Synonyms:

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Habitat:

Kalanchoe humilis is native and widespread in Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. Its habitat are usually fissures or crevices among the rocks, in outcrops but, more often, close to river falls and rapids.

Description:

K. humilis is tiny, perennial succulent with beautiful, numerous decorative leaves arranged in rosettes. These plants usually form clumps of rosettes that tend to expand horizontally. Their stems don’t exceed 10 centimeters in length. Close to the top of the stems, leaves tend to be more crowded. Leaves are oval and show a very beautiful brindled pattern in green and purple. Younger leaves tend to be more purplish. They are not so big, about 2-6 centimeters in width and 3-13 centimeters in length.
In mid-summer, K. humilis produces an erect, branched panicle at the top of an elongated stalk (10-40 centimeters tall). A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence: like a spike, but with its flowers equipped with a petiole. Flowers are not so beautiful and are often removed by gardeners. They are small, erect or horizontal, dull purple to green.

Cultivation:

K. humilis is the perfect plant for beginners: it’s very easy to grow and it resists to drought. Here below are our cultivation tips:

Put it in a bright exposed, exposed to direct sunlight.
It is preferable to keep it always at a temperature above 8 °C. In Winter, we advice to put it indoors or either shelter it.
Water it regularly in Spring, Autumn and Summer, always waiting for the soil to dry up completely before each irrigation. In Winter, water it only occasionally.
Choose a well-draining substrate: even better if further enriched with inert materials such as pumice, sand or lapilli.
K. humilis doesn’t need frequent fertilization, it is sufficient to dilute the fertilizer with watering once a year.

Propagation:

The propagation of your K. humilis can be carried out either by seed or by cuttings. At home, cuttings are more used, as they’re the easiest way. Use sprigs of 8-10 cm in length which have not inflorescences as cuttings and then plant them in a well-draining substrate, maintaing it moist and keeping it in a warm environment.

Curiosity:

Kalanchoes have been used in popular medicine for their soothing action of wounds and anti-inflammatory properties. They are good also against burns, rheumatisms, rashes and hypertension. In traditional medicine, the daily consumption of the fresh leaves is a treatment against cancer.

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www.giromagi.com

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www.giromagicactus.com

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