A black prince (Echeveria) succulent will make a gorgeous addition to any home or gothic-style garden.
Its beautiful leaves range in dark, intense colors from green and purple to almost black.
But, it is a finicky plant and can be quick to show signs of stress.
So, if you’re wondering why your black prince succulent is changing color, I hope to be able to answer all of your questions in this article.
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Why Is My Black Prince Succulent Turning Green?
Your black prince succulent may begin to turn green if it is not getting enough hours of direct sunlight.
But also, if your black prince is a young plant, then the green color shouldn’t be too much of a cause for concern because it’s common for the center of the rosette to develop a green hue.
Of course, there are other factors to consider too, like the season, watering, soil, and fertilizer.
Above all, you want to ensure that your plant is in good health and move to take action quickly if it is not.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors that can cause your echeveria succulent to turn green.
Sunlight And Echeveria Succulents
If the pointy, shiny leaves of your black prince are turning green on the outside of the rosette, lack of direct sunlight is usually the culprit.
They must have at least five hours every day and plenty of airflow quality.
The summer sun is more ideal for a black prince, but it can suffer burns if overexposed to sunlight on hotter days.
You also need to be careful not to shock your plant by changing its environment too rapidly.
It’s important to gradually introduce your succulent to any environmental changes.
If your succulent has gotten used to being kept in a shaded area, then don’t all of a sudden move it to an area where it will get 5 continuous hours of full sun.
Try to gradually introduce your black prince succulent to more full sun.
Handling this issue can be tricky because you have to give it enough shade while allowing it to absorb at least five hours of direct sunlight.
Try to give it five hours of direct sun in the morning, where the sun is less potent.
Then, move it inside or devise some kind of shade for when the sun becomes more intense.
At least 30% coverage will be sufficient.
Related Article: Why Are My Succulents Falling Apart?
The Best Place To Put Your Black Prince Succulent
Ideal locations for your echeveria is on a covered porch, shaded patio, or greenhouse.
Outdoors is good too, but you’re going to have to bring it in when lots of rain is forecast.
So, keep it in a pot unless you live in a hardiness zone of 9 or higher.
In What Season Does A Black Prince Succulent Grow?
It’s important to note, though, that in its growing phase in the summertime, discoloration can happen and this is very normal and nothing to worry about.
You’ll notice the pristine beauty of this rare succulent in summer and early autumn, where there’s less humidity but still a lot of good, direct sun.
It’s not advisable to grow a black prince indoors unless it’s winter.
It must have consistent heat, constant light, and plenty of air; more than the normal five hours per day.
Plus, you have to protect it from exposure to frost and cold, it cannot tolerate it.
Anything below freezing will put it under stress and send it to an early grave.
How To Water And Fertilize Your Black Prince Succulent
This succulent is very sensitive to rain, like most of its cousins, including aloe and cacti.
But, what sets it apart from other succulents is that it can be easy to drown.
This results in warts, dark fungus spots, and rotting leaves.
It’s best to wait until the soil is dry between watering periods.
Only moisten the soil so the roots can drink up the moisture.
Also, don’t mist the leaves as you would other succulents, it’s not going to benefit the Black Prince at all.
Related Article: Why Are There Brown Spots On My Succulent?
How Do You Take Care Of A Black Prince Succulent?
Your echeveria should thrive as long as you follow a few easy steps to ensure that its needs are met.
Step 1.
The first step in caring for your black prince includes growing it in a fast-draining and nutrient-rich succulent soil mixture.
Step 2.
Keep your plant in a sunny spot.
A few hours of full morning sun suits the black prince succulent really well.
The afternoon sun is okay too, but limit the amount of intense sun it gets.
They do best in areas of the home that get lots of bright but filtered sunlight.
These succulents can tolerate partial to full sun, but they do need to be acclimated to full sunlight so they don’t get sun damaged.
Step 3.
Water your black prince succulent properly
Water your echeveria at the soil level and try to keep its leaves dry.
Water sparingly and allow the soil to dry out before you water it again.
You can give it a little bit more water in springtime and summertime and cut back to a little less watering in winter.
Mostly you should only need to water your black prince succulent once every 3 to 4 weeks.
Step 4.
Provide the proper temperature for your black prince succulent.
This succulent is not the most cold-hardy and does well in temperatures around 35 to 44 F that don’t go as low as freezing between.
These plants can just about tolerate light frost but should be kept above a temperature of 20° F.
In winter, if you don’t water your black prince succulent often enough, you’ll notice the lush, green center turn a blackish chocolate brown.
This means it’s struggling and the plant’s health could be taking a turn for the worst.
Best Fertilizer For Your Echeveria
Any fertilizer developed for cacti is good for black prince succulents.
Make sure you halve the strength and administer the fertilizer every two weeks.
Don’t give it fertilizer in winter.
Best Soil For A Black Prince Succulent
Use well-draining, quality succulent potting mix soil.
This not only helps with how your echeveria will cope with water, but it will also allow water to flow through better.
This will help prevent clogging and allow roots enough airflow in the soil.
You want to ensure the soil is light and free of dense clay.
Final Thoughts
Remember, it’s normal for an echeveria black prince to turn a little green, especially in the summer and fall when it’s active.
But, if you think it’s a problem, more often than not, it’s going to be a sunlight issue.
Even if you’ve taken care of its needs for sun, water, and fertilizer, soil and the time of year may also impact how your black prince succulent grows.
