Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Maltese Cross’ | Elephant's Ear
€15,90
🌱 Morphology
‘Maltese Cross’ Elephant Ear Kalanchoe. This is a horticultural cultivar of Kalanchoe beharensis, selected for its more compact habit and, above all, for the geometric arrangement of its leaves around the stem, which is reminiscent of a Maltese cross.
It forms a succulent, erect, and progressively woody stem that can branch with age. The leaves are fleshy, triangular, petiolate, with an irregularly wavy and toothed margin, and are covered by fine pubescence that gives them a characteristic velvety appearance. The coloration varies from grayish-green to silvery-gray; under intense lighting, it can acquire bronze or reddish-brown tones.
The most distinctive feature is the arrangement of the leaves around the stem, which can create an almost cruciform structure when viewed from above. Occasionally, arrangements of three leaves may appear instead of the usual symmetry.
🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Crassulaceae family. ‘Maltese Cross’ is a horticultural cultivar, so it does not have an independent natural distribution.
Its parent species, Kalanchoe beharensis, is native to Madagascar, especially the southern and southwestern regions, where it grows in xerophytic forests and dry environments, on various types of soil.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11a
It is a plant adapted to warm and dry climates. It tolerates cool temperatures if the substrate remains dry, but it must not be exposed to frost. It can tolerate a minimum temperature of -2°C but only very briefly.
For safe cultivation, it is recommended to protect it when temperatures approach 5–7 °C, especially if there is moisture in the roots. A temporary drop may be tolerated by well-acclimated and completely dry adult specimens, but resistance depends on the duration of the cold and, above all, the moisture content of the substrate.
☀️ Lighting
It requires high light intensity to maintain compact growth, a good leaf structure, and its characteristic silvery-gray coloration.
Target DLI PAR: 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹.
It tolerates direct sun after progressive acclimatization. Intense lighting also promotes the appearance of bronze or reddish tones in the leaf pubescence. In summer, with extremely high temperatures, light protection during the central hours may be advisable without significantly reducing luminosity.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Summer dormancy. Growth occurs primarily during periods of moderate temperatures, while extreme heat may slow its activity.
It is recommended to water thoroughly and allow the substrate to dry completely before watering again. During the winter, if temperatures are low, watering should be spaced out considerably.
The combination of cold and damp substrate, which increases the risk of root problems, should be especially avoided.
🌸 Flowering
Adult specimens can produce large, branched terminal inflorescences, similar to those of the type species.
The flowers are small and numerous, with a tubular or urceolate corolla in yellowish, yellow-orange, or reddish tones, although flowering is not the main ornamental value of this cultivar. In K. beharensis, flowering occurs mainly from spring to early summer.
In Spain, an approximate window of April to June is reasonable for adult specimens grown in high light conditions.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Suculentas is recommended, applied moderately and avoiding excess nitrogen that encourages overly rapid growth and soft tissues.
Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración, especially in adult specimens with sufficient light.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
13x13 cm pot
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