Kalanchoe delagoensis Care and Propagation Guide
Kalanchoe delagoensis is native to Madagascar and is also known as the ‘chandelier plant’ or ‘lizard plant’. It is an asexual plant, but it still produces flowers. They are trumpet-shaped and the color can range from orange to yellow.
It reproduces by growing small plantlets at the ends of the leaves. The stem can grow to a height of about 3.5 feet and the leaves are almost cylindrical and dark green.
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Contents
Kalanchoe delagoensis Care Guide
Kalanchoe delagoensis is a hardy plant. It does not need too much attention and thrives on minimal care. Here are the detailed requirements of Kalanchoe delagoensis:
Light
Kalanchoe delagoensis loves the sun. However, direct sunlight might prove harmful, especially if you live in an area with very hot summers.
Place your succulent in lightly shaded locations to protect them from harsh sunlight during the day. If you keep them indoors, opt for window sills that receive plenty of light throughout the day.
Watering
You need to be careful while watering Kalanchoe delagoensis. They are a drought-resistant plant species, so you need to take care not to overwater them. Always let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
Overwatering will lead to the rotting of the roots and leaves. This can also cause fungal growth, which can quickly take over the entire plant. On the other hand, if you don’t give the plant enough water, the leaves will start drooping and falling off.
Soil
Any soil mix meant for succulents will work great for Kalanchoe delagoensis. Succulent soil mixes have good draining power, which is exactly what Kalanchoe delagoensis need since they are prone to overwatering.
If you are making a soil mix at home, take sand and a mixture of peat moss and clay. Mix them together in a ratio of 1:1. This will create a fast-draining medium suitable for most succulents. You can lower the amount of sand if you feel that the potting mix is too loose.
Fertilizing
Kalanchoe delagoensis does not need fertilizer. It is a hardy plant and does well with the nutrients already present in the soil.
If you want to attempt to make your plant more lush and healthy, you can start adding a slow-release fertilizer every month. Liquid fertilizer also works well for Kalanchoe delagoensis.
Climate
Kalanchoe delagoensis thrive in warm climates. They love the sunlight and bloom during the summer.
They can survive cold temperatures during the winter, but ideally, the temperature should not drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in an area with extremely cold winters, you need to move your plant indoors to prevent them from freezing.
If you cannot move your Kalanchoe delagoensis indoors, you can cover it with a frost cloth to protect it from the cold.
Pests and Diseases
Kalanchoe delagoensis are not at risk for many pests or diseases. Like all succulents, they are vulnerable to mealybugs and aphids. You need to stay on the lookout for these pests by regularly inspecting the leaves of the plant.
You can wipe down the leaves with an insecticide to get rid of these pests. If you are looking for an organic solution to these pests, neem oil is a good alternative. Make sure to use a diluted version or you will end up burning the plant.
Propagating Kalanchoe delagoensis
The propagation of Kalanchoe delagoensis is unique and is one of the most important features of the plant. In this way, the plant is able to reproduce vegetatively. Fully developed small young plants—also called plantlets—grow on the leaf margins, which often even develop small roots.
These plantlets can easily be removed and potted. For this, the plantlets are to be placed on moist soil and moved to a sunny place. The substrate must then always be kept slightly moist, but should never be wet. The roots usually develop very quickly.
After six months, Kalanchoe delagoensis usually produces plantlets on itself. The mother plant loses the plantlets if they are not separated for the purpose of reproduction. When the plantlets then get on the ground, they root themselves within a very short time. The plantlets can also be removed from the mother plant if no propagation is desired; if the plantlets are separated regularly, the vigor of the plant is better preserved.
In addition to the cultivation of plantlets, classic methods of propagation can also be used. After flowering, the mother of thousands forms plenty of seed capsules that contain hundreds of tiny seeds that can be used for propagation.