If you love growing and caring for plants, you might want to try the Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ plant. This plant is relatively straightforward to grow and looks gorgeous to boot.
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is an evergreen succulent with a rainbow of color adorning its broad leaves.
The rich mix of yellow, red, and pink variegation alongside the natural green color of the leaves makes for a spectacular display.
This article will help you learn the proper steps to grow and care for your Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ plant, so it stays beautiful and healthy for years to come!
We’ll cover all the information you need to care for your new plant!
About Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is an evergreen succulent that grows in the shape of a typical Aeonium rosette; long leaves with rounded edges.
While many succulents in the Aeonium genus are known for their exotic look, the ‘Mardi Gras’ takes it a step further…
It has dark green leaves with bright pink and yellow variegation. The color of the variegation changes with the seasons, and your specimen might develop a darker or lighter shade with age and temperature.
Colder temperatures and bright light enhance the vibrancy of the colors.
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is named after the international festival Mardi Gras because of its intense coloration.
| Botanical Name | Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ |
| Common Name | Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ |
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Origin | Hybrid, Garden origin |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Height | 3-4 inches |
| Width | 4-6 inches |
| Light | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Bloom season | Spring |
| Bloom color | Yellow |
| Water needs | Low/Average |
| Soil | Well-Drained, Loamy, Sandy |
| Tolerant | Deer, Drought |
| Toxicity | Mildly Toxic |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 9-11 |
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ Care
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is a straightforward plant to grow, as it is resistant to most pests and diseases. As such, it makes an excellent plant for beginners.
It is also a good choice for people with limited space and time, requiring very little maintenance and upkeep.
Light
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ prefers full sun but can tolerate some partial shade occasionally. Aeoniums are adaptable and resilient plants that can survive in various light levels.
These plants will still grow even if not provided with the best light conditions.
However, bright light brings out the vibrant coloration of this plant.
In an area with bright sunlight year-round or have an outdoor patio where your Aeonium has plenty of room to spread out and soak up the rays (without getting scorched), consider giving it full sun all day long.
Soil
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ likes sandy, well-draining soil. You can use a succulent potting mix or create your own by mixing equal parts of peat moss, sand, or perlite (drainage aid).
If you prefer to buy soil for planting, look for a mixture that contains pumice or gravel to promote drainage.
This plant isn’t picky about its potting medium; it’s adaptable enough to grow well in store-bought mixes designed for cacti and succulents.
Water
Water your plant when the soil becomes completely dry. Even in sweltering climates, watering once or twice a week is usually more than enough.
These plants require more water than other succulents but not as much as non-succulent plants.
Aeoniums do not like having their roots sitting in water, so make sure to drain excess water after watering thoroughly.
The best practice is to let any excess water flow out of a drainage hole at the bottom of your container after every watering session.
Don’t let your Aeonium sit in standing water for more than five minutes; this can cause root rot!
Temperature and Humidity
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is a cold-sensitive plant that prefers warm temperatures and moderate humidity. The ideal temperature range for this Aeonium is 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18-24 degrees Celsius). The preferred humidity range for this plant is around 40-60 percent. These plants will fail to thrive in high humidity.
In addition, they also dislike low humidity and may drop their leaves if they become too dry. Therefore, try to mist your plants occasionally when the air is dry.
Fertilizer
Aeoniums like balanced fertilizers (10-10-10). You can buy them straight from the store. Fertilize in spring or fall with a well-balanced liquid fertilizer.
Don’t fertilize your Aeonium during the summer dormancy period (if you do, you may find that it doesn’t recover).
In general, it’s best not to overfertilize Aeoniums—or any succulent plants for that matter—because they can get “burned” by too much fertilizer and become damaged or even killed.
Pruning
Pruning is the easiest way to maintain your Aeonium.
Pruning helps with:
- removing dead or damaged leaves and stems
- cutting off uncontrolled growth
- controlling the plant’s shape
- encouraging branching
Prune during the growing season to keep your plant compact, but don’t wait too long: Aeoniums become woodier with age and may be hard to cut back.
Use sharp scissors to remove dead or damaged leaves around the base of each stem (you can tell which ones are dead because they will feel papery).
Prune back any stems that have grown beyond their neighbors so that all parts of your plants are about the same height (this will help them look fuller).
Toxicity
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is mildly toxic to humans, cats, and dogs. If you have a pet, you’ll want to keep it away from the plant, especially after pruning.
Propagating Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’
There are two main ways to propagate Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’; stem and leaf cuttings.
Propagating by stem cuttings:
- Choose a healthy stem with a healthy rosette on top.
- Trim the tip of the cutting and remove any leaves that are damaged or diseased.
- Make a clean cut near the base of the stem, which branches out from the main stem.
- Wait a couple of days to a week for the cutting to callus over.
- Dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone powder to promote faster growth (optional).
- Place the cutting in moist soil, cover with plastic, and place in indirect light.
- Keep moist until roots form. Depending on your climate and soil conditions, this can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Propagating by leaf cuttings:
- Choose a leaf and make sure it’s healthy looking and green with no brown spots.
- Twist it off the parent rosette with your hand, making sure to include the entirety of the leaf, including the part that attaches to the stem.
- Allow the cut end of the leaf to heal and callus over for a couple of days.
- Dip the callused cut end into rooting hormone powder for faster results (optional).
- Plant your cuttings in a small pot with moist soil and place them in indirect light (natural sunlight filtered through a window). Keep the soil slightly damp but not wet.
- The cuttings need to be kept at about 64 degrees Fahrenheit, or 18 degrees Celsius. If the temperature drops below this range, you may consider moving them inside until they are ready to plant outside again.
- Your cuttings should begin to root in about 2-3 weeks. They will be ready to transplant into a larger pot once they have their own roots.
Potting and Repotting Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is a plant that requires frequent repotting and watering, especially when the plant is young.
When to repot Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ depends on how much soil it has accumulated in its container.
You should repot Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ when you notice that its roots have filled out the pot or are peeking through the container’s drainage holes.
This usually happens every 2-3 years, so that’s the recommended wait time between repotting.
What you will need for Repotting:
How to Repot Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’:
- Start by removing it from its current container and gently shaking off any excess soil from its roots with your hands or by pouring tap water over them. You might need to use a shovel to loosen the soil around the edges of the original pot to tease out the root ball.
- Scrape away any remnant potting medium from the root ball using a soft stream of water until only the tightly packed soil around the roots is left.
- Fill your new pot with the potting mix and add enough soil so that there are 1-2 inches between where the plant will sit in relation to where all of its roots are at their deepest point (the original root ball).
- Place the root ball into the center of this new hole, so it settles into position without too much movement; if possible, try holding onto branches with one hand so as not to cause damage!
- Finally, give the Aeonium a little water to help the plant settle in. Only a smidge will do.
AVOID
- Overwatering
- Placing under harsh sunlight
- Poorly drained potting mediums
- Fertilizing during dormancy
Blooms
All Aeoniums are monocarpic (one-time flowering) plants, meaning they’re meant to only bloom once before dying.
However, this process can take anywhere from two weeks to a month or more (depending on the variety). That’s why it may be difficult to tell when your plant is ready unless you pay close attention.
For the Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras,’ the blooming season begins in the spring. The blooms will be bright yellow and star-shaped. The flowers are borne in clusters on a tall inflorescence that towers above the plant’s rosette of succulent leaves.
Common Pests
Aeoniums are not generally prone to pests. However, a few pests might become a nuisance if certain conditions are met. Aphids, mealy bugs, and scale are the most common visitors.
Common Problems
Wilting and Dying
This is usually an indicator of root rot due to overwatering, so ensure your plant only gets enough water to keep the soil moist.
The most common reason for a dying succulent is overwatering.
Succulents are unlike other plants that need lots of water; they prefer to be allowed to dry out between waterings. If you over-water your succulent, its roots will rot and die off, causing the plant above ground to wilt and die.
Dropping Leaves (Root Rot)
If your Aeonium’s leaves begin to drop, it may be getting too much sun or being underwatered.
If your succulent is getting too much direct sunlight, move it to a shadier location.
If your succulent is underwatered, increase the frequency of watering.
However, if you experience this phenomenon during the summer, your plant is undergoing dormancy, and this is a normal side-effect; the leaves will return come fall.
Sunburned leaves
When plants get too much sun, their tissue is damaged by ultraviolet radiation, which causes leaf burn, making them look pale or scorched around their edges and tips.
To fix this problem, move your plant into an area where it will receive less light exposure during midday hours (between 10 am and 4 pm).
How To Grow a Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ – Useful Tips (Video)