- Attractive Foliage
- Light Preference/Tolerated (Bright Direct Light, Bright Indirect Light)
- Below Average Watering Needs
- Succulent Soil
- Mature Height 4 feet
Succulents are popular houseplants for their low-water needs, diverse foliage, and minimal maintenance. The Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa, also called Chocolate Soldier) meets each of these expectations. With its long, thick leaves, sporting thin, silvery hairs and rusty-brown, speckled edges, the Panda Plant stands out amongst other succulents. Placed in a bright spot, this plant makes a great addition as a standalone beauty or in a succulent planter.
Best Locations For Growing Panda Plant
Like other succulents, the Panda Plant will do best in a bright windowsill where it can get several hours of sunlight a day. Succulents that are placed too far from windows tend to stretch, losing their compact structure and fullness. Place the Panda Plant in a bright bedroom or living room window without worrying about humidity or water access, or in the interior of a room with a grow light. Like other Kalanchoes, the Panda Plant is toxic, so care should be taken when placing it in a home with children or pets.
Panda Plant Sunlight Requirements
Panda Plants do best when they have access to a few hours of direct sunlight a day. For this reason, place it in an east-, west-, or south-facing window. Though the small hairs, called trichomes, serve as a way for the plant to protect itself from harsh sunlight, you may want to monitor the Panda Plant for signs of sunburn while it adjusts to a new location. When succulents are placed too far from a light source, they may begin to stretch. This is called etiolation and is a sign that the plant needs brighter or more hours of light. Rotate the Panda Plant frequently to ensure that it is growing evenly.
Panda Plant Care
The Panda Plant has few maintenance needs, requiring water infrequently and repotting rarely. Like other succulents, the Panda Plant prefers to be in a small pot, as excess soil holds onto water and increases the chance of root rot. When the Panda Plant has outgrown its pot after a couple years, choose a pot with drainage holes that is slightly larger than the previous and repot using a succulent or cactus soil. Panda Plant leaves tend to be susceptible to powdery mildew, so avoid wetting the plant’s leaves when watering or providing humidity to other plants nearby.
Watering Panda Plant
Allow the soil of the Panda Plant to dry completely before watering deeply. The frequency of watering will vary depending on lighting, temperature, and humidity. In the spring and summer, the Panda Plant will need water approximately once a month. If the soil is dry and the leaves begin to flatten and wrinkle, the succulent is using the water stored in the leaves to survive and you may need to increase watering frequency. Taper back on watering in the winter as plants slow down their growth. When soil is allowed to dry out completely, it may take adding water a few times before the soil retains moisture. In addition, succulents benefit from bottom watering - set the pot in a few inches of water until water is absorbed through the drainage holes and moisture can be felt on the soil surface. Bottom watering is especially useful for Panda Plants because their hairy leaves can collect water, increasing the chance of powdery mildew or other foliar infections.
Feeding Panda Plant
Succulents have evolved to handle harsh desert conditions, and they often grow just fine in the wild in low-quality soil with little access to nutrients. For this reason, the Panda Plant does not need to be fertilized frequently. Instead, add a liquid cactus or succulent fertilizer into your watering routine once in the springtime to encourage new growth. There is no need to fertilize in the winter as plants slow their growth.
Panda Plant Kalanchoe Tomentosa Information
Light Exposure: Bright Direct Light |
Care Requirements: Easy |
Watering Requirements: Below Average - Let the soil dry completely, then, water deeply. |
Pet Friendly: No |
Kid Friendly: No |
Air Purifier: Low |
Habit: Upright |
Growth Rate: Slow |
Mature Height: 4 feet |
Mature Spread: 3 feet |
Flowering: Yes |
Flower Color(s): Green, Yellow |
Flower Shade/Description: Yellow Green |
Fragrant: Yes |
Foliage Type: |
Foliage Color(s): Brown, Green |
Foliage Description: Green with Brown Spots On The Tips Of The Leaves |
Temperature: 60° - 75°F (16° - 24°C) |
Humidity: Below Average (20% - 40%) |
Common Name: Panda Plant Kalanchoe Tomentosa |
Other Name(s): Panda Plant, Pussy Ears |
Scientific Name: Kalanchoe Tomentosa |
Plant Type: House Plant |
- SKU:
- Succ_Kalanchoe_Panda.Plant-HP
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
For more detailed information, please click here.
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Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
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Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.