Penwiper (Kalanchoe marmorata) profile

Penwiper, scientific name Kalanchoe marmorata, also called spotted Kalanchoe, is a herb of the family Penwiper, perennial herbs and flowers. 

Penwiper picture

Morphological characteristics of Penwiper

Penwiper is a succulent perennial, shrubby plant, usually branched at the base, with a cylindrical stem and erect growth. Leaves are alternately opposite fleshy, sessile, obovate, margin irregularly undulate teeth, ca. 10 cm, bluish gray to grayish green, covered with a thin white powder, surface with reddish-brown to purple-brown spots or stripes. Flowers of penwiper are white, but rarely seen in cultivation. It is often cultivated as a foliage plant.

The ecological habits of Penwiper

Penwiper is suitable for a warm, dry and sunny environment, not cold, avoid water wet, drought resistance and half shade, strong light exposure and too shade are adverse to plant growth.

How to grow and care for Penwiper

Light

In cultivation, if the light is not enough, it will cause long stems and leaves, loose plant shape, dim leaf color, white powder disappear, spot color decline, plant lack of vitality, seriously affect the ornamental.

Direct sunlight of summer can cause leaf tips to wither again. Therefore, in addition to the summer high temperature, Penwiper should be appropriate shading, other seasons should be given sufficient light, so that the cultivated plant leaves hypertrophy, white powder is obvious, purplish brown spots clear and significant, very beautiful. Because the Penwiper grows slowly when summer high temperature, should strengthen ventilation, lest because soil moisture is too large, cause base stem and leaf to become yellow rot.

Temperature

In winter, put Penwiper in the indoor sunny place, not less than 12℃ at night, in the daytime above 18℃, can be normal watering, so that the plant continues to grow; If such high temperatures cannot be maintained, water the Penwiper in moderation and make them dormant. They can also withstand low temperatures of 5 ° C.

Water

Spring and autumn are the boom period of Penwipert growth, keep the soil moist but not water, apply a month of decaying thin liquid fertilizer or inorganic compound fertilizer. Repot each spring and prune the plants to keep them in perfect shape.

Soil

Basin soil should be used loose and fertile, with good drainage, water retention performance of the sandy soil. It can be used after mixing 2 parts of leaf rot soil, 1 part of garden soil, 2 parts of coarse sand or vermiculite, plus a small amount of decrepit bone meal. Because the root system of Penwiper is developed, it should be planted in a larger pot.

Newly planted Penwiper in the bright light and no direct sunlight place maintenance, do not have to pour too much water, such as the recovery of growth and then normal maintenance.

Fertilizer

Most succulents need very little fertilizer. Watering with a well balanced fertilizer once a month will be all they need.

Penwiper's propagation

Propagation with cutting method, with spring, autumn season survival rate is the highest, if the winter is not lower than 18℃ can also be carried out. Cut out the top branches of strong mature Penwiper, each section is 5 ~ 8 cm long, to be cut dry after inserted in the sand, keep a little moisture, about 10 days can take root.

If a large number of breeding with leaf cuttings, the leaves used to mature and full, flat or oblique inserted in the sand, do not have to water; Often spray moisturizing, 2 weeks or so rooting, such as leaf base minister adventitious buds, the formation of seedlings on the basin.

The distribution area of PenWiper

Penwiper is originally from Somalia and Ethiopia in Africa.

Penwiper landscaping purposes

Penwiper leaves are hypertrophy, gray green or blue-green leaves covered with a maroon spot, like a beautiful palette, foliage in plants is more than meat, large plants to decorate a desert ecological landscape in the greenhouse, botanical garden, potted seedlings can be family, beautification balcony, windowsill, the place such as sitting room, its leaves mottled lovely, has distinguishing feature quite.