Kalanchoe manginii [kal-un-KOH-ee, man-GIN-ee-eye] is a succulent belonging to the Crassulaceae family and Bryophyllum genus, sometimes included in the Kalanchoe plant genus, and native to Madagascar.
You may hear it called by its common names or synonyms:
- Chandelier plant
- Beach bells
- Madagascar wax bells
The names refer to the hanging flowers drooping from the arching branches, creating a canopy of flowers above the low-growing foliage.
Kalanchoe manginii received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, due to its ability to grow well in the UK.
No matter where the plant grows, it helps to follow a few essential plant care tips.
Kalanchoe Manginii Care
Size and Growth
Young plants produce upright stems with tiny green leaves. As the manginii matures, the stems start to trail.
It remains a small plant, only reaching a 1’ – 2’ feet tall with a spread of 2’ – 3’ feet.
It’s also a fast-growing plant, reaching its full size each year.
Flowering and Fragrance
The red-orange flowers are the highlight of the plant.
Kalanchoe blooms in late winter or early spring and produces tubular flowers appearing in clusters from the wiry stems.
The flowers are often reddish-orange or pale peach and don’t produce a scent.
The salmon-colored flowers hang downward, making it a suitable candidate for a hanging basket.
Light and Temperature
While most people grow it as an indoor plant, but manginii thrives outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10.
It can survive temperatures down to 50° degrees Fahrenheit (10° C) throughout the winter.
No matter where it’s grown, manginii requires lots of sunlight.
Place it under the full sun while avoiding direct afternoon light or south-facing windows.
Watering and Feeding
Allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering.
During the summer, water the plant regularly and use a diluted liquid fertilizer to encourage healthier growth. Granular slow-release pellets of fertilizer are also an option.
Soil and Transplanting
Plant beach bells in standard succulent soil mix or use a combination of ordinary potting soil and perlite. Kalanchoes look great in clay pots.
Repot mature plants at the start of spring.
With younger plants, wait until they need to move to a larger container to help prevent damage to the root system as it develops.
Grooming
Remove the withered blooms each year.
To encourage fuller foliage, pinch the plant back after flowering.
Using sharp pruners, remove about half of the growth.
This encourages fuller blooms the following season.
Other Interesting Kalanchoe Plants
- Bryophyllum Fedtschenkoi – Caring for Kalanchoe Lavender Scallops
How to Propagate Beach Bells
Kalanchoe manginii propagates using stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, or seeds.
Use stem cuttings taken after pruning.
The cuttings tend to take root the fastest during the warm, summer months.
- Take the cuttings from healthy branches with several sets of leaves.
- Remove the lowest set of leaves from the cuttings and place them in containers filled with moist potting soil.
- Instead of setting them in a bright spot, give the cuttings shade.
- The cuttings should take root within a few weeks.
- Repot several plants together in a six-inch container.
- Grouping multiple cuttings helps encourage a fuller bush.
- As the young plant starts to grow, continue to pinch the plant regularly.
To propagate with leaf cuttings:
- Cut healthy leaves from the plant in the spring or summer.
- Lay the cuttings horizontally over a shallow bed of soil.
- Within several weeks, new plants should start to develop near the base of the cuttings.
- These plants tend to have leggy growth.
- As with the stem cuttings, pinch them back to promote thicker foliage.
It’s also possible to propagate from seed:
- Sow the seeds in starter trays using regular potting soil.
- Keep the trays under bright light until the seedlings appear and then move to a shadier spot.
Beach Bells Pests or Disease Problems
Pests rarely infest the plant, but aphids may attack the flowers.
Rinse the aphids away using sprays of water or place the plant under running water.
More on –> Controlling Aphids on Succulent Plants
Many of the diseases and problems encountered is due to lighting, temperature, and watering.
If the flowers start to fall off or turn a paler color, the plant is getting too much sunlight.
Move to a shadier spot.
When the leaves start to turn reddish, the plant is getting more than enough sunlight, but not enough to cause permanent damage.
Some people prefer the reddish shade of the leaves.
If the leaves start to harden in spots, it’s getting too much cold air.
Move it to a warmer area.
Overwatering causes the stalks to break off near the base.
This is a sign of root rot. Limit the watering or repot using soil with better drainage.
Suggested Uses For The Beach Bells Chandelier Plant
The lovely flowers of the kalanchoe manginii look best when hanging from a basket.
Another option is to place it in a small container near a shelf, allowing the branches to hang over the edge.