What kind of Kalanchoe is it? The "pancake/paddle plant" varieties naturally produce a powder which acts as a sunscreen and should not be tampered with.

Nancy

Hi Nancy,

Thanks for your response. I believe what I have is the blossfeldiana variety. Is what you said also applicable to this variety?

Thanks

Ciao
-- Murali

Hi there,

Can you post a pic? Those are 2 different looking Kalanchoes & I do not believe blossfeldiana has the white bloom (that powdery looking surface) that the other can have.

blossfeldiana is the most common kind sold in bloom in winter. Many advise that you just toss it when it stops blooming because it is difficult to bloom again. Its a short day plant that requires special treatment in the fall to get it to bloom again. But, if you like it without blooms, you can maintain it. It is a succulent that requires bright light and fast draining soil. It should not have a white powdery coating. You are probably right in thinking that is a fungus, possibly powdery mildew. That is made worse by overwatering and high humidity.

The leaves that are falling off are dead. All of the dead and dying leaves should be removed because they have fungus spores on them. If you can give it brighter light, dryer conditions and good air circulation, it may survive. When spring comes, if it seems a little healthier, you could transplant to better soil, like a good quality cactus mix or one of the soil mixes discussed in the container growing forum.

Ohio, I must disagree that blossfeldiana's won't rebloom. It's true many people buy these guys for the flowers, then toss, but there's no need..Especially people who grow various plants, indoors, as house plants.

Without a picture of felled leaves, it's impossible to tell if they're salvageable. If leaves are soft, discard..If firm, they can be rooted by setting atop semi-moist soil.

Murali..if you ever suspect fungus, before applying fungicides, sprinkle Cinnamon on the plant. It's natural, no chemicals, and has been known to work.

Toni

Plants that shed leaves at a touch or when jostled have formed a corky abscission layer at the base of leaf petioles (stems). This occurs as a result of a decrease or disruption in the flow of the growth hormone, auxin, across the abscission zone. In most cases, this occurs as either a result of natural senescence (but in this case the leaf usually turns yellow first - even in succulents), as a result of a significant decrease in light intensity or duration, or as a drought response (it takes water for photosynthesis. No water = no polar auxin flow = formation of abscission layer = shedding of foliage).

Has the plant been subjected to a decrease in light or been left to go dry or been kept wet for an extended period? Sudden chill can also shut down photosynthesis and disrupt the flow of auxin, so consider that as a possibility as well.

Al

Hi i just found this post and i am having the same problem. i bought the plant about a month ago and over the last few days its been loosing leaves slowly, until i picked it up to water it and all the leaves fell off. I took some pictures when i first got it, its the one on the left, and another just now, hopefully this conversation thread isnt too old

It doesnt appear that my photos attached to the post, gonna try again