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Kalanchoe laetivirens
Plant likes sunny habitat, can tolerate partial shade.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. In winter, limit watering.
In the short term it can tolerate - 6.7 °C. However, the plant is not hardy.
This plant has the property of viviparity. This means that tiny new plantlets appear on rounded teeth around the periphery of the leaves.
Kalanchoe laetivirens, formerly known as Bryophyllum laetivirens, is a succulent with not very well known origins. Some authors believe that it is a hybrid resulting from a cross between Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Kalanchoe laxiflora.
Kalanchoe laetivirens is characterised by bright green to blue-green oval-shaped leaves. Unlike other Kalanchoe species, it does not have many leaves, usually no more than 2-3 pairs at a time. In sunlight, the leaves shrink, stiffen and turn pink. Their surface is covered with dark spots, which increase as the summer progresses. This fascinating plant reproduces vegetatively by viviparity - miniature plants form on the toothed edges of the leaves. It has a low, ground-hugging habit and grows to a maximum height of 20 cm.
The flowers of Kalanchoe laetivirens are inconspicuous, greenish-white or greenish-yellow with a pink to purplish-pink tinge. They are bell-shaped and flower more in winter.
Although for some experienced growers this plant is more of a 'weed', there is an unusual charm in growing it. It can be left to grow freely to create graceful succulent carpets. On the other hand, if you control its propagation, it won't take up too much space thanks to its low number of leaves. If you want to achieve really beautiful colours and shapes, leave the plant without water for a long time. For example, the long summer heat is the ideal opportunity for this.