Grow Pachyphytum in full sun, in mix that drains, and water only when it is dry. The plant in this catalog is Pachyphytum compactum, sold as little jewel — not jewelweed, and not the Pachyveria hybrid sold under the same shop name.
Give it full sun and mix that drains, and water only when it is dry
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun, with a little afternoon shade where heat is harsh | Do not grow it in deep shade if you want tight rosettes and leaf color |
| Water | Water deeply, then wait until the mix is dry | Do not keep the mix wet, and do not leave a saucer of water under the pot |
| Soil | Cactus mix, or sandy loam that drains | Do not plant in heavy, wet clay |
| Pot | A pot with a drainage hole; terracotta helps the mix dry | Do not grow it in a pot with no hole |
| Drought | Skip extra water once the plant is established | Do not water on a calendar while the mix is still wet |
Give it an open site and mix that dries between waterings. Soggy mix around the roots is the primary cause of root rot, and shade stretches the stems until the chubby leaves sit far apart. [1] little jewel uses that same sun and drain. The leaves are thick and pointed, gray-green with white marks where they press together, and they blush in bright light. A powdery coating on the leaves scuffs if you handle them a lot, so lift the pot instead of grabbing a rosette. In spring it may send a spike of hanging bell-shaped flowers, dark red with greenish tips. [2]
- Set it in full sun, with a little afternoon shade where heat is harsh.
- Water deeply, then wait until the mix is dry before you water again. Once it is established in the ground, skip extra water except a long dry spell.
- Grow it in a pot with a hole if you need to bring it in before a freeze. Empty the saucer after you water.
Bring it in before frost, and water less in winter
This succulent does not take a hard freeze. Grow it in a pot you can move, or keep it as a bright windowsill plant where winter is cold. Water less once growth slows, and still wait until the mix is dry.
- Move the pot indoors before the first freeze.
- Set it in the brightest window you have. A dark room stretches the stems.
- Water less in winter. Wait until the mix is dry before you water again.
How much sun does Pachyphytum need?
Full sun, with a little afternoon shade where heat is harsh. Deep shade stretches the stems and dulls the leaf color.
How often should I water it?
Water deeply, then wait until the mix is dry. Established plants in the ground need little extra water in most years.
Does drought bother it?
Skip extra water once it is established. Leaves may wrinkle in a long dry spell, then fill again after a soak. Do not keep the mix wet.
Can I leave it outdoors all winter?
Only where a hard freeze never reaches the pot. Everywhere else, bring it in before frost and water less until spring.
Plant it in cactus mix, with the lowest leaves sitting on the soil
Knock the plant from its pot and set it no deeper than it was already growing. The lowest leaves sit on the mix so water does not pool around the stem. Fill around it with cactus mix, or with sandy loam that drains. The stems snap easily, and the powdery coating scuffs, so choose the spot and leave it there.
- Choose a pot with a hole, filled with cactus mix, or a rock-garden pocket that drains.
- Set the lowest leaves on the mix. Do not bury the rosette.
- Water once to settle the mix, then wait until it is dry before you water again.
- Lift the pot when you move it. Do not grab the leaves.
How deep do I plant it?
No deeper than the nursery pot. The lowest leaves sit on the mix so water does not pool around the stem.
Twist a whole leaf, let it dry, then lay it on the mix
The usual way to make more little jewel is a whole leaf. Twist it so the base comes off intact. A torn piece without that base will not root. Let the wound dry, then lay the leaf on cactus mix — do not bury it. [3]
- Twist a plump leaf from the stem so the whole base comes away. Skip a torn or shriveled leaf.
- Set the leaf in a dry, shaded spot for a few days until the wound skins over.
- Lay it on cactus mix in a shallow tray. Do not push the leaf under the mix.
- Wait until you see roots and a tiny rosette before a light watering. The old leaf shrivels once the new plant can stand alone.
Cut a stretched stem and reset the rosette
When the stem gets long, cut a rosette with an inch or two of stem, let that cut dry, then push the stem into cactus mix. The old stump often sprouts more rosettes. Fallen leaves on the soil below will root on their own if you leave them until the break dries.
How do I start a new plant from a leaf?
Twist a whole plump leaf, let the wound dry for a few days, then lay it on cactus mix. Do not bury it, and wait for roots before you water.
Not hardy hens and chicks — and not Echeveria or jewelweed
Hardy hens and chicks are Sempervivum. They hug the ground, send chicks out on thin stolons, and take an outdoor winter. Little jewel has thicker, chubby leaves on a short stem, and it does not take a hard freeze. [4] See How to Grow Hens and Chicks if that is the plant you bought.
Echeveria makes a tighter rosette of thinner, spoon-shaped leaves and bell flowers. See How to Grow Echeveria. Ghost plant is a paler trailing cousin with star-shaped flowers — see How to Grow Ghost Plant.
Jewelweed is a wet-shade annual in the impatiens group, not a succulent. If you searched “little jewel” and landed on orange touch-me-not flowers, you have the wrong plant. See How to Grow Impatiens. Shop tags that say Little Jewel are often a Pachyveria hybrid, not this species. Moonstones on a tag is usually Pachyphytum oviferum, a plump cousin we do not hold, and a moonstone search is often the gem. A grafted moon cactus is a different plant — see How to Grow Moon Cactus.
Is this hardy hens and chicks?
No. Hardy hens and chicks take an outdoor winter on thin stolons. Little jewel is a frost-tender succulent with chubby leaves.
Is this Echeveria?
No. Echeveria has thinner, spoon-shaped leaves in a tighter rosette. Chubby pointed leaves with white marks are usually Pachyphytum.
Is this jewelweed?
No. Jewelweed is a wet-shade annual. Little jewel here is the Mexican succulent Pachyphytum compactum.
Set the next pot in sun, in mix that drains, and start extras from a whole leaf.
FAQ
Are moonstones the same plant?
No. Moonstones is usually Pachyphytum oviferum, a plump cousin we do not hold. A moonstone search is also often the gem. This catalog holds Pachyphytum compactum.
Is this the Pachyveria sold as Little Jewel?
Often not. Many shops use Little Jewel for a Pachyveria hybrid with spiky blue leaves. This page is Pachyphytum compactum, with chubby pointed leaves marked where they press together.
Are the leaves toxic?
This catalog has no poison listing for the genus. Keep pets from chewing the leaves, and call a vet if they eat a lot.
Do I need to feed it?
A light succulent feed in spring is enough. Skip fertilizer in winter, and do not keep it in rich, wet soil.
Will it bloom indoors?
It may send a hanging spike of dark-red bells in spring if it gets several hours of bright light. The plant is grown for the chubby leaves.
Do you hold Moonstones or Pachyveria?
No. This catalog holds Pachyphytum compactum. Moonstones and Pachyveria Little Jewel are extra shop names, not cards here.
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Llifle -
https://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Crassulaceae/22247/Pachyphytum_compactum - [2] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/140941/pachyphytum/details - [3] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-propagate-succulents - [4] UC Master Gardeners of Butte County -
https://ucanr.edu/blog/real-dirt/article/echeveria-and-sempervivum-and-graptopetalum-oh-my
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors