Family: Crassulaceae
Common name: Cathedral bells, Air plant, Life plant, Miracle leaf, Goethe plant, Love bush, Canterbury Bells, Floppers, Leaf of life, Life plant, Donkey ears, Mexican love plant, Resurrection plant
Cathedral Bell is a succulent perennial plant loved by gardeners for their beautiful leaves, and their unique method of propagation. It is native to Madagascar but is now seen in tropical and subtropical countries all over the world.
Plant characteristics
They usually grow to a height of 60-90 centimeters with fleshy, cylindrical stems and succulent leaves. Leaves are 10-15 cm smooth, long, and lance-shaped with serrated margins from which arise small plantlets.
The name Cathedral bells comes from the beautiful, tubular, bell-shaped flowers that are orange-red or red in color. They hang down like chandeliers made of little pendulous, bell-like light.
The bulbous structures are the calyces from which hang the small red flowers. These flowers are very attractive to pollinators like small birds, bees, and butterflies.
After pollination, these flowers produce small seed capsules that split open on maturity to reease numerous tiny seeds.
Gardening tips
Kalanchoe plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight and they can be grown indoors near a sunny window. Remember that these are succulents and do not need much water.
Water only when the soil is dry, and make sure the pot or container is well-drained. Fertilization needs are minimal, and these plants only need a balanced fertilizer once in 3-4 months.
Pruning can help keep the plant healthy and rounded. Also remove spent flowers to help the plant focus on growth. Their drought-tolerance and fast-growing habit makes them ideal landscaping and xeriscaping plants.
These plants have been used in traditional herbal medicine for many years, in the treatment of headache, cuts, wounds, skin irritations, burns, insect bites, arthritis, asthma, cough, cold, fever, kidney stones, and cancer.
Propagation
Propagation is through leaves and stem cuttings. Healthy leaves can be cut from the parent plant and allowed to dry for a day or two before placing them on top of well-drained soil.
The serrated edges of the leaves will develop small plantlets which can easily be replanted. In addition, the parent plant produces small pups around the base, which can also be separated carefully and replanted.
In short, it is one of the easiest plants to propagate and grow.
Photographed at: GKVK College of Agriculture, Bangalore
