Why are the leaves falling off?

This is often a sign of overwatering or insufficient light.

How often should I water it?

Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Plant guide

Panda plant.

Kalanchoe tomentosa

Pronounced kal-un-KOH-ee toh-men-TOH-suh

Also known as Panda Plant

The panda plant is a charming succulent known for its fuzzy, silver leaves with dark brown edges. It is a slow growing plant that loves a sunny spot in your home. You will find it is quite resilient if you avoid overwatering.

Another photo of Panda plant — Photo by amantedarmanin (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Succulent
Light: Bright, indirect light with some direct morning sun.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 14 to 21 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 12
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Always let the soil dry out completely between waterings to prevent root rot. Watch for mushy leaves, which indicate you are giving it too much water. Keep it in a well draining pot to ensure the roots stay healthy.

Watering: Water only when the soil is completely dry throughout the pot.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced succulent fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back leggy stems in the spring to encourage a bushier shape.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root bound or outgrows its container.
Soil: Well draining cactus or succulent mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 10 to 27°C
Humidity: 20 to 40%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage hole
Water running straight through the soil
Plant growth has completely stalled

Safety

People: The plant contains cardiac glycosides which can cause severe distress if eaten.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant out of reach of children as the leaves are tempting to touch and potentially harmful if chewed.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no known significant respiratory allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is toxic if ingested and should not be consumed by humans or pets.

How to identify it

Thick, fleshy, succulent leaves
Dense covering of soft white hairs
Dark brown spots on leaf margins
Upright, branching growth habit

Height: 0.3 to 0.45m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.3m
Leaves: silver, green, brown, evergreen
Flowers: yellow, green, purple, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

MealybugsCommon
Root RotCommon
EdemaUncommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon

By symptom

Check your panda plant from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, leaf cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Move indoors before the first frost and keep in a bright, cool location with minimal water.
In containers: It is an excellent container plant that prefers a well draining terracotta pot to keep roots dry.

Leaf Cuttings

1. Gently remove a healthy leaf from the stem.
2. Let the leaf callus for two days in a dry spot.
3. Place the callused end on top of moist succulent soil.
4. Mist occasionally until roots form.

Group plants with similar water needs to prevent accidental overwatering of your succulents.

Grows well with

Jade Plant — They share similar light and water requirements.
Echeveria — These succulents look beautiful together in a mixed container.

Similar species

Kalanchoe beharensis — Another fuzzy succulent from Madagascar with larger, triangular leaves.

Science

Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Kalanchoe
Order: Saxifragales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Central Madagascar
Conservation: This species is considered near threatened in its native Madagascar due to habitat loss.

It thrives in rocky, arid environments where its fine hairs protect it from extreme heat and drying winds.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: houseplant, succulent collection, rock garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 2/9
Nutrients: 3/9
Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are the leaves falling off?: This is often a sign of overwatering or insufficient light.
How often should I water it?: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Where the name comes from

The name tomentosa refers to the dense, matted hairs covering the leaves, while Kalanchoe is derived from a Chinese name for a similar plant.

Good to know

It is commonly called the Panda Plant because of its soft, fuzzy appearance.
The brown spots on the leaf edges are a signature feature of this species.
It grows very slowly compared to other succulents.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.