Learn All About The Amazingly Adorable Panda Plant To Grow One For Yourself!

The Plantae kingdom is full of wonders and some of these wonders have been given accreditation for their unique qualities. One such wonder that we are going to discuss is the spectacular panda plant that has been recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society and even honored with the Award of Garden Merit.

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Want to know more about this fuzzy succulent plant? Continue to read as we tell you all about the amazing features of this plant along with a guide on how to grow it so that you will have a brilliantly lively showpiece for practically any part of your house.

About the panda plant

This plant is a succulent with certain spectacular morphological features and qualities. The genus to which this plant belongs is called Kalanchoe and is a group of over 120 succulent plants that thrive in different parts of the world.

The botanical name of this plant is Kalanchoe tomentosa and belongs to the plant family known by the name of Crassulaceae. While Tomentosa means velvety or densely woolly, the other names of the plant are based on its unique looks that share a resemblance with so many things. You may come across this plant as being called by names like a Chocolate soldier, Pussy ears, Teddy bear plant, and Cocoon plant.

This species of Kalanchoe has been a native of the region of Madagascar but it rose in popularity as an easy-going houseplant and is now successfully grown all over the world. The plant grows on the granite rocks while in the wild but their adaptability to the various conditions must be lauded that is the reason behind them being able to thrive in the household conditions of various regions too.

Major physical characteristics of the panda plant

It is commonly noticed that the succulent plants share a lot of resemblance with each other but you will not have any problem in identifying the panda or cocoon plant because this fuzzy succulent stands out in the crows with its spectacularly distinctive morphological features. Here is all that you should know about this plant:

The foliage carries the entire TRP of this plant which stands out primarily because of its color scheme and texture. The leaves are green in color with the edges being crisply outlined with the darker hues of brown and red. The texture of the leaves is another unique thing which includes a glittery and fuzzy coat of fur all over the leaf that has the role of an insulator for keeping the water locked inside the plant body for the dire times.
This plant can grow up as much as to look like a small tree itself. On average, the plant grows up to 47cms but can even reach a height of 90cms too. When grown as a potted plant, the height remains limited to 2 feet only.
The plant has a woody base and stem.
The flowers of this plant look like bells from their shape and carry the same furry texture as the leaves. They have a shade of yellow with red hues bordering the petals. Flowers only appear in the outdoor Tormentosa plants and very rarely in the indoor-grown ones.
After reaching full maturity, the plant stops growing further and remains constant at the achieved height.

Growing the panda plant

A large number of Kalanchoe species are known for their ability to be cultured indoors very easily. Similarly, the chocolate soldier plant also allows some level of carelessness for its growers and does most of the work on its own while growing. The mentionable thing here is that while you don’t have to do a lot to care for this plant, there are certain requirements of this plant that must be met to get good growth.

Let’s move on to see the guide for growing the K. tomentosa plant.

Basic requirements of the plant

Here is a list of the things that are essential for the plant to thrive:

These succulents love direct and bright sunlight exposure but can do well in indirect light too. However, the direct sun in the summers can burn the leaves so keep them at indirectly lit places in these times. Good light exposure helps the leaves to develop good color and a frizzy texture.
The plant prefers stable conditions where they like to be in hot climates but hate cold weather. The ideal temperature range for this plant is 60-75 degrees F.
The plant must also be given a moderately humid environment similar to the room conditions.
The soil medium required for the good growth of this plant must be well-draining and adequately amended with organic matter. The soil also must be loose enough to allow proper aeration. You can try the mix of any potting soil with some coarse sand and perlite too.
The roots of the chocolate soldier plant prefer some space to breathe and you must choose a pot with drainage holes in it to allow excess water to drain immediately.

Method of propagating the plant

You can start with initiating the plant when the weather is hot enough like during spring or summers. Cut some leaves from a matured plant in the spring season. Allow the leaves rest for one week to let them dry out completely.

Have your pot ready with the soil mix and then plant the leave to make sure that it remains inserted upright. Water the plant immediately and continue taking care of it. It will be around 4 weeks till the roots will emerge and then the plant can be repotted.

Caring for the panda plant

Here are the best panda plant care tips that can have you a great matured plant thriving for a long:

For repotting the plant, the same conditions have to be ensured as the ones during the early plant growth. You can use any regular succulent blend when the plant matures fully and is repotted for the last time. The plant grows slowly and will need to be repotted every year when in the active growth phase and you must choose a bigger pot every time to allow the desired space for the roots to spread.
The water requirement of this plant is very low and the plant does well with the soil being a little drier. Water the plant generously and then repeat it when the soil dries out completely. The plant holds the moisture for longer and maintains its health.
The plant can be fed with any balanced soft fertilizer once in all the summer months. Dilute the fertilizer to make it 50% strong only. Cut down on fertilization during the dormancy phase of the plant.
If you the plant to bloom, then you will have to shift them in the garden outdoors and that will come with a tighter care routine where you will have to ensure stable temperature conditions for them.
Keep the plant away from the reach of pet animals as the calcium oxalate compound in its leaves is poisonous.

Conclusion

This was all about the great panda plant that can be easily grown and kept to boost the décor of any living space. You won’t find any difficulty in taking care of the plant once it reaches maturity and to make that possible, just follow what we discussed above carefully.

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