Kalanchoe Donkey Ears Care

Soil

• Provide donkey ears fast-draining soil, which is the most important factor in providing adequate care. Amend your garden bed with coarse sand to improve drainage, or pot the donkey ears plant in succulent potting mix. Avoid planting the donkey ears plant where it will be exposed to excessive moisture or heavy soil since it will not survive long under those conditions.

Light

• All Kalanchoe plants require ample light, but particularly donkey ears. While direct sun is not absolutely necessary, they must be provided with at least eight hours of very bright light each day to look healthy and not become leggy or discolored.

Moisture

• All species of Kalanchoe thrive under dry conditions, and that is particularly true of donkey ears. Water donkey ears no more than once a week to a depth of 1 inch. Pour the water at the base of the plant to avoid getting too much moisture on the leaves, which encourages pest and mold infestations. Always allow the soil around donkey ears plants to dry out most of the way before watering again.

Nutrition

• Donkey ears plants are not heavy feeders, but they do benefit from regular feeding during the summer months. Feed donkey ears plants once a month from mid-April until September. Use balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 5-5-5. Follow the instructions on the label carefully, but dilute the fertilizer to half strength to keep from burning the roots of the donkey ears plant.

Grooming

• Donkey ears plants require very little grooming as a general rule. However, to keep the plant looking tidy, it is best to remove the spent flowers and any dead or discolored leaves. Prune off unattractive foliage and spent flower stalks at the base using sharp, clean pruning shears.

Troubleshooting

• Donkey ears are typically trouble free, but they sometimes develop black stems and excessive amounts of dead leaves as a result of overwatering. Cease watering immediately if your donkey ears plant develops these symptoms. Repot it into fresh soil one to two weeks after you cease watering it.