Panda Plant (Kalanchoe Tomentosa) Care And Growing Guide

Panda plant (Kalanchoe Tomentosa) is native to Madagascar, a dry region. The leaves of Panda Plant are fluffy, like rabbit ears, gray white, with brown spots between them, and easy to branch. Panda plant belongs to the summer type of succulent plants, which grows vigorously from late autumn to early spring. When the sun is sufficient, the leaf tips of panda plant will appear brown markings. What should we pay attention to when taking care of panda plant?

Panda Plant Quick Info

Botanical/Scientific Name	Kalanchoe Tomentosa
Common Name	Pussy Ears, Panda Plant
Uses	Medicinal uses
Origin	Madagascar
Light Care	Bright light and sunshine
Soil Care	Dry between waterings
Temperature Care	Between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity Care	Indoor humidity level
Watering	Water the plant once every 5 to 6 days
Pruning Care	Prune the stem and remove the long leaves
Fertilizer Care	Diluted fertilizer
Propagation	Leaf and stem cuttings
Toxic	Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Flower Color	Bright orange, pink, yellow, red and even in white

When Does Panda Plant Bloom & Harvest

If the panda plant is properly maintained, it will also bloom. Generally, in the early summer, a higher flower stem will grow on the top of the panda plant, and umbels will grow on the top of the flower stem, and delicate flowers will bloom one after another. The flowers of Panda Plant are generally pink. The flowering period of panda plant is still very long for viewing.

Panda Plant Care in Detail

Watering

The planting of panda plant needs more watering. It likes water. When panda plant has strong vitality, strong growth ability and fast growth, we should water more and bask more in the sun, which can promote the photosynthesis of Panda Plant and make it process more nutrients to meet the needs of Panda Plant's own growth. Generally, this time is spring and autumn. It is necessary to water panda plant more.

Soil

For the soil for planting panda plant, we can choose some loose soil with strong air permeability, such as mixing carbon slag and soil. Panda plant is very easy to feed. It can survive by digging some soil from anywhere. Panda plant is very suitable for planting in sandy soil. We can prepare some fertile rotten leaf soil, plus vermiculite, river sand and garden soil. Rotten leaf soil accounts for a little more, so as to maintain the sustainable nutrient supply of the soil. The addition of granular vermiculite and river sand can improve the air permeability and drainage effect of the soil without hardening, and mix all the soil together, In this way, panda plant can be planted in pots. It is best to disinfect with fungicide before planting, because there are some insect eggs and harmful bacteria in the soil that are not easy to observe, so that the potted panda plant is more assured.

Light

If we want to keep panda plant potted plants well, we must ensure that there is sufficient light. There are more than 6 ~ 8 hours of direct light every day, which is very beneficial to the growth of panda plant. The temperature in spring and autumn is more suitable. We can put the panda plant in the sun all day. Panda Plant likes to bathe in the sun very much. Except in summer, we should try our best to keep it quiet in the sun every day. If there are new leaves growing, the petiole is slightly white, and the leaves in the middle of the plant grow wildly, this is that panda plant lacks light, and we should increase its light time.

Temperature

The suitable temperature for panda plant is between 16 ℃ and 26 ℃. The maximum temperature it can withstand is between 5 ℃ and 30 ℃. As a succulent plant, panda plant is sensitive to temperature changes. So we try to control the temperature around it between 5 ℃ and 30 ℃ during maintenance. If the temperature around the panda plant exceeds 30 ℃, the panda plant will grow slowly. When the temperature exceeds 35 ℃, the panda plant will stop growing and enter a dormant state. Therefore, we should take cooling and ventilation measures for it in summer. Panda plant is not cold resistant. In winter, we should move it indoors for maintenance, and keep the indoor temperature no lower than 5 ℃. If the temperature is too low, the panda plant will grow slowly. Therefore, in order for panda plant to survive the winter safely, we'd better keep the indoor temperature above 5 ℃ during maintenance.

Humidity

We should avoid high air humidity because panda plant prefers a dry environment. When it is excessively hot in summer, it is necessary to properly shade Panda Plant and give sunshine in other seasons. It is best to maintain a well ventilated environment.

Fertilizer

Panda plant grows relatively fast. Although it has the characteristics of barren resistance, it should be fertilized normally if it wants to grow well. However, we should not apply excessive fertilizer to Panda plant. In the growth period, we can apply light fertilizer once a month, and in the dormancy period, we should stop applying fertilizer. We can fully combine base fertilizer and topdressing, granular fertilizer and liquid fertilizer, organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer, nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
The growth rate of panda plant is relatively fast. Although it has the characteristics of barren resistance, if we want to make panda plant grow well, we should apply fertilizer normally. If the fertilizer supply is insufficient, the growth of panda plant is likely to be unsatisfactory.

Pruning

After 2-3 years of plant growth in Panda Plant, the plant is generally tall and has many leaves. The lower blade of panda plant is easy to age, turn yellow and fall off. At this time, we will conduct panda plant pruning to avoid affecting the viewing.
If panda plant grows too long due to improper maintenance, it will affect the viewing effect. At this time, we need panda plant pruning. We can trim the panda plant to improve its overgrowth, and take this opportunity to cut and reproduce new plants.
Some people prefer to operate by themselves and trim the panda plant to make various shapes they like. This kind of Panda Plant scissors is generally arbitrary, which can better show the personal characteristics of flower growers.

Repotting

The best time for Panda Plant repotting is in the spring when the temperature rises slowly. It is best to change the basin before the first watering in early spring.
When changing basin in Panda Plant, it is generally best to bring original soil. However, due to the loss of nutrients in the soil and the fear of insect eggs in the soil, someone chose a new soil to replace the basin. When changing basin at panda plant, we can choose to use original soil or new soil according to our own ideas.
Panda plant requires fertile and loose soil with good drainage. Sandy soil is selected, and the matrix can be prepared with rotten leaf soil, garden soil, peat soil, coarse sand and other materials. We can put in a certain amount of base fertilizer. Compound long-term fertilizer can be used, and the effect of human base fertilizer is also very good.

Pest & Disease Control

The insect pests of Panda Plant include scale insects, whiteflies and red spiders. Some pests like windless, warm and humid weather. This is true of scale insects and whiteflies, and red spiders prefer dry weather.
When we find that panda plant is endangered by pests, we should intervene in time. At ordinary times, we should pay attention to improving the living environment of Panda Plant and pay attention to ventilation to avoid the breeding of pests. Be extra careful when it's hot and rainy in summer. Reduce watering, pay attention to sun exposure, and choose a ventilated and cool place to maintain panda plant. Because the climate characteristics of high temperature and rainy weather are mainly muggy and humid, which is easy to breed pests.
Once we find traces of pests in Panda Plant, we will spray pesticides. It can be sprayed with 40% Omethoate EC 1000 times to kill pests. We can also make our own plant pesticides, such as garlic water, pepper water, tobacco water, etc. The advantages of these self-made plant pesticides are pollution-free, simple production and low cost.

Panda Plant Propagation

Propagating Panda Plant from Cutting

In the process of propagating panda plant, if we water too much or lack light, it will grow too long. At this time, we can carry out cutting propagation of panda plant. First of all, we can put the branches cut by Panda Plant in a cool and ventilated place to dry and wait for the wound to heal. Then we can cut in the wet sand. The sand is required to be loose, breathable and good drainage. After cutting, panda plant should be placed in a ventilated place to avoid sun exposure. It will take about 20 days to take root and sprout. We also need to know the last time of panda plant cutting, because the growth season of panda plant is in spring and autumn, but summer is the dormancy period of panda plant. In summer, due to high temperature, the growth of panda plant will slow down, and cutting in summer is easy to cause decay, so we generally choose to cut in spring and autumn every year. (Read More:How To Save Overwatered Panda Plants)

How to Propagate Panda Plant from Division

The time of panda plant propagation from division can be in spring or autumn. Generally, it is divided once every three years. As long as the panda plant with strong growth and dense pseudocorms can be divided, at least 5 connected pseudocorms should be reserved on each cluster after division.
We must reduce watering before panda plant propagation from division, and the basin soil should be mainly dry. We should place a layer of broken tiles at the bottom of the flowerpot, and then lay a layer of coarse-grained stones to occupy one-fifth to one-quarter of the depth of the flowerpot, and then continue to put coarse-grained soil and some fine sand. When planting, it should be noted that the depth is the best place to bury the pseudobulb in the soil. Leave a 2cm gap on the edge of the flowerpot and lay some fine stones.
The final work is to pour water at one time, and then put it in a cool environment for ten days to half a month. Be sure to keep the soil moist. In the later stage, you can slowly reduce watering and change it to normal maintenance.

Panda Plant Propagation from Seed

The seeds of Panda Plant are very small, and there is only one embryo in the seeds that is not fully developed, so the germination ability of panda plant is very low. In addition, its seed coat is not easy to absorb water, so it cannot germinate if it is taken care of by conventional methods. Therefore, we must supplement nutrition to Panda Plant by artificial culture to help it germinate, Therefore, we generally do not use panda plant propagation from seed.
We'd better choose the fruits of panda plant that haven't cracked. The surface should be disinfected with 75% alcohol. Then we can take out the seeds of Panda Plant and soak them in 10% sodium hypochlorite for five to ten minutes. After taking them out, wash them with purified water and put them in a nutrition bottle for cultivation!
The nutrient bottle should be placed in a dark culture room, and the temperature should be kept at about 25 degrees. When germination begins, it can be moved to a place with light, so that some protocorms can be formed. It usually takes half a year to one year from the sowing of panda plant to transplanting and planting.

Panda Plant Benefits

Viewing function of Panda Plant

The blades of Panda Plant are opposite, and the shape is long shuttle type. There are fine hairs on the whole plant, and there are brown spots on the edge of the leaves.
The color of the leaves of panda plant is slightly yellow, the newly grown leaves are dazzling golden yellow, and the old leaves are some dark brown yellow. The leaf tip of panda plant is round and looks very cute.
A basin of panda plant is small, exquisite and lovely. The color and shape of the leaves are very beautiful, which has good ornamental value. We put Panda Plant at home to decorate the home, which is both pleasing and interesting.
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Potting function of Panda Plant

Panda plant has beautiful leaf shape and can bloom. Although the growth is slow. However, as long as you take care of it carefully, it is not very difficult to maintain it.
We can make panda plant into small potted plants to decorate the interior. Decorating Panda Plant in the bedroom, balcony, desktop, etc. can add some fresh feeling and natural taste to the room. You can also work with other meat pots to make beautiful meat bonsai.

Purification of Panda Plant

We put the panda plant next to the TV and computer, which can absorb part of the radiation and reduce the damage to people's body. Panda plant can also absorb formaldehyde and purify the air when placed indoors. During photosynthesis, panda plant can inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, so as to improve air quality.