Kalanchoe beharensis of the Crassulaceae family, a slow-growing succulent, has an eye-catching, bizarre look. You can expect it to grow into a 12-inch tall plant that spreads over 36 inches when fully matured.
The green-gray foliage is the main feature of this plant, while its flowers are orange and attract wildlife. Continue reading to find out the best tips and tricks for growing your own Kalanchoe genus succulent.
JUMP TO TOPIC
Quick Overview
Here is a handy table of this plant’s requirements.
Here’s the modified table with the requested styles:
| Requirements | Kalanchoe beharensis |
| Light | Tolerates full sun exposure, but grows well in partial sun as well |
| Water | Water when top inch of soil is dry |
| Soil | Needs a well-draining soil mixture |
| Temperature | Thrives in warm climates |
This table now has a border around its perimeter and a green background for the first row.
What Is Kalanchoe Beharensis
Kalanchoe beharensis is a beautiful succulent that has a green-gray foliage and orange flowers from the family Crassulaceae and genus Kalanchoe.
It can grow up to 12 inches tall and 36 inches wide and has irregular, velvety leaves.
– Scientific Classification
- Family: Crassulaceae
- Genus: Kalanchoe
- Origin: Madagascar
- Botanical Name: Kalanchoe beharensis
- Common Name: Felt bush, Velvetleaf plant, Elephant’s ears kalanchoe
- Plant Type: Perennial, succulent
- Size: Up to 12 feet
- Leaves: Irregular edges with a velvety texture
- Flowers: Orange flowers
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: well-draining succulent potting soil
- Propagation: Leaf-cutting
- Hardiness: Zones 11 to 12
– Leaves
The plant grows slowly, producing triangular leaves with long stalks. The upper parts of mature leaves feature a bronze-like color, while the undersides are typically a silver-gray color. You’ll also notice plenty of fine hairs on the leaf stalks and the fang-like foliage.
– Flowers
Mature Kalanchoe plants can produce long clusters of flowers. These blooms are urn-shaped, with shades of reddish-orange and greenish-yellow flowers.
– Care
This hardy plant is a succulent and its interesting leaves and flowers make it an attractive house plant. Ideal for outdoor gardens in warmer regions, it grows well in pots as a houseplant and can thrive indoors in a sunny location too.
Kalanchoe beharensis leaves are greyish green and have a smooth texture. The flowers appear occasionally and they are orange in color. This contrast creates a beautiful display and it is said to be a rare sight in some regions. For others, this is a regular event.
This plant comes with its own specific requirements, but being a succulent, it needs less from you. Let us take a look at its growing needs in the guide below.
Soil
The Elephant ear kalanchoe plant needs a well-draining soil mixture. You can make your own or get a ready-made mixture for the succulents or cactus from the market. It needs to be sand-based so that it drains fast.
The best type of soil will be loam or sandy. Ph can be anywhere from alkaline, neutral to acidic.
Water
Kalanchoe beharensis grows beautifully when you take care of it. Overwatering kills it, so caring for it means giving it water only when it is needed. To check if it is the right time to water, you can dig in the soil one inch deep and see if the soil is dry.
Since this plant stores moisture in its leaves, you can occasionally skip a water session and it will still be happy.
Light
Kalanchoe beharensis has an incredible tolerance for full sun exposure, but it grows well in partial sun as well. This quality gives us a lot of room to decide where to place it around the house. It will look attractive both indoors and outdoors, but one point to remember is that having too low a light is not suitable for its health.
Temperature
Kalanchoe beharensis thrives in warm climates. Zone 10a will also be suitable for it, which gets a low of around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler regions, bring your plant indoors during winter to keep it warm and protected from frost or snow.
– Potting
Kalanchoe beharensis is a perfect plant for potted gardens. Place your pots where they will get enough sunlight. The garden can be a themed garden like a succulent garden, pollinator garden or even a Mediterranean garden.
This plant spreads fast, and it needs a bigger pot as it grows. When the plant has outgrown the old pot, give it a pot that is 1.5 inches bigger than the old one.
Propagation
It is incredible how easy it is to propagate this plant. It is an activity that can even be done with kids to show them results that are successful even with less waiting. This plant can be propagated by leaves or stem cuttings, and you can also plant its seeds. Let us look at some of the methods of Kalanchoe beharensis reproduction below.
– Seed Sowing
Collect seeds of Kalanchoe beharensis from the dry seed pods and plant them in small containers. Cover them lightly and water gently. Do this during spring or summer on sandy soil.
– Leaf Cuttings
This is the simplest way to multiply your Kalanchoe beharensis plant without any hassle.
- Remove thick succulent leaves during the spring or summer.
- Allow them to dry for a few days or even up to a week.
- Stick the leaves into the soil and spray a little water on them.
- Keep the pot in bright light and away from full sunlight.
- Leaves will begin to root in 3 to 4 weeks.
- Soon, the leaves will begin to grow.
- Once the new cuttings are established, you can then repot them into a container and bring them outside in full sunlight.
– Stem Cuttings
Kalanchoe beharensis can be propagated through stem cuttings in the same manner.
- Use sterilized tools to cut a stem.
- Wait for a few days and let it dry out a little.
- It will form calluses, which is when you’ll know it’s safe to plant into sandy soil.
- The potting soil must be well-draining.
- Water the plant as the soil dries out.
- Keep it in bright light but away from full sunlight until it establishes itself.
- You can also plant the leaves and stems after pruning.
Is it not simple to propagate your lovely plant? We hope the propagation guide clarified each step for you. Pick a method that seems easiest to you or the one that you have never tried before. Not much can go wrong with this plant.
Popular Kalanchoe Varieties
- Kalanchoe tomentosa, also called a Panda plant, has soft hairy leaves with brown edges.
- Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, named Flaming Katy, is known for its thick and succulent dark green foliage.
- Kalanchoe marnieriana, or the Marnier’s kalanchoe plant, is popular for its paddle-shaped leaves that have red tips.
- Kalanchoe luciae, also called the Paddle plant, have rounded leaves that look like clamshells.
Problems
The Kalanchoe beharensis can experience the following problems:
- Overwatering can cause root rot and lead to plant death. Avoid giving your plant water too frequently during the growing season. Reduce water quantity even more during winter.
- Aphids and mealybugs are attracted to the plant’s juicy sap. Pesticide may be needed to keep them away. It will be best to choose a natural pesticide if necessary.
- Leaves begin to wilt and turn yellow when the plant is left in the shade and is not getting enough light.
Final note:
Kalanchoe beharensis is a lovely plant with stunning foliage that is gray-green with a hint of copper. The flowers are attractive and it is easy to take care of as an outdoor or indoor plant.