How Do You Take Care Of A Kalanchoe Desert Surprise?

How Do You Take Care Of A Kalanchoe Desert Surprise?

The Crassulaceae family, which includes approximately 400 species, includes the Kalanchoe Humilis succulent plant.

It is a blooming plant that may reach a height of three feet. It’s likewise a bulbous plant with a long, frequently stemless body.

The leaves are tiny, triangular-shaped, and glossy green in color, growing up to three inches long and one inch broad at the leaf stalk base (petiole).

The Kalanchoe Humilis, often known as the Desert Surprise, is a houseplant with lovely blossoms that comes from Madagascar.

It blooms most frequently in the fall, when clusters of light pink bell-shaped flowers with yellowish cores appear on top of each flower head.

The flowering phase lasts two to four weeks on average. Depending on how well the cluster was cared for throughout time, there may be more than 50 individual blossoms per cluster.

Kalanchoe Desert Surprise is a succulent that looks great in both indoor and outdoor container gardens.

Watering requirements

In the summer, water thoroughly only when the earth has dried completely. A/W, let the soil to completely dry before watering (every two months). Depending on the temperature and sun exposure, gradually increase watering in the spring.

Light requirements

This plant, like other succulents, thrives in strong light and even direct sunlight. Place your Kalanchoe in the sunniest window possible, and rotate your pot once a week to provide it equal light exposure on all sides.

Fertilizer requirements

During the growth season, which runs from April to September, a Kalanchoe Humilis plant will require fertilizer.

Use a fast-acting soluble or slow-release fertilizer to fertilize your plants.

Repotting

Repotting once every 2-3 years to restore soil. Use a cactus compost that has a lot of perlite.

Soil requirements

Because Kalanchoe Desert Surprise is a succulent, it requires soil that drains well but retains moisture.

Kalanchoes are endemic to Madagascar and grow on rocks in the humid tropical environment of the island.

Cactus mix or garden loam are the ideal soil types for your Kalanchoe (loosely packed).

It’s recommended to stay away from soils with a lot of clay, such heavy potting soil.

How do you propagate Kalanchoe Desert Surprise?

The Kalanchoe Desert Surprise may be propagated in three ways: cuttings, leaves, and seeds.

Leaves cuttings propagation

Cutting a leaf from the stem is the best way to propagate this succulent plant.

Allow for a few days of drying before planting in well-draining soil.

Then wait till the soil surface is totally dry before watering.

In one to three months, a Kalanchoe Humilis succulent produced from a leaf will sprout roots, depending on the size of the leaf and where it was cut from.

At temperatures of 60–75 degrees Fahrenheit (16–24 degrees Celsius), this succulent should be planted with little sunlight (at least six hours).

Stem Cuttings propagation

Chop off the top of the stem with a sharp knife or pair of scissors to propagate a Kalanchoe Desert Surprise succulent plant.

Allow it to dry for two days before planting it in well-draining soil.

In six to eight weeks, the plant should sprout roots.

It might take up to three months for the stem cutting to sprout a fresh set of leaves and send out outer shoots.

The stem cutting can be planted in the ground or in a container.

It’s preferable to plant it somewhere where it’ll get full light for at least eight hours every day, however partial sun is OK if there are no shady areas nearby.

Allow cuttings to rest on top of their leaves overnight before planting them in the soil for the best chance of success and plant health.

This gives any sap that remains inside the stem time to dry out, preventing rot while waiting for roots to grow.

Seeds propagation

Seedlings are another approach to reproduce Kalanchoe Humilis. Seeds aren’t always readily available, but it’s possible.

They must be planted in a gritty, well-drained soil mix.

Before being put out in warm conditions, the seeds should be carefully watered until they have a satisfactory moisture level.

Plants can take a long time to mature. Other plants develop at a quicker rate. Check the plants for indicators of development, such as cracking bark or peeling outer leaves, on a regular basis.

Remove the plant from the dirt after new roots have formed and put it into its own container with a little soil. Please keep it in a bright area.

How often do you water Kalanchoe Desert Surprise?

During the early spring and summer, water the Kalanchoe Desert Surprise on a regular basis.

If it’s in direct sunlight, once a week is plenty. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, since this might induce root rot, which can destroy your plant.

To get the greatest results, let the top inch or two of soil dry off before watering again.

Wet leaves at any moment will cause a fungal infection, which may result in the early death of some of your plants’ stems or blooms.

This includes when you use fertilizer spikes to fertilize them (more on that later).

Reduce its water intake by roughly one-third during the winter months — once every two weeks instead of once a week – since this succulent will grow slower.

Overwatering is the most common error Kalanchoe owners do, and it can lead to root rot, which can kill your plant!

If you damp down the leaves, they may get sunburned and develop brown blotches.

After watering your plant, wipe out excess water from the leaves using a paper towel to keep it healthy and happy! The Kalanchoe’s roots should be kept moist, but the leaves should be allowed to dry out a little.

How do you prune Kalanchoe Desert Surprise?

Prune Kalanchoe Desert Surprise when it’s in full growth during the spring and summer.

This will keep it healthy, help promote new growth, and prevent fungal infections by removing diseased leaves and stems.

You can prune this succulent to encourage it to grow into a bushier plant, or keep it a single stem if that fits your home decor better.

To make this succulent “bushy,” prune off the growing tips of the branches, which causes multiple stems.

Remove any brown leaves or dead branches from your succulent arrangement that may distract from its attractiveness.

Remove all superfluous leaves from the top of your plant’s stem to allow sunlight to reach the roots and base. It will be able to bloom more regularly and put on new growth more swiftly as a result of this.

To prevent breaking stems too near to their bases, use sharp shears or scissors instead than tugging at them by hand.

After the side branches have developed to approximately two inches in height, prune them back.

To maintain your plant healthy and in form, prune off any dead or dying branches.

Is Kalanchoe Desert Surprise a succulent?

Kalanchoe Desert Surprise is a huge succulent shrub with distinct and striking traits that make it simple to recognize.

The Houghton’s hybrid plant was formed by combining K. diagremontiana with K. delagoensis to generate the first hybrid of the kalanchoe humilis.

Because its leaves fall regularly and re-grow in the ground with minimum intervention, this hybrid offers numerous benefits over the original plant.

Is Kalanchoe Desert Surprise poisonous to dogs?

Toxins can be discovered in the plant’s leaves, flowers, and roots. The alkaloids and phenolics found in the root make it highly toxic.

People who absorb these hazardous components may experience a variety of side effects.

In addition to these poisons, if you come into touch with Kalanchoe Desert Surprise, the sap within these plants contains triterpenoid esters called karachinones, which cause irritation and burns on the skin.

The Kalanchoe Humilis plant should not be eaten or come into touch with your skin.

When handling these plants, wear gloves to prevent the poisons from entering your bloodstream via damaged skin on your hands or any other area of your body.

Is Kalanchoe Desert Surprise easy to grow?

A large succulent shrub, Kalanchoe is a Kalanchoe. It has variegated green leaves with purple or maroon spots. Its colors are best displayed in direct sunlight. In the summer, keep an eye out for purple flowers.

Blue-green leaves with purple markings in a paddle shape.

Cultivation and propagation: It’s easy to grow and drought-resistant, and it’s a rewarding plant to have in any collection. It’s also a simple indoor plant to maintain.

It requires a lot of sunlight, but prefers some shade.

Is Kalanchoe Desert Surprise an indoor plant?

The Kalanchoe Desert Surprise succulent plant is a lovely, low-maintenance houseplant. In strong, indirect light, it shines the brightest.

This plant will thrive outside if you live somewhere where the weather is consistently warm, as long as it is protected from the wind and sun.

They may be brought indoors during the winter months or cultivated under lights indoors in colder locations.

The Crassulaceae family, which includes approximately 400 species, includes the Kalanchoe Humilis succulent plant.

It is a blooming plant that may reach a height of three feet. It’s likewise a bulbous plant with a long, frequently stemless body. In warmer climates, it may be cultivated as an indoor plant or as a rock garden succulent.

How big do Kalanchoe Desert Surprise get?

Kalanchoe Desert Surprise is a low-growing succulent shrub that grows up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall with an open rosette of gray-green leaves up to 4 inches (10 cm) long with maroon dots.

The blooms are tiny, drab purple to green in color, and grow on an upwardly branching inflorescence that rises 10 inches (25 cm) above the leaves.

What type of soil do Kalanchoe Desert Surprise needs?

Because Kalanchoe Desert Surprise is a succulent, it requires soil that drains well but retains moisture.

Kalanchoes are endemic to Madagascar, where they grow on rocks in the humid tropical environment, where they get a natural humus accumulation from the leaf litter below.

Cactus mix or garden loam are the ideal soil types for your Kalanchoe (loosely packed). It’s recommended to stay away from soils with a lot of clay, such heavy potting soil.

The soil should be well-draining and not too sticky.

Why is my Kalanchoe Desert Surprise dying?

The most common problem with succulents is overwatering, so make sure to check your plant’s water level every week or so.

In addition to over watering, lowering the temperature at night and bringing it indoors during the cold winter months may be beneficial.

Improper nutrients or pH fluctuations can stunt roots and lead to a host of other problems, such as light burn on leaves, poor growth and flowering, blotchiness of leaves or stem tips, and even fungal infection.

How much lights do Kalanchoe Desert Surprise needs?

Kalanchoe Desert Surprise succulents may be cultivated in a variety of conditions, from full sun to moderate shade. It should be put in a spot that gets plenty of light but not direct sunlight.

Plants produced in medium-light environments have more compact leaves and thicker stems than those cultivated in low-light environments. That implies fewer blooms will be produced.

This succulent plant’s color spectrum varies depending on how much sun it receives.

Kalanchoes that receive little or no sunshine have deep green leaves, but those that receive full sun develop tints of red, orange, yellow, and pink.

If it receives a lot of sunshine via the windows, it can thrive indoors.

Does Kalanchoe Desert Surprise needs fertilizer?

Succulents need a good amount of nitrogen to thrive.

In addition, trace elements are essential for the plant in order to maintain healthy growth and good coloration.

During the growth season, which runs from April to September, a Kalanchoe Humilis plant will require fertilizer.

Use a fast-acting soluble or slow-release fertilizer to fertilize your plants.

When the plant is growing, fertilize every two weeks, and once a week when it is not growing. This should only happen if water is administered on a regular basis.

Fertilizers will lose a lot of their potency if they don’t get enough water.

It’s critical not to overfeed these plants, since this will cause leaf burn. This can result in scarring on your succulent plant’s stems as well as a reduction in its ability to absorb water.

It’s also worth noting that the Kalanchoe Humilis is susceptible to high salt and fluoride levels.

If you’re in a drought or a heat wave, you may need to water and feed your plant more frequently as it develops.

What is the ideal temperature for Kalanchoe Desert Surprise?

The Kalanchoe Desert Surprise prefers temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, if planted outside in cooler climates, they will thrive as long as they are protected from frost and cold damage during their dormant season.

The Humilis doesn’t like it when it’s too hot, but it can’t stand it when it’s too cold. Put your plant in a cool spot during its dormant season to ensure it gets the correct temperature and humidity conditions.

For optimal drainage, keep it in its pot. Kalanchoes planted indoors should also be placed in an east or west window where they will receive morning sun.

Avoid exposing them to direct afternoon sunlight, since this might cause scorching of the leaves due to warming.

Why is my Kalanchoe Desert Surprise leaves turning yellow?

This succulent plant is subject to a number of yellowing causes.

Firstly, it could have been subjected to direct sunlight, which can cause yellowing. If this is the case, move your plant away from the window and ensure that it receives a lot of indirect light instead.

Reduce its water intake too, as this will help prevent more leaves from turning yellow.

If the air around the plant is dry or hot, the leaves might turn yellow during summer months or if you’re in a hotter climate.

Does Kalanchoe Desert Surprise like humidity?

It does not require excessive water, but it should be kept moist during its growing season.

It’s necessary to keep it mounted on a tray in the correct kind of soil, and ensure that the soil is well-drained, so it doesn’t rot.

Because it cannot withstand too much water, humidity is vital for this plant. A humidity level of 50-70 percent is ideal.

By touching the top of your Kalanchoe, you can sense the dampness. If it’s dry, you should moisten it in its pot and check for leaks around the rim.

A digital or analog hygrometer may also be used to measure humidity.