The breeding leaf (botanically: Bryophyllum) is best known as a medicinal plant. As an ornamental plant, it is characterized by its thick-fleshed leaves, unusual leaf margins and attractive flowers. The Goethe plant makes few demands on care. Everything you need to know about it, from the location to cutting and wintering to reproduction and diseases, can be found below.
Characteristics
- Name: breeding leaf
- Scientific name: Bryophyllum / Kalanchoe tubiflora
- Trivial names: Goethe plant, energy plant, wonder leaf
- Genus: Kalanchoe
- Plant family: Thick-leaf family (Crassulaceae)
- Origin: Madagascar (Morocco)
- Growth height: depending on the species between 80 and 130 centimeters
- Flowering time: spring and, depending on the type and lighting, in winter
- Biennial or perennial succulent plant
- Not hardy
Location
The breeding leaf is continuously used to temperatures in the warmer area from its original home, which is why it does not cope well with the cold climatic conditions in Central Europe. She likes to spend the summer outdoors. If the temperatures drop in late summer / autumn, it will thrive in a suitable location in the house. The ideal location has the following characteristics:
- Bright without direct sunlight
- Sunny to partial shade
- Wind and rain protected
- Maximum average humidity
- South-west orientation ideal
- Also feels good in rock gardens
floor
The quality of the soil has a significant influence on growth because it is how the Goethe plant is supplied and kept alive. It is best to do this when the soil meets certain conditions:
- Permeable to water
- Loose and easy
- Porous structure
- Slightly calcareous
- Slightly sandy
- pH value: between 6.0 and 7.2, depending on the species
- pH value Kalanchoe tubiflora: between 6.2 to 6.8
TIP: The ideal substrate is cactus soil, the quality of which can easily be produced from normal potting soil by adding clay granules and sand in a ratio of 1: 1.
Best planting time
The optimal time to plant a breeding leaf is in March. The beginning of the growing season is approaching in early spring, which clearly promotes the establishment / rooting of the Kalanchoe. In addition, the energy content increases here, so that it processes the stress of transplanting better. Planting in autumn is not advisable because from late summer onwards it slowly prepares for winter dormancy and the metabolism begins to slow down. Accordingly, they would be less able to cope with the strain of planting.
Planting / potting
Planting in the garden soil is usually only considered for larger specimens, however
often not carried out because the Goethe plants are not hardy and have to be dug up again before the first frost. For this reason, the breeding leaf and especially the Kalanchoe tubiflora are usually only planted in tubs or pots. This is done as follows:- Choose a tub / pot size so that the roots fit in without kinking
- The diameter should offer plenty of space for lateral unfolding
- Cover the bottom of the bucket / pot two centimeters with potsherds, gravel or quartz sand (drainage)
- Fill some earth over it
- Place the roots of the plant in a container filled with water until the roots are soaked
- Drain the roots well before planting
- Then insert in the middle
- Fill in substrate all around and press lightly again and again
- Keep a distance of about 2 centimeters from the edge of the bucket / pot so that water does not flow out
- Pour lightly
TIP: Clay pots / buckets are ideal because they are more permeable to air than plastic products, for example. This has the advantage that moisture can penetrate to the outside, while with plastic materials the moisture remains inside and the risk of rot increases here.
Repot
Repotting should take place at the latest when the roots are pressing against the drain opening or are already peeking out. This is the sign that the bucket / pot has become too small. The new pot / bucket should be chosen between two and five centimeters in diameter larger. If there are no roots, it is advisable to repot the breeding leaf every three years or to replace the old soil with new one. Over time, the substrate quality declines, which can lead to supply disruptions. To prevent this, a change should be made every three years. Repotting takes place in March.
to water
When it comes to care, the Goethe plant places the greatest demands on watering. It reacts so sensitively to too much water or even waterlogging that it can even die. It is therefore imperative to refrain from uncontrolled, massive watering and to avoid waterlogging. A pot / bucket with a drainage hole is recommended here, from which excess water can escape. Make sure that any saucers that may be used are emptied / dried after watering so that the pot / bucket does not remain in the water. Further details should be taken into account:
- Better to water less, but more often
- Always allow the soil to dry slightly
- Never "pour in" vigorously if you forgot to water (copes well with limited drought)
- Do not water in full sun - risk of burns
- In winter, the water requirement drops significantly, but it still has to be watered in between
- Always water the floor area
- Leaves do not need to be sprayed - copes well with low humidity
- Use hand-warm irrigation water
- Calcareous water leaves white spots on foliage over time
Fertilize
If a Goethe plant / Kalanchoe tubiflora has been planted or transplanted into fresh substrate in the current year, fertilization is not necessary that year. The new substrate holds sufficient nutrients for the plant supply. As a result, fertilization is only started in the second year - if desired, because fertilization is usually required in principle not compulsory as long as there are no visible growth and / or development disorders to be noticed are. If you still want to fertilize in order to support health and flowering, you should adhere to the following instructions:
- Fertilizing period: from June to August
- Fertilizer rhythm: every four to six weeks
- Fertilizer: liquid cactus fertilizer
- Strictly adhere to the manufacturer's dosage recommendations
- The rule is "less is more" - too much fertilizer is harmful to the plant
- In winter there is no fertilization
Cut
The Bryophyllum is one of the fast growing plants, which is why it can get a little "out of shape" over time. This can be corrected again with a shape cut. Another reason for cutting is to prevent parts of the plant from drying out. If you want to behave correctly when cutting, proceed as follows:
- Use only sharp, disinfected cutting tools
- Do not cut back more than a third (exception in the event of illness)
- Best time: spring before the start of growth - ideal for repotting
- Treat interfaces with wound closure (carbon powder or resin) - otherwise risk of infection!
- Wipe away any leaking sap
NOTE: Although the Kalanchoe tubiflora is not poisonous, there are some species among the breeding leaves that can cause symptoms of poisoning, especially in small children and pets. Therefore: Avoid any direct skin contact and, above all, the consumption of the plant sap.
wintering
During the winter months, the Bryophyllum does not need any special care, but is happy to take it. This means that it can normally remain as a houseplant in a heated room, but is happy about a cooler location. For plants that have spent the summer outdoors, the right time to move to warmer climes depends on how many degrees Celsius they will winter at. If the heated living room is waiting for them, relocation from outside is advisable by the end of August at the latest - if the winter is cool, they can stay outside until the frost breaks. The point is that it is not exposed to a high temperature difference, which it cannot tolerate well. Further criteria should be observed for wintering:
- Do not place cooler than 16 to 18 degrees Celsius
- Winter location can be light - if it is a little darker, it often blooms
- Do not fertilize and only water when the soil has dried well
- Retreat outside in spring only in stages to get used to the sun (risk of sunburn)
- The ideal time to retreat to the open air: after the ice saints
Multiplication
Bryophyllum reproduces itself by forming many offshoots on its own during its existence. If these are ignored, the offshoots develop on the mother plant and lead to an opulent appearance with increasing width. If you want to grow your own new plants, you can use the cuttings for cultivation. Further possibilities are available for an increase and can easily be implemented using the professional instructions here.
Offshoot
Offshoots form out of the earth, where they are usually connected to the mother plant underground. This type of propagation is considered to be the simplest and most promising. This is how it works:
- Best time: between April and June / July
- Expose soil on the surface in the area of the offshoot
- Kinds with small roots should be between 0.3 and 0.8 millimeters long
- Separate offshoots directly from the mother plant with a sharp knife
- Fill a small pot with high-quality, sandy substrate
- Place cuttings in the ground and press them down lightly for more stability
- Pour moderately
- Water less than an adult plant, but never let it dry out completely
- In no case fertilize in the first year
- Location: bright at temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius
- From the age of two, care as for adult Goethe plants
Head cuttings
The chances of success of a propagation are also good with the use of cuttings. This species is mainly used when the mother plant loses its attractive appearance due to dying leaves. That is how it goes:
- Use the head cuttings and separate them from the mother plant in the desired length
- Make the cut at an angle, because then more moisture and nutrients can be absorbed from the soil
- Let the cutting air dry for one to two days (reduces the risk of rot)
- Then put in dry substrate
- Pour the soil only minimally and then always allow the soil to dry well before watering again
- Location: sunny without direct sunlight
- Ideal ambient temperature: around 20 to 22 degrees Celsius
- The ideal time to propagate cuttings: spring / May
Leaf cuttings
Not all species are suitable for propagation by leaf cuttings. However, the Kalanchoe tubiflora is predestined for this because it is one of the few to have brood buds on the Leaves and therefore there is a lot of energy in this plant area, which is conducive to an independent life is. The type of propagation is less promising, but still works in many ways. This is how it's done:
- Separate the sheet at the lowest point
- Choose a pot into which the leaf fits completely lengthways
- Fill the pot with potting soil and place the leaf on top
- It is pressed lightly, but not pressed into the earth
- Spray the soil and the leaf lightly with lime-free water every day
- Soil must not be too damp or dry out
- Stretch the translucent film over the pot
- Location: bright at at least 18 degrees Celsius
- Rooting: after about ten days - sometimes longer
- As soon as a child has formed, plant it in normal soil as described under "offshoots"
Seeds
The seeds of breeding leaves are light germs. That is, the seeds are simply placed on the ground without covering them with soil. Cultivation soil is to be used as soil. The procedure is as follows:
- Spread the seeds on the potting soil
- Moisten the soil only minimally with a sprayer
- Stretch the foil over it to increase the humidity
- Do not let the soil dry out
- Location: warm and bright without direct sunlight
- Best time: spring to summer
- Germination time: between 14 and 30 days
- Remove foil after germination
- Pricking: as soon as the plant has reached three to four centimeters in height
- Hibernate at room temperature in the first winter
Diseases
The Goethe plant is very robust against diseases. Mostly it is due to incorrect or too well-intentioned care in the area of watering. Here, excessive moisture can quickly lead to rot. If the above-ground parts of the plant are soaked, the breeding leaf can usually no longer be helped. If a bad smell rises from the earth and only the roots are affected, the following measures can save the day:
- Repot the plant immediately
- As far as possible, free the roots of wet soil
- Cut off completely soggy roots
- Shorten the rest by a third
- Allow roots to air dry for 24 hours
- Plant back in fresh, dry substrate
- Moisten the soil minimally after three to four days
- Water regularly after ten days, but significantly less than the amount that caused the rot
Pests
As insensitive as the Bryophyllum is to diseases, it also seldom attracts pests. Nevertheless, leaf lice, mealybugs or mealybugs can occasionally be infested. They are easy to get rid of with a home remedy: soapy water!
- Stir 200 milliliters of soft soap or detergent into one liter of water
- Add a dash of alcohol to enhance the effect
- Pour lye into a spray pump
- Spray the breeding leaf dripping wet from all sides
- Repeat every two days
- Duration of use: about eight to ten days
