Hardy and tall, curved jade like leaves!

by Mandy
(Medford, OR USA)

I bought this plant when it was only about 4 inches tall. It's in a tiny planter, and now over 15 inches tall after owning it for about 11 months. It's top heavy but hardy, with leaves that curl from the stem and down. They're thick like the leaves of a jade plant. I'm not sure what to do with it; it just keeps getting taller.

It recently started developing a white crystalline substance at the base of some leaves, which died shortly thereafter. What is this plant?

Thanks!
MC


Drought Smart Plants reply:

Hi Mandy, this looks like some type of Kalanchoe species, but I'm not sure which kind it is. They tend to get the leaves in opposite pairs, and also to do this long single stem thing, which as you've found, makes it very unstable.

The white substance could possibly be mealy bugs, which would show as a white fuzzy spot, in the axils of the leaves. You can take care of this with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, but it takes perseverance as they keep coming back.

However, some Kalanchoe species like Kalanchoe thyrsiflora do have a white powdery substance as protection from the hot sun in their native habitat, which in some cases is quite thick.

Without seeing it close up, I can't determine which of these possibilities it could be.

To deal with the long stem, I would chop it off at about four inches from the base, and it will branch out from below that point. Use the piece you've cut off to make more plants - click on the picture of the book below.

See more about pruning succulent plants here.

Best of luck,
Jacki

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