Elephant ear Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe beharensis)

El Kalanchoe beharensis It is a succulent plant with a bushy appearance that can be grown very easily both in pots and in gardens if they are warm. It has large, fleshy, and very soft leaves to the touch, which is one more reason to recommend it to you  .

Also, although it takes a while to do so, it produces quite pretty flowers; so that then I will tell you the care you should provide so that it has a good growth.

Origin and characteristics of Kalanchoe beharensis

It is a succulent plant endemic to Madagascar with a shrubby habit that can exceed 3 meters in height known as elephant ear kalanchoe. Its trunk is thin, greyish, and has a tendency to grow sloping. The branches are not very long, more or less than 40-50cm at most, and from their ends sprout the leaves that are fleshy, petiolate, with a triangular-lanceolate shape, plush, olive green and with a size of 10- 20cm long by 5-10cm wide.

The flowers are pedunculated, composed of four petals that are almost welded and a corolla of about 7mm. Blooms in spring, when the minimum temperature begins to rise from 15-20 degrees Celsius.

What are their cares?

Do you want to have a copy? Well, it's time to tell you what their needs are:

Climate

It is very important to know in what climate the plant we want to buy normally lives, since it happens very often to acquire one simply because we like it, without thinking that it may not withstand the conditions of the area where we are.

So, keeping this in mind, el Kalanchoe beharensis likes dry tropical climatesIn other words, in order to be able to be in the garden all year round, it is very good that the minimum temperature is 7 degrees Celsius or higher, and that the rainfall is rather scarce. But that does not mean that it cannot be in other places.

I myself have a specimen and it resists every year -weak and occasional frosts of up to -1,5ºC.

Location

It depends on where you are going to have it:

• Exterior: it has to be in an area where the sun shines directly, but be careful, if they had it sheltered from it, gradually accustom it to the star king to avoid causing burns.
• Interior: it is important that it is in a very bright area, away from both cold and warm drafts. If you are going to place it near the window, remember to rotate the pot once a week so that all parts of your plant receive the same amount of light, thus avoiding the debilitating stretching of its stems and leaves.

Irrigation

Like almost all Kalanchoe, the K.beharensis it is a fairly drought resistant plant. But fear waterlogging. In fact, depending on the climate and the season of the year in which you are, the ideal is to let the land dry completely between waterings.

During the summer, if it tends to be rather dry and warm, it may need a watering every 3-4 days; while the rest of the seasons one every 6-10 and even 15 days.

Fertilizer of the elephant ear kalanchoe

It is advisable that You fertilize it in spring and summer with specific fertilizers for cacti and other succulents, following the directions on the package. The latter is very important, because not by adding more quantity the plant will grow faster; in fact, if more is added than what is indicated, what will happen is that it will overdose, its roots will "burn out" and the health of the specimen will be weakened.

Planting or transplanting time

It is planted in the garden in spring, when the minimum temperature exceeds 15ºC. In case of having it in a pot, it must be transplanted every two or three years, always moving it to a larger pot with holes for drainage.

Multiplication

El Kalanchoe beharensis multiplies by seeds and stem cuttings in spring-summer. Let's see what is the step by step:

Seeds

To multiply it by seeds you have to fill a seedling tray - the ones that are often used to sow garden plants - with universal cultivation substrate mixed with 50% perlite, and water thoroughly. Then, place a maximum of two seeds in each socket, cover them with a thin layer of substrate, and finally, put the seedbed outside, in a bright area but without direct sun.

Thus, keeping the soil moist, they will germinate in about two or three weeks.

Stem cuttings

It is the fastest option. You just have to cut a stem, let the wound dry in semi-shade for about five days, and then plant it in a pot with universal substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts or in the garden.

This way it will emit its own roots after about two weeks.

Pests and diseases Kalanchoe beharensis

It's very tough. However, you have to keep an eye on the snails and slugs for they are animals that devour their leaves.

Rusticity

Ideally, it should not drop below 0 degrees, but if there are very weak frosts (down to -2ºC) and of short duration, it does not have to affect you too much either. I may lose a leaf, but nothing too serious.

What did you think of the Kalanchoe beharensis?