The Graptoveria ‘April Dawn’ is a rosette-forming succulent with olive green foliage and reddish tips. The more direct sunlight it gets, the darker the leaf color.
| Botanical Name | Graptoveria ‘April Dawn’ |
| Common Name | Graptoveria April Dawn |
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Flower Color | Medium-sized pink and white blooms |
| Size When Mature | 4 to 6 inches |
| Bloom Time | Summer and fall |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 9 to 11 |
| Soil PH Range | 6.0 to 7.0 |
| Soil Type | Well-drained, loose mix |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Native Area | Madagascar, South Africa |
What you Need to Know About Graptoveria April Dawn
The Graptoveria April Dawn is as beautiful as its name, featuring olive green and spade-shaped leaves arranged in a rosette pattern. The ends tend to have red streaks or tinges especially if it gets exposed to full and direct sun.
The succulent shoots out remarkable and significant flowers that are a mix of pink and white from summer to fall. The blooms tend to last several weeks until they dry out and wither. ‘April Dawn’ can be grown indoors but it needs at least 3 to 4 hours to shine.
How to Care for Graptoveria April Dawn
Here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving Graptoveria April Dawn.
Light
The xGraptoveria April Dawn turns from an ordinary succulent into an amazing specimen the more light it gets.
It’s recommended that you provide full sun, either by putting the plant on a south-facing window or outside.
The succulent can still thrive in partial sun, though. For those who can’t pay too much attention to their houseplant, the April Dawn can thrive in an area that gets bright light. Rotating to get an even growth is not needed unless you’re not giving your succulent enough light.
Water and Soil Needs
Watering the Graptoveria ‘April Dawn’ can be tricky, especially for those who haven’t taken care of a succulent before. The key to success is to remember ‘less is more’.
The Graptoveria is a succulent that doesn’t need frequent watering. April Dawn stores water on its fleshy leaves, and if they’re plump then you can wait it out for another week or two. You can wait until the leaves look thinner and a bit wrinkly before reaching for the watering can.
April Dawn graptoveria succulents will not tolerate waterlogged soil, so the medium has to be very loose and well-draining. You can probably get away with watering twice a week as long as your graptoveria is in a container that has adequate drainage holes and sits in a free-draining medium.
Temperature Requirements
The ‘April Dawn’ graptoveria grows in USDA zones 9 to 11. The hybrid, like most succulents, is native to hot regions and is thus averse to cold. During winter and when there are hard frosts, it’s best to bring your plant inside.
Fertilizer
The best fertilizer to use on a Graptoveria April Dawn is a balanced NPK fertilizer to support all aspects of its growth.
It’s recommended that you feed your Graptoveria April Dawn once or twice every growing season. Remember to fertilize and water the plant thoroughly so the nutrients get in the soil. To prevent fertilizer burn you can start at quarter strength and move to half strength as the plant matures.
Common Diseases
April Dawn succulents do not have a lot of enemies in the pest department, but these plants can suffer from root rot quickly when they’re sitting on soil that’s too moist. Remember, succulents are fine with a bit of neglect, and when you step away now and then. Too much attention tends to lead to overly soggy soil.
When you see black mushy spots on the plant’s leaves, remove them from the soil and inspect the roots. Cut off black or gray roots and prepare a new soil mix, preferably the cactus or succulent type. Let your April Dawn sit out for one or two days before repotting it.
Graptoveria April Dawn Propagation
You can make the most of your April Dawn succulent by making more plants. It’s free but you’ll need a bit of patience and wait for the offsets or leaves to grow roots and mature.
Propagating your April Dawn plant can be as simple as selecting a healthy leaf specimen and pulling it out. Let the end form a callus, then place it in succulent soil with the fleshy part touching the dirt. After a month or so you’ll either see roots forming on the end or a small version of the graptoveria.
Offsets or pups can grow on the side of the mother plant. You can cut them off using a sharp knife or scissors, let the end dry a few days, and stick them in a succulent potting mix.