The Panda plant, also known as the Kalanchoe plant, is part of the Crassulaceae family and is native to Madagascar. It gets its name from its soft, velvety, fuzzy pale green leaves resembling animal ears. Keep reading to learn all about Panda plant care and why you should keep this unique plant in your home or office.
Other Names
- Kalanchoe tomentosa
- Kalanchoe plant
- White Lady
- Donkey Ears
- Chocolate Soldiers
- Pussy Ears
- Cat Ears
- Plush plant
What Soil Works Best for Panda Plants?
White Lady plants do best with a potting mix made for cactus or succulent plants. These are typically well-draining potting soils with a lot of sand or perlite. A well-draining ground is essential to prevent your Panda plant from being overwatered or developing a disease like root rot.
Panda plants do best with a slightly acidic soil pH between 6.1 and 6.5. Most standard potting mixes will be in this range.
How Much Sun Does a Cat Ears Plant Need?
Panda plants love the sunshine, so they do best in a sunny window or bright light. They do well with full sun and direct sunlight. However, if your plant seems to be getting too much sunlight or starts to develop brown spots, you may wish to move it somewhere that gets more partial shade instead.
What Temperature Works Best for Panda Plants?
Plush plants are great indoor plants because they do well with the temperatures in most homes. The ideal temperature range for a Plush plant is between 60–75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your White Lady plant in a temperature-controlled area of your home, and they should thrive for years!
Do Cat Ears Plants Enjoy Humidity?
Panda plants tend to be low-humidity plants and do not enjoy extreme humidity. They do well with 40% humidity levels, typical for many homes and environments. They are drought-tolerant and even do well with dry air. They do not need misting or being in humid areas of the house, as they should get all the moisture from their regular watering.
How Often Should You Water a Panda Plant?
Since Panda Plants are native to the hot climate of Madagascar, they are known for their hardiness and are very drought-tolerant, so that you can water them once every three to four weeks. Succulents store water in their leaves for an extended amount of time. So, it is essential to avoid overwatering your Panda plant. Let the soil dry before you water it again.
Give it a good soak when your Panda Plant is ready to be watered. Be sure to use a pot with suitable drainage holes to drain any excess water. If using a bottom tray underneath your pot, be sure to empty any excess water and avoid letting the plant sit in water. When watering, soak the soil but avoid getting the leaves wet, as this can cause them to rot.
What Size Do Panda Plants Grow to Typically?
Like many succulents, Panda plants are slow growers. When they’re mature, they can grow to be about 1–2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. However, their size will also depend on how large their pot is.
Most Common Bugs
Kalanchoe plants are not very susceptible to pests, but mealybugs, aphids, and scales can still infect them. Typically speaking, you will discover these bugs on the underside of the leaves. Another sign of bugs is if you notice white, cottony residue around the base of the leaves.
If your plant has these pests, give it a gentle wash with insecticidal soap and let the leaves dry out thoroughly. Mealybugs can also be exterminated by gently rubbing the affected areas with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol.
Most Common Diseases
Panda plants are also not affected by many diseases, but they can be susceptible to root rot. Root rot occurs by overwatering, poor drainage, and improper potting soil.
You want the plant to be a soil mix for cactus or succulents to avoid root rot. Next, you want to use a pot that has suitable drainage holes. Finally, keep this plant in a sunny area and only water it occasionally.
How Often Should You Repot Panda Plants?
Since they grow slowly, Panda plants do not need repotting often. Consider repotting every two years or whenever the plant seems to have outgrown its current pot. Repot your plant in a container that is the next size up.
The best time to repot your Panda plant is during spring or summer during the plant’s growing season. Repotting during the spring or summer will help encourage it to grow new roots and adapt to the new pot.
How Do You Propagate Panda Plants?
Panda plants are easy to propagate. Below are the four steps to take to propagate this plant properly.
- Use a sharp, clean scissor or knife to cut off a healthy leaf at the base.
- Allow the leaf to dry out for about a week and form a scab over the area where you cut it.
- Once the scab forms, you can plant the leaf-cutting directly in its new pot with potting soil.
- The cutting should take root within several weeks and will begin growing fresh leaves in time.
Is this Plant Toxic?
While this plant is cute and fuzzy like our pets, please note that the Panda plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Eating this plant’s common signs and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness.
Conclusion — How to Take Care of a Panda Plant
In summary, panda plants are simple to take care of for any plant owner. It is a low-maintenance houseplant that requires minimal watering and attention, but its velvety leaves provide so much visual interest to your indoor space. Plush plants are great for beginners, children, and forgetful plant owners alike!