plant Type: | Evergreen succulent | Flower / Foliage Color: | Red, peach / blue, red, purple |
| Native to: | Cultivated hybrid | Water Needs: | Low |
| Hardiness (USDA Zone): | 10-11 | Maintenance: | Low |
| Bloom Time: | Spring, summer | Tolerance: | Drought |
| Exposure: | At least 6 hours of direct sunlight, with shade at midday | Soil Type: | Gritty cactus and succulent soil |
| Time to Maturity: | Up to 4 years | Soil pH: | 6.1-6.5 |
| Spacing: | 6 inches | Soil Drainage: | Well-draining |
| Planting Depth: | Surface (leaf cuttings), soil covering root ball (transplants) | Uses: | Houseplant, rock garden, succulent planters, xeriscaping |
| Height: | 6-12 inches | Family: | Crassulaceae |
| Spread: | 6-12 inches | Genus: | x Pachyveria |
| Common Pests and Diseases: | Aphids, mealy bugs, mites, thrips; Leaf rot, root rot, stem rot | Cultivar: | ‘Bea’ |
Ready to Let it Shine
This little jewel of a succulent is ready to thrive under your care. Remember to provide adequate light, plenty of drainage, and don’t overwater – and your plant will be a brilliant floral companion.
Let us know if you still have any questions – you’ll find plenty of room for them in the comments section below!
And if you’re still trying to decide whether your little jewel is a ’Bea,’ a ’Glauca,’ or a Pachyphytum compactum, feel free to post some photos and we’ll try to help identify your succulent!
Want to continue your succulent education? We have more articles for you right here:
