Kalanchoe orgyalis, a rare and precious succulent
Kalanchoe orgyalis
- Exposure
- Sun
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11a (4.4°C ≤ T° < 7.2°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Genus
- Kalanchoë Kalanchoe
- Species
- Kalanchoe orgyalis
Other names:Kalanchoe antanosiana, Kalanchoe cantonasyana
In Madagascar, amid rocky outcrops and on the driest soils, a gem flourishes: Kalanchoe orgyalis. This member of the Crassulaceae family delights those who discover it with its coppery leaves and golden flowers. But there's no need to travel to the ends of the earth to admire its foliage. The plant can also be grown indoors.
How can you recognize Kalanchoe orgyalis?
Kalanchoe orgyalis is a succulent shrub that, in the wild, can reach two meters in height and nearly the same span. When potted and grown indoors, it's more modest in size and will fit right in your living room.
Kalanchoe orgyalis isn't a cousin of Kalanchoe tomentosa for nothing! Like its cousin, it has an upright, branched stem. Beige in color, the stem is covered with a fine fuzz.
The spoon-shaped leaves are adorned with tiny golden hairs. The color of the leaf blades changes depending on sun exposure. The green upper surface displays coppery hues, while the underside is gray and silvery.
In the fall, golden-yellow flowers adorn the foliage. They grow in panicles on a one-meter-long flower stalk.
Kalanchoe orgyalis is toxic if ingested. All parts of the plant contain bufadienolides. This substance is harmful to the nervous system and muscles. If you have pets, keep the plant out of their reach.
Our care tips
Although kalanchoe orgyalis can't stand the cold, they adapt very well to the dry air of our apartments, even in winter. Regular watering and a little care are all it takes to grow them indoors.
Watering
Keep the soil slightly moist. Water only when the substrate is dry on the surface, for one or two centimeters.
Water with non-calcareous water at room temperature, without soaking the soil.
Thirty minutes after watering, empty any stagnant water from the cup. This will keep the roots dry and prevent them from rotting.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Kalanchoe orgyalis to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
Get a pot with holes in it. Over time, foliage can become imposing. To prevent its weight from tipping the container over, choose a heavy model, in terracotta or ceramic for example. Line the bottom with pebbles.
This variety appreciates rich, well-drained soil. You can combine potting soil for flowering plants or heather soil with perlite or pozzolan. Pour in a layer of substrate, then plant your specimen in the center. Fill in with the rest of the mixture.
Water for the first time to eliminate air bubbles and encourage rooting.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Feed your Kalanchoe orgyalis with a special liquid fertilizer for flowering plants.
Prune
Remove wilted flowers. If you can't cut the flower stem with your hands, you can use pruning shears. Remember to clean your tool beforehand to prevent disease transmission.
Taking cuttings
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Locate a healthy, flowerless stem. Using a clean, sharp tool, cut off an eight- to ten-centimeter section. Remove the lower leaves and leave to dry for 24 hours before planting.
In a pot with drainage holes, pour in a layer of gravel or clay pellets, followed by the substrate. To promote growth, choose a rich substrate such as a horticultural potting mix or a mix for seedlings and planting. You can add sand for drainage. Plant your cutting and cover the roots with soil.
Place your cutting in a bright spot, but out of direct sunlight.
Place your cutting in a bright spot, but out of direct sunlight.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposure
- Sun
- Substrates
- Humus soilSandy soil
- Planting method
- In pots
- Tags
- BeginnerFloweryCold-sensitiveToxic
- Origin
- South Africa
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11a (4.4°C ≤ T° < 7.2°C)
- Leaf colors
- Dark greenLight greenSilverGolden
- Flower colors
- YellowGolden
Discover plants from the same family
Blossfeld's Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Kalanchoe of Daigremont
Kalanchoe daigremontiana
Thyrse flowered Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora
Panda plant
Kalanchoe tomentosa
Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
