The succulent, Kalanchoe luciae “Flapjack” is one of the most dramatic looking plants I have in my garden.
Jade green leaves with dark red wine margins. Mmm, just gorgeous.
It’s expensive too. A 5″-inch pot my set you back $8 to $10 dollars or more, depending on where you live.
Fortunately, Kalanchoe’s are a part of “natures stimulus” plan and are easily multiplied into many plants through “offset propagation.
A “monocarpic” plant, once the Kalanchoe flowers, it starts to die. New “baby plants” can already be seen at the base.
As a tradeoff for being monocarpic, the Kalanchoe is truly sympathetic and endows the gardener with “baby plants” and “offsets” to take it’s place once it dies.
I know lot’s of people who just throw the Kalanchoe away when it finishes flowering.
Do they realize there are dozens of new plants waiting to be given a chance to live (and save them some money) through propagation?
It’s so easy to multiply this plant, its almost feels like I’m “getting away with murder!”
Check out how I multiplied my Kalanchoe luciae, “Flapjack” plant.
First, I cut the flower stalk from the base of the new baby plant. I see lots of small Kalanchoe leaf clusters growing along the length of the flower stalk.
The leaf clusters are the “offsets” I will use to make more plants from!
I use a clean, sterile knife to cut the leaf clusters from the stalk. I cut close to the base, snipping off a tiny part of the flower stalk.
Next, comes the difficult part. I have to wait about 3 days for the ends to dry and callous before planting them! I feel like I’m “sitting Shiva!”
“Oy, veys mir!”
Succulents like Kalanchoe should be planted in a well draining container, at least 5″inches deep. A sandy rooting mix is best- you can buy it or use 3 parts sand to 1 part loam. Moisten the soil, but don’t saturate it with water.
Keep your plants in a warm area that is shaded from the sun. Water consistently, but moderately and you should have new plants in about 8 to 10 weeks!
You can check to see if your plants are ready for transplanting by giving them a light tug. If you feel a slight resistance, roots have formed.
Congratulations..you have a new plant!
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"Eden Maker," Shirley Bovshow
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Hi Shirley, just found your website by googling flapjack succulent! I bought one a while ago, it was quite small and just grew until this big spike grew out of the middle! It’s an amazing plant, I’ve just bought a bigger pot to plant the small one’s at the base. I’ve stuck the bigger part in the ground just to see what happens. Thanks for your help.
Hi Rosemary. THanks for reading and commenting. Kalanchoe is a beautiful and dramatic plant for your garden or container. Enjoy showing it off!
[...] This succulent pillow is a Shirley original, as far as I know, (a vision came to me for it while watching Citizen Kane ). Inspiration comes from the most unlikely places! [...]
[...] Propagating Succulents: Kalanchoe luciae ‘Flapjack’, no blog Eden Makers (modo de propagação após o florecimento) [...]
I love this plant but it grows wild along side the road down here in australia some people think they are a weed as they do take over especially in the hot areas, but they do look lovely
Those are awesome! I have a coworker who just started his cactus / succulent garden, and I’d love to get one for him. Where can I find a young one?
Hi Micah,
If you have a friend who has this plant, you can ask for a cutting. Otherwise, check your local, independent garden center.
Shirley
Wow! I just love kalanchoe and the flap-jack is one that I’ve wanted for awhile. It seems like I’ve always got pups going on one plant or another. I would love to live in an area where my succulents could be planted outdoors like yours are. The giant size in your photgraphs takes them from fascinating to spectacular! Thanks for the post!
thanks for the instructions and pictures. I didn’t know they had to dry and callous over first. I’ve seen such beautiful kalanchoes lately – that flapjack is great.
Excellent post! Kalanchoe’s are beautiful plants. There’s no excuse not to save money on these wonderful plants after reading this walk through. Thanks Shirley!
Thanks Landscaper Guy! I have to agree with you. Propagating this plant is so easy!
Shirley
Great how-to post. I’ll follow your instructions for my Kalanchoe Flapjack.
Thanks Mary!
I just visited your blog and enjoyed the photos of the beautiful plants in your garden. Come back and visit again.
Shirley
They are beautiful? Just like art work in the garden! Their coloring is amazing, too! Wish I could grow some of that here.
Hi Miss Daisy,
Could you grow it as a container plant and move indoors during the cold season?
What a very pretty plant and I have no clue how it would do here in NC. I really like the red edges and uniqueness. I bet it would grow in my kitchen window and like you said–I can keep it little by snipping it’s arms and legs off.
Hi Anna,
Have you grown any other succulent plant? I’m sure they are available in your area or by mail order. How cold does it get in your zone? I’m sure it could work as an indoor plant, just like you mentioned.
Shirley
Thanks so much for posting this Shirley! I’ve grown, enjoyed and propagated this plant for several years but never could find out the name of it! Thanks to you, I finally have an answer!
I love the look of this succulent and have found it to be a super easy to grow, problem free plant. But when I tell people it will die after it blooms, they get turned off and don’t want to buy it – even when I tell them they will a dozen more plants from the bloom stalks. Go figure!
I have found it takes about a year for the offsets to grow to a “sellable” size. What is your experience?
Hi Pat,
These plants ARE easy to grow, it’s just that it takes a little time for them to grow into a “sellable” size. Probably why they are not cheap! TIme is invested. For the home gardener though, Kalanchoes can be enjoyed immediately in a container. Glad I put a name to the “pretty face” for you!
SHirley