Hailing from Madagascar and closely related to the Jade plant, Kalanchoe panamensis is a beautiful addition to any home garden. With its cute round leaves and long stems, the Kalanchoe panamensis looks almost alien outside of its natural habitat. Fortunately, this lovely succulent makes a great addition to any succulent garden due to its hardy nature and low maintenance care needs. To learn more about how to make your Kalanchoe panamensis thrive, read on:
General Care
1. Lighting
Kalanchoe panamensis plants love sunlight, so it’s best to keep them by windows that receive lots of natural light. If you’re keeping this succulent indoors, it’s best to make sure your Kalanchoe gets full sun. If you have difficulty providing adequate sunlight year-round, consider using a sun lamp to help provide extra light during the darker months.
Like most succulents, be sure to avoid placing your Kalanchoe panamensis in direct sunlight, as the direct sun can burn the plant’s leaves and damage them.
2. Water
Great for the forgetful plant parent, Kalanchoe panamensis succulents don’t need too much water, and they’ll survive if you forget to water it-- just make sure to water when you do remember. Since it needs only water a few days a month, it’s best to keep up a solid watering schedule, so you don’t forget to water your succulent! To help see when your Kalanchoe panamensis needs water, consider using a moisture meter to check the soil dryness. When you water, make sure to wait for all water to drain completely before watering again.
3. Temperature
Since it’s from Madagascar, the Kalanchoe panamensis thrives in warm, semi-dry environments. They aren’t picky about temperature or humidity. If you’re keeping your Kalanchoe indoors, try to maintain a year-round temperature between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with a steady humidity level to match. For outdoor environments, your Kalanchoe will do best in USDA zones 10-12. As long as the temperature stays above 55 degrees, you’re good-- a Kalanchoe panamensis will die instantly in frost.
4. Soil
For your soil mixture, the standard succulent soil mixture works well, but Kalanchoe panamensis plants thrive in sandy, quick-draining soil. If you’re making your own soil mixture, a 60/40 percent split between your organic and inorganic substance works best if you’re making your own soil mixture.
5. Fertilizer
Flowering plant fertilizer works best for the Kalanchoe panamensis since it blooms often and for long periods. When fertilizing your succulents, the Kalanchoe takes less fertilizer than most flowering plants. When fertilizing, dilute your liquid fertilizer with water and only use a few drops.
Blooming
Kalanchoe panamensis flowers come often--for several weeks at a time in the spring-- and are quite the showstopper for any home garden. They’re typically bright red or pink and come in bell shapes that point downward from their stalk, similar to bleeding hearts. To encourage blooming, make sure your succulent gets plenty of indirect sunlight! Direct sun can damage your succulent’s leaves, but lots of indirect sunlight can help encourage flowers to grow.
Propagation
To propagate, it’s best to work with leaves or cuttings directly from the succulent’s node. When trimming to propagate, use a pair of clean, sharp scissors to remove a leaf as close to the stem as possible. When cutting from a node, be sure to leave a little space below any leaves to allow for extra growing room.
After getting your cutting, make sure to let the severed area dry before planting it. You can treat Kalanchoe panamensis cuttings like any other succulent cutting when you propagate.
Potting and Repotting
1. Potting
Since these succulents require plenty of drainage, it’s best to plant them in pots made from porous material, like terracotta, ceramics, or concrete. While these pots all have drainage holes, the extra room for air in the pot’s material makes water evaporate faster-- a must for succulents. When choosing a pot, always look for something at least 10% larger than your succulent, so it has plenty of space to grow!
2. Repotting
Repotting should always occur right before or during your succulent’s growing season, and this is no different with the Kalanchoe panamensis. When repotting, be sure to choose a pot with ample drainage roughly 10% larger than your plant’s previous pot.
Pruning and Maintenance
You won’t need to prune your Kalanchoe panamensis often-- only if you see aerial roots or it begins to grow unevenly-- but if you do need to prune it, do so during its dormant season. Using a sharp pair of scissors or a knife, cut off the stem you wish to prune as cleanly as possible. For flower stalks, trim them as far down as you can without damaging the plant. You can then save any cuttings for propagation later!
Common Pests and Diseases
Like all succulents, the Kalanchoe panamensis is susceptible to your everyday succulent pests, like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. However, if in a pot with poor drainage, the Kalanchoe panamensis is also at much higher risk for developing root rot-- a condition that occurs when your succulent’s roots are kept moist for too long. In addition, poor drainage may also lead to mold growth on the succulent’s stem and leaves.
Toxicity
Although they aren’t deadly, the Kalanchoe panamensis is toxic to both cats and dogs. In both species, ingestion will cause gastric irritation, and your pet may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms of an upset tummy. In rare cases, your pet may also experience an abnormal heart rate. Always keep your Kalanchoe panamensis out of reach for dogs and cats, and call your vet if your pet opts to go for a nibble.
Happy gardening!
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