Kalanchoe Care Chapter 15: Cutting update and Mexican Ghost Plants

Plant profile: Mexican Ghost Plant aka "Mother of Pearl"
(Latin name Graptopetalum paraguayense)

Click to read more.. ;)

Okay, I am super enthused to have another succulent to add to my little collection! Not only is it an 11 on the "funk-o-meter" but I got the cuttings for free!..... well okay, I guess I shouldn't flaunt my cheapness frugality too much, I am more grateful than anything else for my friends generosity, that and she needed some help keeping said plant from literally running down the hall. 0_0" 

As far as what this little booger is, MGPs are members of the Crassulacea family making them first cousins to the famous Jade plant.

Physical Characteristics: Tear shaped leaves, Powdery coating giving the leaves a pearl like sheen, Leaf coloration that can go from grey and slate-blue to Grey-yellow-pink in full, hot sun and ground covering vigor to make a weed jealous! Seriously, these things will literally crawl out of their pot if you're not careful.

Care: Like any other succulent, MGPs like a good draining soil, anything really that contains a good bit of pebbles in it. Don't be afraid to sprinkle the top of their pot with a coarse sand just to keep their leaves off of direct contact with soil. They can do alright in a west facing window but they may try to stretch their way to lighter windows. To see MGPs reach their full glory, give them a hot, east to south-east facing window or patio. Not only will they reward you with their gorgeous "kiss of Pink Pearl" color, they may also bloom! Yes! They do actually produce flowers. Here's what they look like.

Propagation: Taking into account MGPs are in the same botanical family as Jade plants, Making new plants is pretty similar. 

Method 1: 
You can either make cuttings from your chosen plant consisting of a 3-4 inch piece of stalk with leaves only on the top, let it dry out for 3 days to form a scab and then plant in it's soil of choice, leave it for a month and then see the magic unfold.

Method 2: You can (very gently) pop some leaves off your adult plant, leave those leaves to dry for up to 3 days and then either plant them or just leave them on the dirt as is. Yes, MGPs with germinate new plantlets from just being on dirt. 

This is what their little "Rosettes" look like after about 2 months of growth.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed learning about the Mexican Ghost Plant, I know I'm going to enjoy learning more about them.

Until next time, God Bless.

Later! A.M.