How to Grow a Paddle Plant Indoors – Paddle Plant Care Pointers

Paddle plants grow very well inside the home, making them a great houseplant. All you need is a well-draining container, sandy potting soil, a warm environment with a lot of light, and a touch of clean and fresh water every now and then.

These indoor plants are easy to maintain and provide a great way to spice a boring office or provide a tiny hint of color in a bland bathroom. To learn more about the paddle plant and how to grow them indoors successfully, continue reading this article.

What is a Paddle Plant?

A Paddle (scientific name: Kalanchoe) is a tropical succulent that makes a very pretty home decor item. This Kalanchoe plant has rounded, thick-green leaves that look very similar to paddles (hence its name) and thrive the best inside or in warmer environments.

During the colder months, the leaves on a paddle plant – or Kalanchoe Luciae – will start to turn a pinkish or reddish color, making it look like a pancake.

What Do Paddle Plants Need to Thrive?

As mentioned, paddle plants are hardy succulents that require plenty of sunlight and warmth to thrive. This succulent plant can be grown outdoors, and it does very well in direct sunlight or in a sun-shade location.

If you are planning to grow your Paddle Plant indoors, the proper care is a little different, although it doesn’t require too much maintenance.

Sunlight

If you are planning to grow your paddle plant indoors, it needs to be positioned in a location where it can get plenty of bright sunlight. If you have the plant hanging or sitting in front of a window, make sure to move it to a shady location at times for some indirect sunlight on super sunny days to keep the plant leaves from being scorched.

Soil

Paddle plants require well-draining soil to prevent water pooling at the roots, leading to root rot and eventually the death of your plant. A nice, sandy soil will work well for a potted, indoor succulent.

Temperature

These succulents love the heat, which is why indoor planting in cooler climates is highly recommended.

When caring for a Paddle Plant indoors, make sure the room the pot is located in stays between 60°F and 85°F (16°C and 29°C.). Never let your plant’s environment get lower than 60°F.

Water

Like all other living things, Paddle Plants do require fresh, clean water to stay alive. However, these guys do not require nearly as much water as most other plants.

You only need to water your succulents when the soil is completely dried out. Only add a small amount and make sure the pot is draining correctly.

How to Grow a Paddle Plant Indoors

Now that we have covered all the basics, let us get you on your way to caring for and growing Paddle Plants.

Step 1 – Find an Appropriate Container

Locate a pot or container that has holes in the bottom; this is essential for water drainage.

You also want to consider the size of your paddle plant to make sure it will fit comfortably. Keep in mind succulents like to be slightly root-bound (meaning the roots are “bound” or clustered together in one space).

Step 2 – Choosing Your Soil

When choosing soil for your K Luciae plant, you’ll want to find sandy, coarse soil with lots of organic matter that can provide proper drainage as well as nourish the succulent.

For your indoor plant, you can use sandy, moist soil with sawdust or mulch mixed in for draining purposes and organic matter for its nutrients.

If you don’t want to make your own succulent soil, it is available to purchase from many online and retail stores.

Step 3 – Proper Placing

As mentioned above, Paddle Plants require a good amount of bright light for its fleshy leaves in order to survive. This is a heat-hardy plant and requires it in order to continue growing.

However, on sunny days, remove the plant from in front of the window until the sun is away from that location in order to protect the leaves from getting scorched.

Step 4 – Maintaining Your Paddle Plant

Once your paddle plant has a good home, maintaining it is a breeze. Only give it water when the soil seems too dry. Never overwater the plant either; succulents are well-known for developing root rot.

Root Rot: Root rot happens when the roots of a plant cannot get enough oxygen due to overwatering, and they die. These dead roots will start to rot and create fungi that will infect the entire plant.

Re-potting Your Paddle Plant

You will know when your Paddle Plant requires re-potting. The plant’s roots will start to grow outside the holes used for water drainage. When this occurs, your plant has become too big for the pot and needs a new, larger one.

Luckily, re-potting these plants is straightforward and simple to accomplish:

• Prepare the larger pot with proper drainage holes and soil, leaving enough space in the center to lower the plant in.
• Flip the old container over onto the palm of your hand, allowing access for the dirt to fall off and the main steam to slide in between your fingers for a nice secure hold.
• Trim off any dead, soaked, or sick roots with a nice sharp kitchen knife.
• Place the plant into its new home and give it a nice large sip of water.

Paddle Plant Flowers

You may not know it by looking at pictures or seeing paddle plants in other people’s homes, but these succulents have flowers that bloom once the plant is around four years old.

These flowers aren’t always that impressive, and most people choose to cut them off in order to provide more space for the plant, and it also aids in its growth.

Paddle Plants and Pets

If you have pets in your home and still want to grow a paddle plant in a pot, make sure it is always placed in a location out of the animal’s reach.

While the plant may not kill your cat or dog, it does have toxins that can be poisonous to pets leading to diarrhea and vomiting.

Summing Things Up

Although paddle plants can be grown outdoors, these succulents do very well indoors and are very easy to care for and maintain. They are small enough to place just about anywhere in your home, giving every space a nice little touch.