Last Updated on February 25, 2021 by Kimberly Crawford
The Aeonium “Kiwi” is a succulent plant looks like a delicatessen flower carved out of colorful fruits and vegetables. Lo and behold, it’s actually a living plant with green and yellow rosettes that are tantalizingly pink around its edges.
In the summer, these rosettes blossom into full-blown yellow blooms. It’s best grown in a pot so you can move it indoors during the winter.
Related: 15 Best Places To Buy Succulents Online
Quick Facts
Aeonium Kiwi is partial to full to partial sunlight. If you have enough light indoors you can grow it indoors as well. It has the typical water needs of a succulent, which is namely the dry and soak method of watering.
This plant can also grow to 3 feet or 90 centimeters tall and wide. Its minimum tolerance for cold is at around 30° F or -1.1° C because it’s not cold hardy at all. It’s a nontoxic plant to animals and humans in general.
Planting
#1. When to plant
The Aeonium Kiwi actively grows the most during spring and fall, so plant it during those seasons. It doesn’t thrive as much in summer but at least it gets its healthy dose of sunshine.
However, when it comes to wintertime, it’s best that you water scarcely to let it survive the cold or put it inside the house in a pot if you have incredibly frosty winters.
#2. Where to plant
You should plant it in a pot indoors first then place it outside once the specimen has produced a viable root system for it to survive. You can transplant the Kiwi on your garden bed or planter’s box as well as long as it has taken root but not before that.
Plant it somewhere with partial sun first to allow them to acclimate to full sunshine. It takes about a week for it to acclimate to all-day sun.
#3. How to plant
Like was mentioned earlier, establish the root system by planting them into a pot before planting them in a garden bed. You can propagate this Kiwi by seeds, offsets, and stem cutting.
When growing an immature Aeonium Kiwi, put it in a sheltered spot where there’s morning shade and afternoon sun until they have their own set of leaves. Afterwards, you can keep it in the pot or transplant it in your garden bed.
Care
#1. Soil
Use gritty, free-draining compost and make sure your soil drains excellently. Sure, the Aeonium Kiwi has more of a root rot safeguard with its ability to absorb more moisture than the average succulent.
However, don’t push your luck too much. Your pot should have both quick-draining soil and its own drainage hole Get a small pot below your pot to catch the drained water as well so you won’t make a mess indoors.
#2. Light & Temperature
It’s a succulent and it loves the sun, but it’s more susceptible to burning and leaf dying in extremely hot conditions. It can take partial to full sunlight, with it being more partial to partial sunlight.
This makes it the perfect windowsill flowering succulent for aesthetic purposes that only has occasional watering requirements. As for temperature, 65°-75° F or 18°-24° C is ideal. Its lowest temperature is 30° F to 20° F or -1.1° C to -6.6° C.
#3. Water & Humidity
Do the soak and dry but with a twist. Water it next only when the soil is so dry that when you stick your finger in, the ground below is still chalky.
Water it about once a week in the summer but only if there’s no rain then water more often from the end of winter to all throughout spring during its growth period. It can’t take too much humidity and heat.
#4. Fertilizer
Use diluted liquid fertilizer during the same time you should water it the most, which should be during spring. Don’t feed it fertilizer during its dormant stage of fall and the start of winter as well as summer. Limit it during the growth period for maximum results.
#5. Propagation
This succulent can propagate itself by stem cutting, offsets, and seeds. Use a sharp, sterile knife to cut it, allow it to callous, and place in well-draining soil.
The offsets can be found on the plant’s base. Pull them up, allow them to dry, and then replant. Seeds should be sown during warm weather and on dry soil. It takes weeks for them to grow.
#6. Pruning
Again, use a sharp, sterile knife to go about pruning this beautiful flowery plant. Cut it up properly and at an angle to prevent it from growing too much on one side or another. You can also use cutting to cut off any rotting parts of it or to stave off root rot.
Problems
#1. Growing Problems & Diseases
Like with other succulents, over-watering makes your Aeonium Kiwi susceptible to root rot. Make sure to use pots with excellent drainage systems to lower rotting root risk when push comes to shove. If it does have root rot, cut the rotted root off and replant the remaining healthy specimen anew.
#2. Pests
Aphids and mealybugs are its worst enemies. Use systemic pesticide to get rid of them. You can also lightly spray the plant with isopropyl/rubbing alcohol or dab with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs to keep these insects away.
FAQs
Is Aeonium poisonous to cats or dogs?
No. They’re not poisonous or toxic to pets. Unlike succulents such as Calico Hearts, the Aeonium Kiwi is nontoxic. No need to get that peroxide once your canine or feline decides to snack on this plant. However, you should still keep them away from it and you should avoid eating it yourself.
What makes Aeonium different from other succulents?
Notably, unlike other succulents like cacti, the Crinkle-Leaf Plant, or Calico Hearts, the Aeonium Kiwi requires you to acclimate it to full sun instead of taking it in like a fish would water. It’s averse to dry, hot weather. It can also take more water in than your typical succulent, but don’t overdo it.
Why is your succulent “leggy”?
If there’s more leg than flower on your Aeonium Kiwi, there’s typically a reason for that. It means it’s searching for sunlight. It’s like how oregano in the shade will stretch out its leaves and stems towards the sun. Put your Kiwi in a sunnier spot to avoid this leggy tendency. Stems that have already stretched out can’t shrink but you can cut them to propagate more Kiwis.
