This plant has the fascinating property of forming childlets on the edges of the leaves, which eventually fall to the ground and continue to grow there. Because of this ability to continually rejuvenate, the brood leaf was, according to the old stories, Goethe's favorite plant. If you pay attention to a few points, it turns out to be extremely easy to care for.
How do you properly care for a Kalanchoe Daigremontiana?
Kalanchoe Daigremontiana care includes moderate watering, occasional fertilization during the growing season, pruning, repotting and cool overwintering. The plant is easy to care for and resistant to pests; occasional mildew infestations can be treated with fungicides.
Water requirements
The Goethe plant only needs a moderate amount of moisture. Only water when the top few inches of the substrate feel dry. It is important to ensure good water drainage and to tip away the liquid that collects in the saucer after a few minutes. The Kalanchoe Daigremontiana is very sensitive to waterlogging, which can cause the roots to rot.
How to fertilize?
Like all Kalanchoe species, the Goethe plant is very undemanding. There is no need to fertilize at all in the first year after planting or repotting. You can then administer commercially available liquid fertilizer (€8.00 on Amazon) once a month during the growing season from April to September in the dosage recommended on the packaging. If you prefer fertilization for a fortnight, only add half the amount to the irrigation water.
Cutting
If properly cared for, Kalanchoe Daigremontiana grows quite vigorously, so occasional pruning is advisable.
- Pruning is ideally done when repotting.
- To avoid injuries and bruising at the interfaces, only use very sharp cutting tools.
- Wipe off any escaping plant sap.
- Treat cut surfaces with a wound protection product if necessary. However, this is not absolutely necessary.
Repotting
When the roots grow out of the holes in the planter, it's time to repot. Plants for which the pot is too small should ideally be 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 threatening?
The Goethe plant is very resistant and is rarely affected by diseases and pests.
Mildew occasionally occurs, which you can recognize by the following characteristics:
- The leaves are curling up.
- White spots appear on all parts of the plant.
- The plant grows much slower and will die if the fungus is not controlled.
Mildew can be easily treated with commercially available fungicides.
Tip
The Goethe plant can be easily propagated thanks to the kindles growing on the leaves. Simply place the fallen offshoots in cactus soil and care for them like the mother plant.
