The succulent Kalanchoë tomentosa is a real eye-catcher. In this article you can find out how to plant the rabbit ear and what else you need to know about the exotic plant.
The cat's ear is also ideal for newcomers to plants, as it does not require much care. Even if you forget to water, Kalanchoë tomentosa can draw on the water stored in the leaves. We show you the most beautiful varieties and the perfect location for your cat's ear.
Kalanchoë tomentosa: origin and characteristics
The popular houseplant Kalanchoë tomentosa (also: cat's ear, rabbit's ear or panda plant) belongs to the thick-leafed plants (Crassulaceae). It comes from the genus Kalanchoë, all of which are poisonous. The plant is native to Madagascar, where it mostly grows on rocky soil. In nature, the succulent can reach a size of up to one meter, as a houseplant the growth usually ends at about 50 cm.
The oval shaped, slightly pointed leaves gave the succulent the name "cat's ear" or "bunny's ear". The water-storing leaves are fleshy, hairy white and felty and usually arranged in rosettes. The term "tomentosus" comes from Latin and means something like "felted". Due to the soft hair, the leaves also feel almost as velvety as a cat's ears. They are gray-green in color with a reddish or brownish, partially dotted edge. The cat's ear only very rarely blooms indoors. In nature, the plant has bell-shaped flowers of green, purple, or yellow that appear between March and June.
Overview of Cat Ear Varieties
- Kalanchoë tomentosa 'Chocolate soldier': The classic among cat ears is this variety with rather narrow leaves. The edges are colored chocolate brown depending on the lighting conditions of the location.
- Kalanchoë tomentosa 'Nigra': Here the leaf edges of the cat's ear plant are usually dark browncolored and can even appear almost black. Edge coloring may be slightly stippled or almost solid.
- Kalanchoë tomentosa 'Rubra': As the name suggests, the felty leaves of this variety have a reddish hue that especially at the edges. But the whole plant also has a reddish-golden sheen.
Plant rabbit ears
The Kalanchoë tomentosa should be planted in spring when the growing season begins. She likes to be in a very bright spot in the home. In summer, the succulent needs warm temperatures of around 23 °C. This temperature can also be maintained in winter, as long as the rabbit ear gets enough light. However, it is also possible to overwinter the plant at around 15 °C. Succulent or cactus soil is suitable as a substrate, which must above all be well drained, i.e. avoid waterlogging at all costs. Cactus soil is therefore characterized by high permeability and thus good ventilation of the roots. In addition, it is only moderately nutritious. All of these properties promote he althy growth of your Kalanchoë tomentosa. The planter should have a drainage hole so that excess water can drain away.
Care for cat ear
The Kalanchoë tomentosa is easy to care for. Since it can store water in its leaves, it also survives dry periods. In the best case, it should only be poured when the soil feels dry. Excess water in the coaster is removed to avoid waterlogging. In winter, the cat's ear hardly needs any water.
Panda plants grow slowly. In the first year after purchase or repotting, the succulent does not need to be fertilized at all. If you want to support the growth a little, you can add a little fertilizer to the substrate with the irrigation water every four weeks during the growth period, i.e. between spring and autumn. Here, for example, our Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer is ideal, which not only supplies the plant with nitrogen, but above all with potassium, which is important for succulents. In addition, the microorganisms contained in the fertilizer ensure vigorous root growth.
If you are running out of space in the pot, Kalanchoë tomentosa should be repotted. The beginning of the is also best suited hereGrowing season in spring so that the plant can grow directly in the new substrate.
Caring for a cat's ear at a glance:
- Water only when the soil feels dry
- Avoid waterlogging
- Hardly water in winter
- Do not fertilize in the first year after purchase
- In the following years between spring and autumn, add liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks via the irrigation water
- Repot in spring when the old pot has become too small
Propagation of Kalanchoë tomentosa
The best way to propagate the rabbit ear plant is to take cuttings during the growth phase. To do this, cut off one or more leaves with a sharp knife directly on the main shoot and let the cut surface dry in the air for a few days. The cutting can then be planted with the cut edge down in a suitable, well-drained substrate. Depending on the growth form of the Kalanchoë tomentosa you can also cut off a whole side shoot of the plant and stick it in moist succulent soil. A plastic bag over the pot can help increase humidity. In order for the young plants to grow well, they need a light and warm location. It takes about 10 to 12 weeks for the cuttings to take root and continue growing. If propagation is to take place via seeds, these should be spread on moist succulent soil and placed in a bright and warm place. Germination starts after about 10 days.
The Flaming Katie is closely related to the Cat's Ear. It got its name from the clear, bright colors of its flowers and is particularly easy to care for.