Kalanchoë Tomentosa: care, plants & Co.

The succulent Kalanchoë Tomentosa is a real eye-catcher. In this article you will learn how to plant the hare's ear and what else you need to know about the exotic plant.

The cat's ear is also ideal for beginners as it does not require a lot of care. Even if you forget to pour, you can Kalanchoë tomentosa draw on the water stored in the leaves. We will show you the most beautiful varieties and the perfect location for your cat's ear.

Kalanchoë Tomentosa: origin and characteristics

The popular houseplant Kalanchoë tomentosa (also: cat ears, rabbit ears or panda plant) belongs to the thick-leaf family (Crassulaceae). It comes from the genus Kalanchoewhose representatives are all poisonous. The plant is native to Madagascar, where it usually grows on rocky soil. In nature, the succulent can reach a size of up to one meter; as a houseplant, growth usually ends at around 50 cm.

Due to the oval-shaped, slightly tapering leaves, the succulent plant was given the name "cat ears" or "rabbit ears". The water-storing leaves are fleshy, hairy white and tomentose and usually arranged in rosettes. The term "tomentosus" comes from Latin and means something like "felty". Due to the soft hair, the leaves feel almost as velvety as cat ears. They are gray-green in color with a reddish or brownish, partially dotted edge. The cat's ear only rarely blooms in the home. In nature the plant has bell-shaped flowers in green, purple or yellow that appear between March and June.

Overview of the cat ear varieties

• Kalanchoë tomentosa ‘Chocolate soldier’: The classic among the cat ears is this variety with rather narrow leaves. The edges are colored chocolate brown, depending on the lighting conditions at the location.

• Kalanchoë tomentosa ‘Nigra’: Here the leaf margins of the cat's ear plant are mostly dark brown in color and can even appear almost black. The edge coloring can be slightly dotted or almost continuous.

• Kalanchoë tomentosa ‘Rubra’: As the name suggests, the felty leaves of this variety have a reddish hue that is particularly pronounced at the edges. But the whole plant also has a reddish-golden sheen.

Planting rabbit ears

the Kalanchoë tomentosa should be planted in spring when the growing season begins. She likes to stand in a very bright place in the apartment. In summer, the succulent plant needs warm temperatures of around 23 ° C. This temperature can also be maintained in winter as long as the bunny ears get enough light. But it is also possible to overwinter the plant at around 15 ° C. Succulent or cactus soil is suitable as a substrate, and above all it has to be well-drained, i.e. it absolutely avoids waterlogging. So cactus soil is characterized by high permeability and thus good ventilation of the roots. In addition, it is only moderately rich in nutrients. All of these properties promote healthy growth of theirs Kalanchoë tomentosa. So that the excess water can drain away, the planter should definitely have a drainage hole.

Grooming cat ears

the Kalanchoë tomentosa is easy to maintain. Since it can store water in its leaves, it can also survive dry periods. In the best case scenario, it should only be watered when the earth feels dry to the touch. Excess water in the saucer is removed to avoid waterlogging. In winter the cat's ear hardly needs any water.

Panda plants grow slowly. In the first year after purchase or repotting, the succulent does not need to be fertilized at all. If you want to help the growth a little, you can during the growing season, so between spring and autumn, add a little fertilizer to the substrate with the irrigation water every four weeks give. Here, for example, is ours Plantura organic indoor & green plant fertilizer which not only supplies the plant with nitrogen, but above all with potassium, which is important for succulents. In addition, the microorganisms contained in the fertilizer ensure vigorous root growth.

If the space in the pot is slowly becoming scarce, it should Kalanchoë tomentosa better to be repotted. Here, too, the beginning of the growing season in spring is best, so that the plant can grow directly in the new substrate.

Caring for cat ears at a glance:

• Do not water until the soil feels dry
• Avoid waterlogging
• Hardly water in winter
• Do not fertilize in the first year after purchase
• In the following years between spring and autumn, apply liquid fertilizer over the irrigation water every 4 weeks
• Repotting takes place in spring when the old pot has become too small

Multiplication of the Kalanchoë Tomentosa

The rabbit ear plant is best propagated by cuttings during the growth phase. To do this, cut off one or more leaves with a sharp knife directly on the main shoot and let the cut surface air dry for a few days. Then the cutting can be planted with the cut edge facing down in a suitable, well-drained substrate. Depending on how the Kalanchoë tomentosa but you can also cut off an entire side shoot of the plant and stick it in moist succulent soil. A plastic bag over the pot can help increase the humidity. In order for the young plants to grow well, they need a light and warm location. It takes about 10 to 12 weeks for the cuttings to take root and continue to grow. If the propagation is to take place via seeds, these should be spread on moist succulent soil and placed in a light and warm place. Germination begins after about 10 days.

It is closely related to the cat's ear Flaming cats. It got its name because of the clear, radiant flower colors and is particularly easy to care for.