Learn How to Grow Topsy Turvy Echeveria

Echeveria runyonii ‘Topsy Turvy’

There are approximately 150 species of flowering, rosette-style succulents in the Echeveria genus.

Echeveria runyonii has spoon-like, blue-green leaves that curve upwards to form a tight rosette. A white protective coating of wax-like farina gives the foliage a silvery cast.

The flowers are yellow and orange nodding bells atop inflorescences that rise from the rosettes.

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As with other succulent species, there are numerous cultivated varieties of E. runyonii, including pink-hued ‘Dr. Butterfield,’ ‘Lucida,’ and ‘Texas Rose.’ But that’s not all.

At a nursery in California, a naturally occurring genetic mutation, or “sport,” appeared, and to the delight of growers, it proved to be stable and propagable.

The wavy leaves of ‘Topsy Turvy’ fold downward from a prominent midrib and curl upwards at the tips, for a backwards, inside-out appearance.

This echeveria cultivar grows to mature dimensions of eight to 12 inches.

Our guide to growing echeveria provides an overview of the genus and its cultivation. This guide showcases the ‘Topsy Turvy’ cultivar.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

We commonly call rosette-style succulents in the Sempervivum and Echeveria genus “hens and chicks.”

E. runyonii, ‘Topsy Turvy’ included, is commonly called “Mexican hens and chicks” because the stemless rosettes grow in a similar fashion, producing offsets that grow beside the parents.

The dense colonies they form provide excellent erosion control on dry, windy slopes.

‘Topsy Turvy’ is also well-suited to beds and borders where water-wise plants contribute to a low-maintenance xeriscape.

How to Grow

‘Topsy Turvy’ is easy to grow when we meet the following cultural requirements:

Climate

In its natural habitat in the Tamaulipas region of Mexico, E. runyonii thrives in arid, subtropical weather with extremes, such as triple-digit heat, drought, and heavy rainfall.

It tolerates brief temperature dips to 25°F, but is not frost-tolerant.

Growers in regions with cold winter temperatures should bring pots indoors as winter houseplants.

Light

‘Topsy Turvy’ prefers full sun. However, in the warmest Zones, morning sun and light afternoon shade are best to prevent the foliage from shading purple or suffering sunscald.

Potted specimens grown as houseplants thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight placements that may cause discoloration and overexposure.

Soil

Whether in-ground or potted, ‘Topsy Turvy’ echeveria needs a substrate that is airy, loose, and well-draining to oxygenate the roots and prevent oversaturation.

The ideal choice is sandy loam with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.

If you’re growing in a container, choose a cactus and succulent potting mix that contains inorganic matter, such as gravel or perlite, and organic ingredients, like peat or bark.

Hoffman’s Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

This potting medium from Hoffman’s contains compost, peat, sand, and limestone to regulate the pH. It’s perfect for growing echeveria and other succulents.

Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix is available via Amazon.

Water

The plump, fleshy foliage stores moisture to sustain the plant during dry periods.

Like most succulents, this cultivar is susceptible to rotting in overly wet conditions, so it’s best to water when the soil completely dries out. A little moisture stress is preferable to oversaturation.

If you have hard water that causes a white mineral salt buildup on containers and potting media, check out our guide to watering succulents for advice.

Fertilizer

In general, it’s not necessary to feed succulents when they are grown in suitable potting medium.

However, if you choose to provide supplemental nutrition, use a product formulated for cacti and succulents and to apply it at a quarter strength once in the spring.

This liquid plant food from Dr. Earth has a 1-1-2 NPK ratio to supply essential nutrients without excess nitrogen that may cause leggy growth.

Dr. Earth Succulence

Dr. Earth Succulence Pump and Grow Cactus and Succulent Plant Food is available from Dr. Earth via Amazon.

Where to Buy

When shopping, choose specimens with firm, fleshy, blue-green foliage. Avoid those with blemishes, discoloration, mushy leaves, and sodden pots.

Upon receipt of an online purchase, check the soil and water immediately if it is dry.

‘Topsy Turvy’ Echeveria

Place the pot in bright, indirect sunlight indoors or full sun outdoors. Wait at least a week to transplant to a decorative, well-draining container or the garden.

‘Topsy Turvy’ echeveria is available from Hirt’s Gardens via Amazon in two-and-a-half-inch starter pots.

Maintenance

If ‘Topsy Turvy’ echeveria doesn’t receive enough light, the stem holding the rosette elongates and produces fewer leaves as it stretches toward the sun, a response known as etiolation.

This makes it look “leggy” and less compact. Use clean pruners to remove the rosette, leaving a one-inch stem to regrow.

You can propagate a new plant from the top portion by allowing the cut end to callus off for a week in a location out of direct sunlight, dipping it in rooting hormone, and burying the stem half an inch deep in mounded soil as described in the propagation section below.

As the lower leaves age and weaken, gently twist them off and discard. Similarly, remove any foliage that is broken or otherwise damaged by pathogens, pests, or sunscald.

Because echeveria plants grow slowly, you won’t need to repot very often.

Propagation

Starting succulents from seed is a finicky process and can produce variable results.

‘Topsy Turvy’ echeveria can be propagated by division or from leaf cuttings.

By Division

Division is the separation of offsets from parent plants to grow them elsewhere. It reduces overcrowding and is a good method of propagation.

To divide offsets from parents:

1. Loosen the soil around each offset.
2. Remove it gently, with the roots attached.
3. Transplant it per the instructions below.

Learn more about dividing succulent offsets here.

From Leaf Cuttings

To propagate from leaf cuttings:

1. Select plump, healthy lower leaves to avoid noticeable gaps.
2. Gently twist them to detach from the rosettes.
3. Lay the leaves in a single layer on a paper towel out of direct sunlight. The severed ends will form a hard callus in a week or so.
4. Fill a shallow seed starting tray with an inch of cactus and succulent potting medium.
5. Set the leaves an inch apart on top of the soil.
6. When new leaves appear at the callused ends, water gently to moisten the soil.
7. Allow the soil to dry before watering again.

Learn more about propagating succulents here.

Transplanting

To transplant divided offsets:

1. Select a pot two inches wider than the rosette and two inches deeper than the root mass.
2. Fill it two-thirds of the way with cactus and succulent potting soil, mounding it slightly in the center.
3. Set the offset in the mound just deep enough to cover the roots and hold the rosette in place. Setting it a little high elevates the lower leaves and facilitates drainage.
4. Backfill and tamp the soil.

When you see new growth, water gently but thoroughly over the soil, not the leaves. Allow the pot to dry completely before watering again.

Alternatively, you can transplant the offsets directly into the garden.

Here’s how: 

1. Work the soil until it is smooth and free from debris.
2. Mound the soil slightly to set each rosette a little higher than ground level, elevating the bottom leaves to promote drainage.
3. Bury the roots just deep enough to hold the rosette in place.
4. Tamp the soil firmly around it.

Space 10 to 12 inches apart to avoid overcrowding.

To transplant leaf cuttings:

1. Leaf cuttings are ready to move when they have several whorls of leaves and the parent leaf has withered.
2. Choose pots two inches wider than the baby rosette and two inches deeper than the root mass.
3. Fill them three-quarters full of cactus and succulent potting medium, mounding it slightly in the center.
4. Place one rosette per pot just deep enough to bury the roots and hold it in place.

Alternatively, transplant the rooted cuttings to the garden, setting them slightly higher than the soil surface, just deep enough to cover the roots and secure them. Space 10 to 12 inches apart.

Pests and Disease

With proper care, Topsy Turvy is not prone to pests or pathogens.

However, there are some you may encounter:

Pests

Three sap-sucking pests, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites, may cause problems indoors, but are less likely to pose a threat outdoors.

Mealybugs favor moist, fertile conditions and tender spring growth, while scale and spider mites typically appear in dry environments.

For scale, dip a cotton swab into one part rubbing alcohol mixed with one part water. Moisten and dislodge the insects.

Promptly addressing infestations is essential because sapsucking pests may vector plant viruses.

In addition to sapsuckers, slugs and snails may feed on foliage in wet garden settings.

Handpick and destroy the pests and use traps or barriers to deter them.

Disease

Echeveria is susceptible to rotting in overly wet conditions. Soggy soil deprives roots of oxygen, and bacterial and/or fungal microbes proliferate, causing root collapse.

As the infection progresses, the leaves turn yellow and develop watery lesions.

You may be able to salvage unaffected portions of rooted foliage or use healthy leaves for propagation.

Prevent rotting by ensuring you grow ‘Topsy Turvy’ echeveria in a full sun location with loose, well-draining soil, and watering when the soil completely dries out.

A Stand-Out Succulent

Are you ready to shake things up in your succulent garden or houseplant collection?

‘Topsy Turvy’ is not your run-of-the-mill variety, but a stand-out succulent with inside-out, upside-down leaves sure to attract attention.

Do you grow ‘Topsy Turvy’ echeveria? Please share your tips in the comments section below.

If you found this guide informative and want to read more about growing echeveria, we recommend the following:

• 27 of the Best Echeveria Varieties
• Tips for Growing Painted Lady Echeveria
• Learn to Grow and Care for Peacock Echeveria