Panda Plant
Kalanchoe tomentosa
Through the year 🗓️
☀️ Summer now
Give it its brightest season. A little direct sun deepens the brown leaf edging.
🍂 Fall
Taper water and feeding as growth visibly slows.
❄️ Winter
Water sparingly, roughly monthly, and keep it above 55 °F in a bright window.
🌱 Spring
Repot or refresh the mix if needed and step watering back up as new fuzzy tips appear.
The details
Light & placement
- Light
- Bright light with some direct sun; a south or west window keeps it compact and fuzzy
- Ideal PPFD
- 300–600 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Grow-light distance
- 12–18 in below LED
Water & feed
- Watering method
- Soak-and-dry: water the soil only and let it dry out fully between drinks. Keep water off the fuzzy leaves; the felt traps moisture and spots or rots.
- Fertilizer
- Cactus/succulent feed at ½ strength, monthly in spring–summer; none in winter.
Home & habit
- Soil
- Fast-draining cactus/succulent mix; pH 6.0–6.5
- Humidity
- Low (30–50%)
- Temperature
- 60–80 °F
- Mature size
- 1–2 ft indoors
- Repotting
- Every 2–3 yrs in spring; it's content slightly root-bound
- Propagation
- Leaf or stem cuttings: let the cut end callus a few days, then set on barely moist mix.
When something looks wrong
- Overwatering signs
- Soft, mushy leaves that drop; blackening stem base
- Underwatering signs
- Wrinkled, limp leaves; dry lower leaves shedding
- Common pests
- Mealybugs (hard to spot in the fuzz), spider mites, scale
Common problems 🩺
The usual suspects when Panda Plant looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.
Mushy stem and dropping leaves
Likely cause
Overwatering.
What to do
Gritty mix, and water only when the soil is completely dry.
Brown marks on the fuzzy leaves
Likely cause
Water sitting on the felt-like hairs, which then rot or scar.
What to do
Water at the soil only and never mist. Marks are permanent but harmless.
Stretched, sparse growth
Likely cause
Not enough light.
What to do
Bright light with some direct sun; pinch the tips to encourage branching.
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