In this article, I’ll share everything I know about the Calico Kitten plant. If you’re interested in growing it, make sure to read this short article all the way to the end for the full info.
Let’s get the basics out of the way.
Like all other plants, a well-drained Calico kitten plant requires periodic water to help establish itself.
Misting the plant will help keep it healthy. If the soil is too dry, the plant may begin to wilt – a condition known as desiccating. Watering regularly will prevent your Kittens from drying out as much as possible.
The lovely little succulent flowers that come in spring should be watered daily. Do not wait for the plants to dry out – if they do, you will have a tough time keeping them on your patio or veranda.
Keep the soil damp for newly planted Calico Kitten plants. Once established, these plants are very drought-resistant and need only occasional water, usually just once a week.
Beware of overwatering, too, because many succulents are prone to rotting in wet soil. Too wet is always better than too dry.
As the season progresses, the temperature will become cooler and the moisture level will decrease. However, you can give your calico kitten plants a final watering just before the first frost.
Frost hardy plants will withstand low temperatures for a few more days.
But in the summertime, they will require shade or careful protection from high winds.
Most calico kitten plants have many beautiful and attractive leaves, but not all of them have flowers. If you wish to provide your cat with one or more blooms, select those plants that grow close to the ground.
You will find that you may need to prune these short-lived succulents, especially if you plan to use them as a landscape feature.
Cuttings will provide an excellent source of new foliage. Cuttings do not take up much space and you can collect as many cuttings as you want.
How fast do calico kitten plants grow?
These delicate little plants are great for anyone wanting a quick gardening project. They grow very slowly and can sometimes take two years before you even see the first sign of leaves. But once you have established a plant you will never have to worry about trimming or pruning again!
Calico kittens love growing in containers, so if you have them already growing in pots, there is no reason why you shouldn’t plant them in a flowerpot.
The only thing to remember is that they need lots of sunlight to stay healthy, so if you don’t have a sunny window you could try and put your plant out in the garden to get some exposure.
The other great advantage of having a slow-growing Calico kitten is that you can easily let them out into the garden when they have finished blooming.
They do very well in container gardens, but if you want to plant them in a real open space, then you should prune them regularly.
The good news is that you can trim them any time, so you will never go too soon! You can use scissors to cut the roots back, or if you prefer, you can use a knife to do this.
As with all plants, caring for a Caloico is easy once you know how. Although they don’t like extreme temperatures, they do require about 60% humidity in the air. You can provide this by either using a humidifier or misting the plants daily.
You will also need to fertilize and feed your Caloico once a month, depending on the amount of sun they are receiving. If you are just starting out, then you will probably want to start giving your plant a slow start, as they tend to grow slower than many other plants.
How to water calico kitten plant
Calico kitten plants are lovely additions to any home or office. These lightweight plants come in a wide variety of colors and are ideal for use in both indoor and outdoor locations. How to water these lovely plants is an important part of caring for them properly.
They are not very drought resistant, but they are very tolerant of moist soil.
They do require daily watering, though, so make sure to place them where you can provide them with adequate water. Watering is easy to do, simply put the plant in a hole about two-thirds full of water.
If your plant starts getting too wet, remove it from the water source and put it somewhere dry.
Moisture will prevent the plant from growing properly, so watch it closely. When the plant starts to get very wet, take it outside and place it in a shady area. Give it about one hour to recover. If you don’t have a shady area to put your plant, you can always purchase one at a nursery or gardening store.
Calico kitten plants can survive on nearly any type of soil, as long as it is well-drained. They grow best in medium to high-moisture soil. You may need to add a little fertilizer to the soil to increase its ability to retain moisture.
This information should help you in determining the right way to care for your new plant.
Keep in mind that many people prefer to let their Calico kitten plants grow to a certain length, before they remove them to prevent them from drying out too much, but you can actually water these plants at any time if you like.
How to propagate calico kitten plant
People have been growing and harvesting Calico, a durable carpet-like material made popular in the 1970’s by California residents with the creation of the California Tile and Carpet Foundation.
With a wide variety of species and types of wood used to create carpets, there is a wide variety of methods to create new plants, from seeds to planters.
In the case propagation of Calico kitten plants, one method of planting has proven to be successful over again-offspring. Offspring are those plants that grow and then are replanted.
Propagating Calico is not as hard as some might think. The process usually begins with finding an area that has an adequate growing medium; this area should contain nutrients that allow the plant to grow.
After the plant has grown roots, remove it from the area and place it in a plastic bag. Allow the bag to settle for a few days, shaking it every few days to distribute the soil and allow any excess water or air to escape.
After the growing medium has settled, plant the kitten plant in the desired manner, such as hanging baskets, using pots, or loot bags.
Propagating Calico kitten plants is easy. It only takes a little patience and a bit of creativity to keep the kitten plant healthy and happy. If you are patient and consistent, you will soon have a thriving collection of healthy trees or bushes.
