This plant has the fascinating property of forming children on the edges of the leaves, which eventually fall to the ground and continue to grow there. Because of this ability to continuously rejuvenate, if the old tales are to be believed, the brood leaf was Goethe's particular favorite plant. If you pay attention to a few points, it proves to be extremely easy to care for.

Beautiful to look at and extremely practical: the Kindel of the Kalanchoe daigremontiana

The water requirement

The goethe plant only requires a moderate amount of moisture. Water only when the top inches of the substrate feel dry. It is important to ensure good water drainage and to tip away the liquid that has collected in the coaster after a few minutes. The Kalanchoe Daigremontiana is very sensitive to waterlogging, which can cause the roots to rot.

How is fertilized?

Like all Kalanchoe species, the Goethe plant is very frugal. In the first year after planting or repotting, there is no need to fertilize at all. You can then administer commercial liquid fertilizer once a month during the growth period from April to September in the dosage recommended on the packaging. If you prefer fortnightly fertilization, only add half the amount to the irrigation water.

To cut

When cared for properly, Kalanchoe Daigremontiana grows quite vigorously, so occasional pruning is advisable.

  • The pruning is ideally done when repotting.
  • To avoid injuries and bruises at the interfaces, only use very sharp cutting tools.
  • Wipe off escaping plant sap.
  • If necessary, treat cut surfaces with a wound protection agent. However, this is not absolutely necessary.

repot

At the latest when the roots grow out of the holes in the planter, it is time to repot. Plants for which the pot is too small are ideally placed in fresh cactus soil and a larger pot in March at the beginning of the growing season.

How do you overwinter?

In the winter months you should keep the Kalanchoe Daigremontiana cooler, temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees are ideal. Water significantly less.

What pests and diseases are there?

The goethe plant is very resistant and is rarely attacked by diseases and pests.

Occasionally powdery mildew occurs, which you can recognize by the following characteristics:

  • The leaves curl up.
  • White spots appear on all parts of the plant.
  • The plant grows much more slowly and dies if the fungus is not combated.

Powdery mildew can be treated well with commercially available fungicides.

tips

The Goethe plant can be propagated without any problems thanks to the kindling that grows on the leaves. Simply put the fallen offshoots in cactus soil and care for them like the mother plant.

Category:

Vegetable garden