Expand your succulent collection by growing a paddle plant for its turgid , flat leaves .
Blaine Moats
enlarge your succulent collecting indoors or alfresco with the paddle plant(Kalanchoe thyrsiflora ) . This strike succulent is get it on for how the light green , round , overweight leaves stack beside each other . They look like small paddles or flapjacks , hence the flora ’s coarse figure .

Credit:Blaine Moats
Native to South Africa , the paddle plant can be grown outdoors inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10 - 12or as a houseplant . After reaching maturity when they ’re three or four years erstwhile , boat paddle plant bring about greenish - yellow flowers in former winter or former spring . It only blooms once ; the plant dies after it bloom .
This guide covers everything you need to know to grow and worry for paddle plant as a houseplant or alfresco .
Where to Plant Paddle Plant
Paddle plant is a succulent thatthrives in full sun outside . In hot climates , plant it in an area that receives some good afternoon shade to protect it from the hot clock time of day . This plant take ample sun for the sharpness of the leaves to turn crimson and to forestall them from becoming spindly .
station paddle plants grown indoors near a south- , east- or west - face windowpane where they receivebright lightfor most of the day .
The paddle plant is toxic to cats and dogswhen ingested . Keep it away from your pet .
How and When to Plant Paddle Plant
develop a paddle plant as a houseplant allow you to bring a paddle works home anytime . However , boat paddle plant grown open air are best planted in the natural spring or summer . They make good accents and areideal for rock music garden . In climates with lovesome weather year - around , they mature well in groups .
Paddle Plant Care Tips
boat paddle flora is easy to care when its canonic need are met .
Light
Paddle plants thrive when they get full sun alfresco or direct sunlight when grown indoors . localise them near a south- , east- or west - facing windowpane to secure they get ample burnished , unmediated sunlight .
Soil and Water
Paddle plants needwell - draining soilto thrive . Use a succulent or cactus potting mix .
These plants store weewee in their leaves , so they are drought - tolerant . Water when the soil has dried totally before giving them another drinking . If weewee drains into the saucer , pour the excess water out to forestall the plant from having soggy soil that can lead toroot putrefaction . During cold month , these plant ask less body of water . Make certain to check the xerotes of the territory before watering .
Temperature and Humidity
This plant is native to South Africa and is habituate to dry , raging climates . boat paddle plants thrive in warm to hot temperature with low humidity . The leaves of paddle flora expose to inhuman temperature as low as 30 ° F are harmed . This flora can survive mid-20 ° F temperatures but will suffer harm . If your area has low temperatures that dip into the XXX , grow paddle plant in containers and move them indoors during the cold calendar month . Indoor flora do best when temperature range from 65 ° F to 75 ° F . Keep your flora forth from inhuman draught .
Fertilizer
These hardy plants do n’t need much fertilizer when implant in loose potting dirt for succulent . fecundate once a twelvemonth in the leap to give them a nutrient hike using a balanced fertilizer .
Pruning
Paddle plant do n’t take to be trim . They produce marvellous when they are get ready to bloom .
Potting and Repotting Paddle Plant
Paddle plant are ideal for growing in container , either as houseplants or outdoors . If you live in an area where temperature drop below 40 ° fluorine , bring the containers indoors when the temperature drops .
opt a potwith drainage hole and pour in succulent or cactus potting soil . You may not need to repot a paddle works because it dies after flower . If it get offsets , you may develop them in new potbelly with fresh succulent potting intermixture .
Pests and Problems
boat paddle plants do n’t typically have issues with pests or diseases . Sometimes , scale of measurement , aphids , and mealybugsbother this plant . As a prophylactic measure , check the leaf often to decoct an infestation before it have out of hand . Wipe away any pests with a damp paper towel or cloth or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol . Avoid any oils , such asneem oil , as a treatment for pests because the oil can harm the plant ’s protective leaf coating .
How to Propagate Paddle Plant
When a paddle flora is mature and thriving , it produces diminished plants near its base , known as offsets . apply these baby plants topropagate this succulentby following these steps :
Types of Paddle Plant
The boat paddle plant(Kalanchoe thyrsiflora)is one of the many member of the genusKalanchoe . There are no other boat paddle plant cultivars .
Frequently Asked Questions
yellow leafage on a boat paddle plant life indicate that the plant is overwatered . Let the ground dry out all before giving the paddle plant more H2O .
Repot the works into a larger pot after it doubles in size or annually to replenish the potting grime .
Kalanchoe . ASPCA