If you’re a fan of succulents, especially the flowering kind, then kalanchoe millotii needs to be on your radar!
From their soft and detailed leaves to their white and pink blooms, kalanchoe millotii are beautiful as well as being very low maintenance and easy to take care of.
In this guide, we will take you through all the details for caring for kalanchoe millotii, including light requirements, soil conditions, watering, and pest control. We will also explore how to propagate them to grow your garden.
Kalanchoe millotii are one of those magical plants that reward you with their beauty while being very easy to take care of; it’s a win-win!
By the end of this article, you should be well versed in caring for your kalanchoe millotii and ready to take one of these beautiful plants into your home.
What is a Kalanchoe Millotii?
Before we start, let’s look at kalanchoe milloti’s classification information.
| Specifications | |
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Genus | Kalanchoe |
| Species | Kalanchoe millotii |
| Threat Level | Not threatened |
Kalanchoe millotii is a small perennial succulent that is native to the island of Madagascar. Their natural habitat is dry, rocky mountains, making them a particularly hardy species.
They have broad, green leaves with serrated edges covered in a fine felt-like texture. Their flowers grow off tall stems that branch out from the shrub and bloom with small white and pink flowers. They are popular as ornamental houseplants as well as features in succulent gardens and rockeries in warmer climates.
These are relatively small shrubs that can grow up to a foot in size if grown outdoors, but they stay relatively small when grown as houseplants.
Since they are so hardy and tolerant to some neglect, we recommend kalanchoe millotii to beginner gardeners as they are an easy, low-maintenance way to get started.
How to Care for Your Kalanchoe Millotii
Kalanchoe millotii may have a complex name, but their care is anything but complicated.
They are very used to putting up with neglect, so this is not a plant you will have to fuss over. All you need to do is get some of their needs figured out, and they should bloom away happily. Luckily, we are here to show you precisely how to care for these beautiful succulents.
The number one element that you need to consider when introducing a new plant into your garden is your climate. As we dive into each of these points, you will see that a lot of them depend on whether you live in a cold, warm, humid, or dry climate, so keep where you live in mind as you go through this guide.
Here is all you need to know to care for your kalanchoe millotii:
Light and Temperature
Kalanchoe millotii is a succulent that loves the sun! If you are growing them outdoors, they can be planted in full sun to partial shade. However, if you are in a particularly hot climate, overexposure to intense sunlight can result in burning the leaves.
If you are growing them indoors, we recommend placing them next to a sunny window, so they get as much sun as possible. Rotate your pot regularly to ensure that the whole plant is getting even sun exposure and that none of the leaves are getting burned. If possible, bring them outside on a sunny day to get a few hours of direct sunlight.
The ideal temperature for these succulents is between 36 and 40 degrees. You will need to keep this in mind when figuring out where to place your succulent. Ideally, they should be kept away from draughty spots to avoid sudden changes in temperature.
Kalanchoe millotii are used to hot, dry conditions, so they are not very tolerant to cold climates. They will not tolerate frost or low temperatures, so if you have harsh winters, we recommend growing them as a houseplant or bringing them inside during the cold months.
Soil Conditions
Like many succulents, kalanchoe millotii enjoys porous soil that drains well. If they sit in soil, especially clay-like soils, that hold onto too much water, they can be susceptible to root rot.
For this reason, we recommend using cactus and succulent potting mix if you are planting them in pots. This mix will have sufficient perlite and other additives like peat moss that make the soil lighter and more aerated.
If you are growing them in your garden and your soil is not on the sandy side, we recommend tilling the soil and even aerating it with a spike aerator. Mix in fertilizer and some compost before planting your kalanchoe millotii.
When it comes to soil pH, kalanchoe millotii are pretty laid back and can tolerate soil that ranges between mildly acidic and mildly alkaline. This is ideal when you are planting them in your garden, where you have less control over the soil available.
If you are not sure what your soil’s pH is, you can test it using an at-home testing kit that can be bought relatively cheaply at garden stores.
Watering
Being a drought-hardy species, kalanchoe millotii can survive infrequent watering.
During the summer, especially during a heat wave, we recommend watering them once a week and allowing the excess water to drain out the bottom of the pot.
When the weather gets colder in winter and fall, you can pull back and only water when the top inch of soil has sufficiently dried out. This is because there is less evaporation occurring, so watering more frequently would simply lead to the succulent sitting in far too much moisture.
When it comes to humidity, kalanchoe millotii are tolerant of all levels of humidity as long as their watering schedule is adjusted accordingly. The more humid the environment is, the less you will need to water it. Not making this adjustment could lead to fungus growth and root rot.
Pests and Diseases
Unfortunately, kalanchoe millotii are very susceptible to pests. The common pests that affect kalanchoe millotii are:
- Scale– These insects will suck the moisture from the leaves and cause them to go yellow. Treat with a spray of water directly on the bugs.
- Mildew– Will appear as a white fuzz over the leaves. Treat with an application of neem oil once a week.
- Thrips– These bugs will eat parts of the cactus. Spray once a week with a strong mix of water and dishwashing soap or neem oil to kill the bugs and larvae.
- Avids– These will look like little white spots on the leaves. Spray with soapy water every few days until they disappear.
- Snails– Snails will eat your kalanchoe millotii, but it is hard to get rid of them humanely. If this is a persistent problem, we recommend moving the plant indoors.
- Mealy bugs– These are identifiable by the white cotton-like substance they leave behind. Get rid of them by wiping down the area with rubbing alcohol.
In all these cases, we suggest trimming off any affected areas, redirecting nutrients, and helping your kalanchoe heal.
As we have mentioned above, the disease that affects kalanchoe millotii most often is root rot. This can be remedied by not overwatering and repotting if the soil has become too waterlogged.
Kalanchoe Millotii Propagation Guide
Like many succulents, kalanchoe millotii are very easy to propagate. But why propagate?
Propagation is a wonderful way to build your plant collection or to populate a new area of your garden without having to spend any extra money. The process is quick and easy, especially with succulents, and it doesn’t involve any additional equipment to achieve.
There are two different methods you can use to propagate this succulent: stem and leaf cuttings.
Each technique varies slightly, so we will guide you through both so you can choose the one you like best.
Propagating with a stem cutting:
- Using sharp pruning shears, cut a piece of stem from the mother plant that is a few inches long.
- Remove the flowers, as these will waste vital nutrients.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting until you have exposed a node; this is where the roots will grow from.
- Trim off the bottom of the cutting to just underneath the node.
- At this step, you have two choices, plant directly or heal the plant off.
- To heal off the plant, simply let the cutting sit out without water or soil until the end of the cutting has naturally healed itself over before planting it like you would planting it directly.
- To plant directly, fill a small pot with a layer of stones and fill it with cactus and succulent potting soil.
- Make a hole using a stick and place the cutting into the soil. Pat down the soil to secure.
- Leave the plant dry for one to two weeks to let the roots grow.
- After a week, tug gently on the plant. If there is resistance, it means that it has rooted successfully and it is ready to water.
Propagating with a leaf cutting:
- Pick a large, healthy-looking leaf and cut it from the mother plant with pruning shears.
- Fill a small pot with holes in the bottom with a single layer of pebbles and fill up with cactus and succulent potting soil.
- Make a small indentation and place the leaf inside, with a large portion of the leaf sticking out of the soil.
- Pack in the soil to secure and set in a sunny spot.
- Leave it dry for a week or two to allow it to root.
- After a week, pull gently on the leaf to see if it has rooted. If there is resistance, then it is time to water it.
If you don’t have cactus and succulent potting soil, you can use regular potting soil mixed with a bit of perlite or coconut coir to aerate it.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is kalanchoe millotii toxic to animals?
Unfortunately, if ingested, kalanchoe millotii is toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and even livestock.
Consuming the plant can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. We recommend washing your hand thoroughly after handling them and keeping pets and small animals away from them.
The effects of kalanchoe millotii toxicity are not fatal, but we recommend visiting a doctor or vet if you are concerned.
Can kalanchoe millotii be grown outside?
This is dependent on the climate that you are working with.
As you can see from this guide, kalanchoe millotii really don’t like the cold, so if you are in a cold climate, we recommend growing them in pots that can be brought inside during the colder months.
However, if you are in a warm climate with mild winters are no frost, then kalanchoe millotii are a stunning addition to any garden, in or out of pots.
Does kalanchoe millotii flower all year round?
Unfortunately, probably due to their dislike of cold temperatures, kalanchoe millotii will not flower all year round. Their flowering season is mainly through the summer months.
Conclusion
After taking in this guide, I’m sure you can see why kalanchoe millotii are such popular plants!
They are simple to take care of, very hardy and produce stunning flowers that add vibrant color to your garden. Infrequent watering, well-draining soil, and full sun is the secret recipe to growing the happiest kalanchoe possible; it’s as easy as that!
We hope this guide has been helpful and inspired you to add one of these great plants to your garden.
