Calico kitten plants need specific care and propagation methods if you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant that can brighten up any room. This plant is also said to bring good luck and fortune, making it a popular gift.
Crassula pellucida ‘Variegata’, also known as Calico kitten plants, are easy to care for and can be propagated easily from cuttings and leaves. These plants grow best under bright, indirect sunlight and should be watered at least once a week. Make sure it doesn’t get too wet or too dry.
Calico kitten plants are native to tropical South Africa but can be found in many homes in the United States. If you’re lucky enough to receive one as a present, you might be wondering how to take care of it. Read on to learn more about proper care and propagation tips!
How To Care for Calico Kitten Plants
Calico kittens are a type of plant known for their capability to survive in harsh conditions. These plants are native to South Africa and can withstand extreme heat and drought. You can grow one more easily if you live anywhere in USDA Zones 9-11.
These are one of the most popular houseplants, and they’re also one of the easiest to care for. Here are some tips on how to keep your calico kitten plant healthy and happy:
- Give them bright enough but indirect sunlight. Calico kittens love sun exposure, but direct sunlight can scorch their delicate leaves.
- Keep the soil moist, not soggy. Oversaturated soil can cause root rot and other diseases.
- Use a well-draining potting mix. A cactus potting mix is ideal for these plants because they’re sensitive to overwatering.
- Feed your kitten plant monthly with fertilizer. A nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer can help boost foliage growth.
- Promptly eliminate insect pests, such as mealybugs. Control them with a mild insecticidal soap spray.
- Watch for signs of disease. Fungal diseases appear as brown spots on the leaves, while bacterial diseases cause yellowing or otherwise deformed leaves.
- Adjust light intensity by moving your calico kitten plant accordingly. If your kittens are growing slowly with smaller leaves, they may need more sunlight. On the other hand, provide some shade when it’s too bright and hot in the summer.
- Keep the plants well-watered during hot and dry days. If the leaves on your kittens are brown and crispy, they may need more water.
The Basics of Care: Water, Light, and Soil
To care for your calico kitten plant, start by avoiding overwatering and too much sunlight and using a well-draining potting mix.
Let’s discuss these factors in more detail below:
Water Your Calico Kitten Plant Adequately
As everyone knows, watering is the most crucial step in plant care. Without water, plants will die. The amount of water that a plant needs depends on various factors:
- the size of the plant
- the qualities of the potting mix
- the climate
Calico kitten plants need to be watered regularly. During cold seasons, watering them one to two times a month is enough for them to survive happily.
Conversely, you must water your plants weekly during the summer. However, it’s crucial to make sure the soil is dry enough before watering. If the soil holds excess moisture, it can lead to root rot.
Good drainage is also essential because it prevents the roots from sitting in water for a long period of time.
Regulate The Amount of Light the Plant Receives
Most calico kitten plants need at least four to six hours of sunlight per day. However, some plants need more or less, depending on the climate in your region.
For Calico kitten plants, it’s crucial to receive an appropriate amount of light to keep them alive and healthy. The key is to expose them to 4-6 hours of filtered sunlight through your west-facing window.
If you live in a colder climate, you can place your calico kitten near a south-facing window. This area receives the most sunlight throughout the day. You can hang a light curtain on the window when the sun is too hot or bright.
If you live in a warmer region and are growing your Calico kittens outdoors, you can use the NKTM Shade Cloth (available on Amazon). It works well as a screen shade for your plants to protect them from excessive sunlight. It is also lightweight and easy to install.
Conversely, you can use a frost blanket in winter, like the Agfabric Warm Worth Shrub Jacket (available on Amazon). The perfect sizing of this cover helps to protect the plant from frost damage.
Ideally, you should keep your Calico kittens in an area with temperatures between 65 and 75 °F (18.3 and 23.9 °C). Move your plant indoors when temperatures get too high or too low.
Choose An Appropriate Potting Mix
The Calico kitten plant naturally grows in the South African climate and environment. It, therefore, requires similar growing conditions.
The soil should be dry and sandy, with good drainage. This helps prevent the risk of overwatering your plant. The key is to water the plant deeply but infrequently, meaning only when the soil is completely dry.
When grown indoors, Calico kitten plants grow very well in a cactus potting mix combined with coarse sand in a 2:1 ratio. Adding perlite to the mix in equal parts can help further improve the soil’s drainage.
I recommend using Hoffman 10404 Organic Soil Mix (available on Amazon). This is a proper bug-free soil mix that comes in a twin pack of 4 quarts (3.2 kg) each. It’s organic and professionally formulated to boost succulent plant growth.
If you need help with mixing your own potting soil, ask a professional at your local nursery or garden center for assistance. Once you have chosen the right soil for your plants, fertilize them regularly. This will help them grow healthy and strong.
Other Essentials: Fertilizing and Pruning
In addition to basic care, there are a few other things you need to do to keep your Calico kitten plant healthy.
Fertilizing
One essential requirement to keeping your Calico kitten plant healthy is proper fertilization. Use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus, which will help the plant produce more flowers.
I’d recommend the Perfect Plants Succulent and Cactus Fertilizer (available on Amazon). It contains a proper ratio of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Its slow-release formula can keep your Calico kitten plant nourished for months.
Alternatively, you can also use liquid fertilizer once a month. Be sure to use a balanced liquid fertilizer and follow the instructions on the fertilizer label. Remember that too much or too little can harm the plant.
Always water your plants sufficiently when using fertilizer to avoid fertilizer burn. Also, avoid applying the fertilizer too close to the plant’s stem and foliage.
Pruning
In addition to fertilizing, you’ll also need to regularly prune your calico kitten plant. Pruning helps encourage new growth and keeps the plant looking its best.
When pruning, remove only the dead or damaged leaves or stems. Be sure to use sterile pruning shears to avoid spreading disease. Disinfect the tool with rubbing alcohol between cuts to be safer.
Cut back the plant by a third every few months to encourage new growth. Avoid over-pruning as the plant may have difficulty bouncing back.
How To Propagate a Calico Kitten
Propagating Calico kittens is a great way to increase your collection and gift it to your near and dear ones. Luckily, it’s a beautiful plant that’s easy to propagate.
Propagation is the process of creating new plants from existing ones. You can propagate your Calico kitten plants through stem cuttings or leaves.
The best time of year to take cuttings is in late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. You must cut from a healthy part of the plant stem with pruning shears.
Let’s see the steps of propagation in detail.
Propagating From Stem Cuttings
- Fill a small pot with a well-draining succulent potting mix. Choose a 2-inch (5 cm) deep pot with around 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter. Moisten the soil before adding the cutting.
- Take a 2-4 inch (5-10 cm) stem cutting from a healthy Calico kitten plant. Cut just below a node where the leaves are attached to the stem.
- Remove the lower leaves from the cutting. Leave a few leaves at the top of the stem and pluck the others.
- Dip the cut end of the stem in a good rooting hormone powder or gel. This will help encourage root growth.
- Place the cutting in the soil. Firm it down so that there is good contact with the soil.
- Place the container in a warm, bright location. Place the pot next to a lightly curtained south or west-facing window.
- Check the moisture of the soil every day. This is to make sure that it stays damp but not soaking wet.
- After 1-2 months, you should see signs of growth and be ready to plant it in a bigger pot. Once the cutting has rooted, it can be transplanted into a slightly larger pot or directly into your garden.
For an excellent rooting hormone powder or gel, I recommend using the HydroDynamics Clonex Rooting Gel (available on Amazon). It’s a water-based rooting compound that helps nourish young roots during their formative stages.
Propagating From Leaves
Leaf propagation is a bit more challenging than stem cuttings, but it is still possible to successfully grow Calico kittens from leaves.
You can quickly and easily multiply your plants with just a few simple supplies. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Healthy Calico kitten plant leaves
- Small pots or containers
- A good potting soil mix
- A spray bottle with water for misting
Follow the steps below to successfully propagate your Calico kitten leaves:
- Remove a few healthy leaves from a well-established Calico kitten plant. Make sure the leaves are whole and free from discoloration.
- Let the cut end of the leaves dry for a few days. Choose a place with low humidity and good air circulation.
- Fill small pots or containers with moist potting soil.
- Press the dried end of the leaf into the soil. Pat the soil around the leaf to secure it.
- Place the pots in bright, indirect sunlight and keep them evenly watered.
- Mist the soil with a few sprays every 2-3 days to ensure the leaf cuttings don’t lose moisture and die.
Under the right conditions, your leaf cutting should develop new growth after one to two months. As soon as new shoots develop and the plant grows around 2 inches (5 cm) longer, move the young plant into a slightly larger pot with a succulent potting mix.
What Are the Problems With Growing a Calico Kitten Plant?
The Calico kitten plant (Crassula pellucida ‘Variegata’) is a popular houseplant because it is easy to care for and propagate. However, you might encounter a few problems when growing it.
- Calico kitten plants can become pot-bound. This happens when the roots have filled up the pot, and there is no room for new growth. It can stunt the plant’s growth and cause it to produce fewer leaves and flowers.
- Calico kitten plants are susceptible to mealybugs. These are tiny pests that feed on the plant’s sap. Mealybugs often hide underneath the large leaves and can cause the leaves to turn yellow and eventually drop off.
- Calico kitten plants can be toxic to pets if ingested. So keep it out of reach of curious animals if you have a dog or cat at home.
- Calico kitten plants are sensitive to excessive sunlight. Too much scorching sunlight can burn its leaves.
- Calico kittens are relatively drought-tolerant but need more water during extended heat or drought periods. However, if you overwater it, root rot will occur, resulting in brown leaves and eventual death of the plant.
If you live in an area where it’s not native, be sure to check with your local gardening authorities before planting one.
FAQs
Are Calico Kitten Plants Popular?
The Calico kitten plant is popular because it is easy to care for and propagate. It thrives well as long as it has moist but well-draining soil and bright, indirect sunlight.
Because they are low-maintenance plants, Calico kittens are perfect for busy people or those who do not have a lot of experience with gardening. They are also ideal for people who do not have much time to pamper their plants.
What Does the Calico Kitten Plant Look Like?
The calico kitten plant is a small, reddish-brown plant with heart-shaped green leaves marked with creamy white or rosy pink spots and white star-shaped flowers.
It is a member of the Crassulaceae family. The plant gets its common name from its cat-shaped leaves.
The calico kitten plant typically blooms in the spring and summer months. The plant has long, thin leaves that are covered in small, white flowers.
Here’s a video showing beautiful white flowers blooming on a Calico kitten plant:
Where Does the Calico Kitten Plant Come From?
The calico kitten plant is a South African native, originating from the Cape Province region, that’s well-suited to warm climates. That is why they typically grow in USDA Zones 9-11 that receive plenty of sunlight but not excessively much.
Calico kittens are among the most popular succulent plants in America. If you live in the hardiness zones mentioned above, the Calico kitten plant is an excellent choice for you!
How Fast Does a Calico Kitten Plant Grow?
Calico kittens can grow pretty quickly compared to other succulent plants. In just a few weeks, these plants can grow from small cuttings into well-rooted plants.
Even if you propagate a Calico kitten plant from its cuttings or leaves, it can easily grow new roots and be ready for its new pot within a month or two.
How Tall a Calico Kitten Plant Will Get?
A Calico kitten plant (Crassula pellucida ‘Variegata’) typically grows about 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall. However, if the plant is well-cared for, it can reach up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) in height.
The plant’s size will also depend on the pot in which it is grown. A larger pot will encourage the plant to grow bigger.
To ensure that your Calico kitten plant grows to its full potential, give it plenty of bright light and water it regularly. Fertilizing it every few weeks during the growing season will also help it grow bigger.
With proper care, your Calico kitten plant can thrive and bring you years of enjoyment.
Can I Grow Calico Kittens Outside?
If you’re thinking of adding a calico kitten to your outdoor plant collection, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Calico kittens like a cool environment. Calico kittens are actually a member of the Crassulaceae family. These plants are often grown as an annual in cooler climates.
- Calico kittens need moist soil. Be sure to water them regularly, preferably twice a month during the cooler months. You may need to water weekly during the summer months.
- Calico kittens can’t grow in regular garden soil. Garden soil can be too compact and have poor drainage. As a result, your plant will be more susceptible to root rot.
- Calico kittens thrive in moderate to rich soils. They’re also relatively low-maintenance plants and don’t require much fertilizer. Check your soil’s nutrient levels and fertilize your plant accordingly.
- Calico kittens need partial shade outdoors. Direct sunlight can be detrimental to their foliage. Growing them in pots on the patio should be okay.
- Calico kittens are more susceptible to mealybugs outdoors. Inspect the foliage regularly for signs of pest attack.
Can You Gift a Calico Kitten to a Beginner?
A Calico kitten plant is a beautiful, easy-to-care-for houseplant that makes an excellent gift for beginner or experienced gardeners.
With its variegated pinkish leaves and starry white flowers, the Calico kitten plant is sure to bring a smile to any recipient’s face.
Here’s everything you need to know before sending your Calico kitten to a special someone:
- Choose a healthy plant that is free of pests and diseases.
- Make sure the plant is well-watered and has been recently fertilized.
- Consider potting the plant in a decorative pot that can be reused.
You can leave a simple hand-written note with essential care tips. Include the following details:
- Place the pot next to a west or south-facing window with light curtains.
- Water once every 1-2 weeks. Allow the soil to dry out between watering.
- Don’t let water touch the plant’s foliage.
- Keep away from pets!
How Does the Calico Kitten Plant Affect Pets?
The Calico kitten plant is a succulent that is toxic to both cats and dogs. It can cause serious health problems if ingested.
The Calico kitten plant contains saponins, which are toxic to certain animals, and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal blockages. In severe cases, the toxicity can lead to death.
If you have a cat or a dog, keeping the Calico kitten plant out of reach of your pet is important.
Final Thoughts
Calico kittens are a great addition to any home, with their colorful foliage and low-maintenance nature.
Here are a few tips for caring for your calico kitten plant:
- Place the plant in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight.
- Water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
- Use a cactus potting mix for the soil and fertilize monthly during the growing season with a liquid fertilizer.
With proper care and propagation, these beautiful plants can thrive indoors as well as outdoors.
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