How To Save Overwatered Panda Plants - Reasons & Fix

Due to its fuzzy gray-green leaves with appealing purplish-brown tips, Kalanchoe tomentosa is also known as the Kalanchoe Panda Plant, Donkey Ears, or Pussy Ears.

Compared to other varieties of Kalanchoe, this attractive succulent plant does not bloom as frequently, but its intriguing leaves make up for this.

As a succulent, the panda plant is resistant to drought and will suffer more from overwatering than from underwatering.

Tips for avoiding overwatering panda plants are provided in this article. We also cover methods for saving your panda plant in the event that you overwatered it. Read on to discover more.

How to Save Overwatering Panda Plant

The succulent is overwatered if it has yellow, fuzzy, transparent, or kalanchoe stems or leaves. The roots would rot as well. Shrunken and wilted leaves are indicators of underwatering. For healthy growth, the fuzzy panda succulent needs cactus potting soil.

The root rot that has developed is the result of keeping a panda plant in a plastic container with rich-appearing soil that has been overwatered.

Succulent plants need to be kept in containers with plenty of room for air to circulate around the roots. Containers made of terra cotta are ideal.

The planting medium ought to be airy and light. Ideal is a cactus or succulent mix that has been prepared commercially.

Coarse sand and high-quality potting mix mixed 50/50 will also work.

Fungicide application rarely helps rotted panda plants survive. However, it is unlikely that the base of this plant will survive without being replanted into a new, suitable container with light, dry, appropriate soil.

• Read More about Panda Plant (Kalanchoe Tomentosa) Care

Can You Undo Overwatering?

As soon as you notice an overwatered succulent, such as a kalanchoe, you must first assess the extent of the damage.

Let's say the soil and container are appropriate, but the plant is droopy because of excessive watering.

In that case, withholding water and enhancing airflow around the plant might be enough to save it.

Making a few holes in the soil's surface or turning the soil with a fork can help the air flow.

If the plant is crowded with other plants, move it to a location with good airflow.

If rot has already begun, trying to take healthy cuttings is always a good idea.

You must take the plant out of the moist substrate, rinse the roots, and carefully inspect them if you want to save (or try to save) the base of the plant.

You should probably discard the plant's base and just hope for the best with your cuttings if the roots are a mushy mass.

Trim away mushy brown roots if there are any remaining healthy ones, and then let the plant air in a protected area with good airflow.

To stop the spread of the fungal growth, leave it bare-rooted for a day or two.

Before letting the plant dry, you might also want to spray the roots with a solution made up of 50 percent hydrogen peroxide and 50 percent water.

Repot your panda plant in a terra cotta pot with lots of drainage holes after a few days have passed.

Use a substrate designed specifically for succulents or cacti (as mentioned above). It should only be very slightly damp on the substrate.

After repotting, withhold water for about a week and then water sparingly. Be patient; the plant's remaining leaves will most likely wither and die.

Keep the pot in an area that is consistently warm, has plenty of indirect light from the sun, and has good airflow.

Continue to water in moderation. The roots might recover and produce new growth given some time (two to four weeks).

How to Avoid Overwatering in Future

Succulents require soil that drains quickly at all times. This type of soil is permeable to water.

Make sure not to leave water in the saucer where your plant pot is resting if it is.

For succulents and the majority of plants, use the soak-and-dry technique when watering. Water thoroughly, allowing the water to drain through the many drainage holes in the pots.

The potting medium should not be watered once more until it feels dry to the touch or the plant begins to look slightly parched (wilted).

Do not cram your plants. Ample airflow should always be allowed. This aids in the prevention of a number of bothersome insect pests and fungal infections.

Observe how your plant is doing.

Investigate right away and make adjustments to help your plant dry out and recover if you notice yellowing leaves, floppy stems, fungus gnats, or unpleasant odors.

Panda Plant Care

Succulents require little maintenance. It can reach a maximum height of 1.5 feet. Owners of succulents adore this Panda ears plant because it requires very little maintenance. Here is the kalanchoe tomentosa care guide:

1. This particular kalanchoe tomentosa variety prefers room temperature, which explains why it is such a well-liked indoor plant. Try to provide the plant with its usual temperature range of 60 to 75 °F.
2. Water the kalanchoe fuzzy succulent in moderation. Due to its drought resistance, this succulent requires less water. Additionally, the root system can become rotted from too much water. Before watering, make sure the soil is completely dry.
3. It is necessary to fertilize the panda paw plant each month. They thrive and grow contentedly when fertilizer is diluted into the water every month. The best times to fertilize are in the spring or toward the end of the summer.
4. The kalanchoe tomentosa teddy bear grows slowly, which is a blessing. One pot change every two years is allowed for the succulent. Kalanchoe cuttings can be used for propagation.
5. Keeping pests like mealybugs away from kalanchoe cinnamon is a crucial part of taking care of it. If you spot the bugs, use a cloth dipped in alcohol to wipe them off the infected area.
6. For pets, particularly cats and dogs, kalanchoe teddy bears can be toxic. Being around pets necessitates caution.
7. Six hours per day of direct sunlight are necessary for the chocolate panda succulent. If your plant is indoors, place it close to a window that gets a lot of sunlight.
8. The kalanchoe panda ears are not resistant to freezing. They cannot endure below-freezing conditions. Kalanchoe tomentosa can be grown in US hardiness zones 9a to 11b.
9. At room temperature, Hairy Kalanchoe can withstand normal humidity. The plant is sensitive, so use caution when exposing it to higher humidity levels.
10. The ability to tell when a panda ear succulent is being overwatered or underwatered is a crucial aspect of panda ear succulent care. The succulent is overwatered if its stems or leaves are fuzzy, transparent yellow kalanchoe. The roots would also begin to rot. Shrunken and wrinkled leaves are indicators of underwatering.
11. Cactus potting mix is necessary for the fuzzy panda succulent to grow healthily. Make sure the soil drains properly. It works wonders when perlite is added to regular soil.
12. Regular pruning is not necessary for the succulent. It is possible to let the plant keep its shape, though. Pruning requires the use of sterile tools. Choose razor-sharp pruning shears to ensure that the first pass at pruning is successful. Decide to prune the dead and decayed parts first. Remove the long leaves and the overgrown areas after that.

Conclusion

Panda Plants do not like to be overwatered and are drought tolerant like the majority of succulents. In between waterings, let the soil completely dry out. If you are growing them outdoors in the summer, you may need to water them more frequently because the heat and sun will make the soil dry out more quickly.

FAQs

Are Panda Plants Easy to Care For?

The panda plant is simple to take care of compared to other common houseplants. This type of succulent can flourish when given little care; in fact, excessive watering can actually do it harm.

How Fast Do Panda Plants Grow?

Typically, the height of an indoor panda plant increases by no more than 2 feet and a few inches each year.

How Long Can Panda Plants Live?

In ideal conditions, a panda plant can survive for up to ten years indoors. This includes receiving enough sunlight and watering.