Those Kalanchloes are an odd bunch. I wrote about K. beharensis here, where I showed where I took a cutting to start a new plant. While the cutting took on the characteristics of the mother plant, the new growth on said mom came in looking like this:
In case you don’t feel like following the link, here’s a photo of the original leaf shape…certainly not the rounded leaves seen above.
I let this Kalanchloe fedschenkoi do its own thing. I’ve often been amazed at the many personalities taken on by this plant, but here’s a new one. The stems stretched out and most of the leaves fell off, leaving just these little tufts of leaves at the tips. Look…new little leaves are sprouting around the edges of those leaves (much like another in this family called ‘Mother of Thousands’). I plan to continue to leave it to its own devices just to see what it will come up with next.
Poor, poor bunny. I knew it would hate damp, but I thought it would be OK with cold. Sorry, bunny.
Back when bunny was thriving, a pad fell off and I stuck it in a pot. It hasn’t done much since then, but I guess bunny lives on.
Another goner may be Acanthus sennii. Only time will tell, but it left behind these lovely ghost leaves to remember it by should the worst happen.
Some of the buds of Euphorbia wulfenii are nodding in the usual way, getting ready to raise their heads and burst into bloom…
while others (on the same plant, mind you) are demonstrating what is meant by the expression “nipped in the bud”.
Here’s another casualty of my faulty reasoning. Loree, do you think it’s truly dead? Even the central spike of this Agave has turned to mush.
The Eucalyptus has been peeling and dropping leaves like mad. Not sure if it is reacting to the freeze or if this is normal.
No matter how bad things get, we can depend on things like the sedums to be nosing out of the ground, pushing out little rosettes of new growth. Thanks, Mom: you may keep us guessing, but some things we can depend upon.
Your Kalanchloe is a fascinating study. Sorry about the losses. It looks like most of your plants made it through OK, or you had starts of the mother plant that will live on. Yes, we can always count on the Sedums! Amazing plants!
Mother Nature certainly does keep us guessing. I have a few mushy Agaves too, and I think they’re goners, but I’m not an expert. Is that more than usual leaf drop for the Euc? I’ve been rethinking my desire to have one, given what I’ve read about their messiness.
Doing some clean up in the front garden yesterday I found some of those ghost Acanthus sennii leaves too, so beautiful! The plant in the back garden (the one I bought at the same time as yours) was cut back long ago so there were no leaves left behind to enjoy.
Yes, that agave is really and truly dead. If the center cone was still solid I’d say there was a chance but not if it’s mushy too. I could say (as everyone has been saying to me) now you get to buy a new one! But if you’re anything like me that’s not necessarily always a good thing.
Beth~I’ll keep you “posted” if the Kalanchloe comes up with any new tricks.
Alison~I was thinking of you and your artsy-craftsy tendencies when I picked up a bunch of those Euc leaves to tack onto styrofoam cones for Christmas decorations. I also scatter them on a path for a nice look. If I don’t get out there in time to pick them up, they just get mulched up by the mower…so I wouldn’t say it’s a lot of trouble.
Loree~I was pretty sure you would pronounce it dead. It was a favorite and I don’t need things to die to make room for more. So phooey on the Pollyanas, though I know they are just trying to cheer us up.
I have a very similar Kalanchloe in doors. The new leaves are small but still have the same shape. It does have crisp brown patches on a few leaves. I’m tempted to make up a mixture of baking soda / soft soap , I believe that’s the thing ?
We’ll have to meet up at JCN next month ?
Linda~A meet-up at Joy Creek sounds like just the ticket. I usually spray all of the plants in pots with insecticidal soap at the time of each migration.
Hi Ricki! I’ve never been successful with overwintering succulents . They say it’s so easy. Well, not for me. But I do have some fortune this winter – my sedum burrito looks great, and the only reason for that – no watering at all.
Euphorbias are such strong plants! Love them!
Tatyana~The succulents come close to taking over the house in the winter months. I do water sparingly about every other week and give them spots in south and east facing windows. They are super-easy to propagate, but I’m running out of people to give them to.
Crazy the way plants keep us entertained. I’m sorry for your dearly departed. Sometimes mom can be a b**ch!
Peter~I won’t tell mom you said that.
My bunny is also drooping, though it’s been inside, warm and dry all winter. Poor little bunny. The kalanchoe i got from you this fall is putting out all kinds of new growth–it’s amazing how much they perk up from the extra light, even indoors.
Heather~I was so sad about bunny’s demise. Sounds like yours may recover. Keep an eye on that Kalanchloe: they’re full of surprises.