Senecio Archeri Care

Positioning and Light Requirements

• Large kleinia is a sun-loving plant and must be positioned where it will receive at least six hours of bright sunlight each day. If growing them outdoors, position them in a south- or west-facing bed and provide light shade at midday in hot, dry inland areas. Indoor large kleinia plants must be placed within 3 feet of a west, east or south-facing window. Do not grow them with northern exposure because the light intensity will be too low and the plants will not thrive.

Moisture Balance

• Moisture balance is the key to growing a healthy, long-lasting large kleinia. They benefit from deep, infrequent waterings during the summer months, and occasional watering during the winter if no rain falls for longer than three weeks. Water until it runs freely from the drainage holes at the base of the pot, or until the surrounding soil feels very moist in the top 3 inches. The soil must be allowed to dry out between waterings to decrease the likelihood of fungal or bacterial growth around the roots. Prolonged dryness will not hurt large kleinia plants, although it will promote a bushier shape with shorter, stockier foliage.

Nutrition and Feeding

• Container-grown large kleinia plants benefit from occasional feeding to replenish the nutrient content of their soil, while those grown outdoors are less dependent on fertilizer for healthy growth. An adequate fertilizer solution contains 1/4 teaspoon of 15-15-15 ratio fertilizer dissolved in 1 gallon of clean water. Replace one watering every two months with the solution. Decrease feeding by half during the winter months and stop feeding entirely if the plant develops an excess of yellow foliage, which indicates chlorosis.

Pruning and Deadheading

• Large kleinia grows to between 1 and 2 feet tall with a 4- to 6-foot spread, so it rarely needs to be pruned to control its height. However, it sometimes develops ragged or spindly growth that should be removed. Trim off the unwanted growth at the base using pruning shears and discard it. Also, prune off the flowers after they fade to tidy up the plant and improve its appearance.

A Note on Alternate Names

• Large kleinia is sold under numerous scientific names, including Senecio aizoides, Kleinia archeri and Senecio toxotis. While the names may differ, the care information is exactly the same for each plant.