Care of the succulent plant Kalanchoe daigremontiana or Devil’s backbone |
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The genus Kalanchoe, family Crassulaceae, comprises 100 species of succulent plants native to Asia, Africa and Europe. Some species are: Kalanchoe daigremontiana, Kalanchoe beharensis, Kalanchoe longiflora, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Kalanchoe uniflora, Kalanchoe manginii, Kalanchoe pinnata, Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi, Kalanchoe pumila, Kalanchoe marmorata. Common names: Devil’s backbone, Mexican hat plant, Alligator plant, Mother of thousands. This species is native to Madagascar. They are succulent plants with a simple and erect stem that reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height. The leaves are triangular, opposite, fleshy, and have serrated margins. The flowers appear in purple panicles. They bloom in winter. They are used in pots as a houseplant because of their curious leaves; in Mediterranean climates they are used as isolated specimens, in flower beds and in cactus and succulent gardens. Kalanchoe daigremontiana needs exposure to direct sunlight during the early hours of the day. The temperature should not be less than 10 ºC (50 ºF). The soil can be a mixture, the same proportion, of leaf mulch, coarse sand and heather soil. Water moderately throughout the year waiting for the substrate to dry. Do not water in winter if there is ambient humidity. These plants produce seedlings on the edge of their leaves that root when they fall to the ground. They contain daigremontianin, a poisonous substance if swallowed. They are plants resistant to pests and diseases but sensitive to excessive watering. They propagate by cuttings of leaves (plant inclined) or by seeds sown without burying in spring. |
Images of the succulent plant Kalanchoe daigremontiana or Devil’s backbone |
 Kalanchoe daigremontiana  Kalanchoe daigremontiana  Kalanchoe daigremontiana  Kalanchoe daigremontiana  Kalanchoe daigremontiana |