How Do You Care For A Kalanchoe Tomentosa?

How do you care for a Kalanchoe Tomentosa?

Kalanchoe plants are native to Madagascar and are members of the Crassulaceae family, with over 100 varieties. They have thick fleshy leaves that store water, letting them to survive even under neglect, and they are often coated with fine hairs.

Kalanchoe Tomentosa comes in two major colors: bluish blue (Panda Plants) and golden brown (Chocolate Soldier). There is also a Kalanchoe Eriophylla (Snow White Panda Plant) variant with more whitish-gray leaves that is regarded somewhat more cold hardy than the other two. Consider the following aspects when providing care:

Sunlight

Although Kalanchoe Tomentosa likes direct sunshine, they require cover since they will dry out if exposed to it for an extended period of time. If you want to grow them inside, the best place for this fuzzy plant is a bright windowsill with a few hours of shade in the morning or afternoon.

Watering

When it comes to watering, Kalanchoe Tomentosa is similar to other succulent plants. Even if you don’t water them for a week or two, they will still thrive. However, this does not imply that they may be ignored.

A good rule of thumb is to water Kalanchoe only when the soil is completely dry. Check their soil every few days using a moisture meter or by inserting your finger in it and feeling if the top 2-inches of soil is entirely dry.

Soil

Because Kalanchoe Tomentosa are prone to root rot, especially when left in moist soil for an extended period of time, a cactus and succulent potting mix with strong drainage qualities is highly suggested. This should keep your pet from becoming ill as a result of overwatering.

Temperature

Kalanchoe Tomentosa, like other succulents, likes consistent circumstances. Temperatures between 60°F and 75°F are ideal for growing Kalanchoe Tomentosa. Temperatures somewhat lower or higher than this can be endured by Kalanchoe Tomentosa, but severe circumstances like as cold weather and excessive heat would most certainly kill them.

Fertilizer

Because Kalanchoe are desert plants, they may thrive without being fertilized. However, if you do feed them, be sure to do so throughout their growing season, which is normally from Spring until the end of Summer, and use a diluted liquid succulent fertilizer.

Propagation

Kalanchoe Tomentosa propagation is fairly common. This is commonly done by leaf and stem cuttings during their growing season (spring) for a better success rate. Although both processes are simple, most people prefer to use stem cuttings since they take just 15 to 20 days to root.

Repotting

The soil should be dry before you repot your Kalanchoe so that you avoid a situation where the plant is fed too much water. Use a pot with drainage holes in it, and fill this up with cactus mix.

Be careful though when you’re repotting since Kalanchoe are prone to root rot and they don’t like spending too much time in wet soil. When it comes to watering, Kalanchoe Tomentosa is similar to other succulent plants.

Pruning

Kalanchoe Tomentosa is a very hardy plant, and it rarely requires pruning. If your handsome fuzzy succulent is getting too large, you may opt to prune the stems if they require support. This will not harm the plant, but be careful with doing this since Kalanchoe Tomentosa can grow from a small piece of leaf or stem as tall as a 20-foot tree.

Is Kalanchoe Tomentosa easy to grow?

Kalanchoe Tomentosa is considered an easy-to-care for houseplant and should not disappoint even beginners. If you know how to keep a succulent alive, then this plant should be easy to grow. Many types of Kalanchoe are called panda plant because the plant’s leaves look like that of a panda’s ears.

The leaves are thick and fuzzy, with a kind of dimpled texture. Some varieties have leaves with lots of white on the edges and tips, giving those cute fuzzy panda-like plants.

When caring for a Kalanchoe Tomentosa, the leaves don’t need much attention whatsoever. They are fairly sturdy and can withstand low light, occasional misting, and occasional neglect. This plant will not die if you forget about it for months at a time.

But that’s not to say that you should neglect your panda plant. If you want it to live a long life and look healthy, then it is important to feed your Kalanchoe regularly and take care of it properly.

How do you propagate Kalanchoe Tomentosa?

Kalanchoe Tomentosa propagation is fairly common. This is commonly done by leaf and stem cuttings during their growing season (spring) for a better success rate. The steps taken while propagating by:

Stem cutting

• Remove a stem piece. If your Kalanchoe is not flowering, then you’ll just have to break off an existing stem piece. If the plant is flowering, you can use a pair of sharp scissors to cut off a stem piece 6-12″ long.
• Make the cut clean and straight. Trim off any leaves from the bottom quarter of the stem (in case the leaves are still connected) with a sharp pair of garden shears or scissors.
• Remove lower leaves. Be sure to leave the lowest leaves intact.
• Remove any flower buds. If you’re cutting a stem for a leaf cutting, then you don’t have to do this.
• Dip in water and roll in rooting hormone powder.

Leaf cutting

• Cut off a leaf from your Kalanchoe and then remove the petiole from it (This is the leaf stalk)
• Dip both sides of the leaf cutting in hormone rooting powder
• Place the leaf cutting in a glass of water.
• Place your cutting somewhere with indirect light. This means not too much light as it can dry out the leaves and/or shock the plant. Place your cutting somewhere in an east or north-facing window.
• Check daily and mist if required to prevent drying out of the leaves. This is mandatory for every day for about a week or two.
• Once roots appear, transplant your Kalanchoe into potting soil and place it in indirect light (outdoors or next to a south facing window should do the trick) and water it as required.

Is Kalanchoe Tomentosa toxic?

When swallowed, all portions of the Kalanchoe Tomentosa (Panda Plant) are poisonous. The most frequent symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness. When consumed in high quantities, the plant can be lethal.

If you do not want to take chances with your own health, you should avoid the plant. While the plant is toxic in its entirety, most of the parts are harmless, such as the leaves and stems. These parts of the plant are generally used in many herbal teas.

Kalanchoe Tomentosa is not known to have a negative effect on pets such as dogs and cats. However, they should be kept off of it just to be safe. So if you have a cat or dog and a Kalanchoe Tomentosa, then keep them separate that way your pet won’t eat any part of your fuzzy panda succulent.

Is Kalanchoe Tomentosa toxic to cats?

When consumed, all components of Kalanchoe Tomentosa are toxic and can be lethal to cats and dogs in large quantities. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue are among the symptoms. Keep an eye out for strange behavior in your pet, such as excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and breathing difficulties.

Longer-term exposure to the plant may cause more serious symptoms, such as trembling and seizures. If you suspect your pet has ingested any part of a panda succulent, seek medical attention immediately.

The plant is not deadly to cats, but if ingested in large quantities it can cause these symptoms:  vomiting, diarrhea and shortness of breath.  If your pet has ingested any part of Kalanchoe Tomentosa, seek medical assistance immediately – call your veterinarian or animal emergency center.

Is Kalanchoe Tomentosa Monocarpic?

This plant has minimal cold tolerance, but it is one of the sunniest of the smooth-leaved Kalanchoe, suffering only on the warmest days in full sun here in Southern California. This is a monocarpic plant, which means it dies after flowering.

Kalanchoe Tomentosa, like the other members of this genus, generally blooms for only one season – usually in summer, but not always. Monocarpic plants die after releasing a few seeds (a tiny flat capsule), and then dying.

During the winter months, K. Tomentosa is prone to dropping leaves and may grow little tiny ‘clumps of leaves’. These tend to be single leafy tips without stems or flowering stalks.

How do you grow Kalanchoe Tomentosa?

Kalanchoe Tomentosa should be planted in a location in your garden that receives 6 hours of direct sunshine every day. Plant near a sunny window if you’re doing it indoors. When grown outdoors, the “Panda Plant” can reach a height of 24″ (61 cm).

When cultivated indoors, the size is determined by the size of the container in which it is placed. Kalanchoe Tomentosa is a hearty succulent, so it can be difficult to kill. If you have an overwatered or over-fertilized plant, and it begins to rot at the base of the stems or at the center of the rosette, cut off this portion and leave the remainder of the plant to recover.

Kalanchoe will grow in almost any soil; from sand to clay soil. The important thing is that their soil is not allowed to dry out completely in between watering. If this is the case, your Kalanchoe will become a potent killer of your other houseplants and could even kill them. This is a monocarpic plant, which means it dies after flowering.

If you have an overwatered or over-fertilized plant, and it begins to rot at the base of the stems or at the center of the rosette, cut off this portion and leave the remainder of the plant to recover.