FlapJack Succulent | How to Grow and Care

The Flapjack succulent plant, also known as the “paddle plant” or the Kalanchoe Luciae is a very common popular succulent. It is very unique, and beautiful and every single day it’s getting more and more popular.

This succulent has beautiful green flat leaves with gorgeous red tips. The flapjack succulent can grow all the way up to 5 ft tall! During the winter, this unique succulent will bloom a very pretty flower right up the middle of the succulent.

The flapjack succulent is very common in warm areas such as California or Florida, simply because they love warm weather.

You can grow this succulent indoors or outdoors, it’s your choice! They will grow much much larger outdoors but they will still grow and live indoors! A lot of succulent lovers use them as beautiful houseplant decorations because of how unique they are. 

Flapjack succulents grow quickly and grow well in xeriscape landscape, or rock gardens. If you want to grow this unique succulent outside then the weather must be very warm or dry. In the summer they can grow anywhere because it’s warm, but once winter hits and it gets super cold then it would be time to move them inside. Only move them inside if the weather gets under 35 degrees.

This is a very easy succulent to grow and care for. By the end of this article you will know exactly how to grow and care for this beautiful amazing succulent known as the flapjack succulent plant.

QUICK FACTS:

Botanical Name: Kalanchoe luciae

Common Name: Flapjack Succulent, Paddle Plant, Red Pancakes, Dessert Cabbage

Native Area: South Africa

Can be grown indoors or outdoors.

Sunlight: Full sun, partial shade

Mature Sizes: Up to 24 inches tall, 36 inches wide

Cold Hardiness: Zone 9a (Minimum 20° F | -6.7° C)

Not cold hardy

Propagation: Cuttings, leaves

Can be toxic to animals  

 

 

Before we Begin...

Interested in buying succulents online?

Here, at Ramsey Succulents we have a huge 50% off sale going on right now. Yes, our succulents only cost $3 each! 

We offer free shipping for orders over $40.00 and each order takes about 1-3 days to get delivered.

To buy our succulents right now for $3 each you can go ahead and click on this link to buy succulents online from Ramsey Succulents.

 

 

TEMPERATURE/GROWING CONDITIONS REQUIREMENTS

You can grow the flapjack succulent plant outdoors or indoors, it’s your choice! They definitely will grow bigger, and better outdoors because of the amount of area they have to grow. Also growing outdoors will help them produce their pretty green and red colors because of the natural sunlight helping the succulent product its colors.

This doesn’t mean you can’t grow them indoors tho, you definitely can. They just won’t grow that large unless you pot them in a bigger pot when it’s the right time. 

If you are growing outdoors, then you must make sure the weather is warm. Flapjack succulents like warm weather, they grow the best in warm weather. They can grow in any location as long if it’s warm and dry outside they’ll grow healthy.

When winter comes, and your area gets under 35 degrees, then you must move your flapjack succulent indoors. They can’t stand the cold! Once winter hits and you live in a very cold area once it’s winter, then definitely move them indoors or they will freeze and die.

 

LIGHT

The flapjack succulent loves a lot of sunlight/light but not too much. Make sure your flapjack succulent gets at least 6 hours of sunlight every single day, and then some partial shade. If you are growing outdoors make sure that it gets some shade.

The flapjack succulent does have delicate leaves, and too much sun will possibly burn its leaves. This is why it’s very important to give your flapjack succulent some partial shade as well so it can cool off.

If growing indoors, make sure you place your flapjack succulent in an area that gets the most sun in the place. This is very important when growing indoors because if your flapjack succulent doesn’t get enough light then it may begin the process of etiolation. 

Etiolation happens when your succulent hasn’t gotten enough light so it begins to stretch or grow “tall”. It begins to stretch or grow tall simply because it is looking for a source of light. If it stretches or grows too tall, then your flapjack succulent might snap in half.

This is why it is very important to make sure you are giving your flapjack enough light when growing indoors. Etiolation is very common for succulent beginners and it does happen a lot, so in order to prevent it just make sure your plant is getting enough light.

WATERING

You should water your flapjack succulent at least once a week. This will be plenty of water for your flapjack succulent to grow healthy and happy. You can also feel the soil with your finger and if the soil feels very dry, then definitely give your flapjack some water.

These are watering requirements for both indoor and outdoor growing. However sometimes when growing outdoors, morning mist occurs and it gives your succulent some water every morning.

Since this happens a lot, then it is best to water your flapjack less than once a week because of the morning outdoor mist. 

Like most succulents, flapjack succulents don’t like too much water. If you overwater your flapjack succulent then it’s possible it may experience root rot. Root rot is the #1 main reason why a succulent will die.

Root rot will occur when you overwater your succulent. Root rot happens all because your succulent is sitting in a wet puddle for a couple of days. When soil is wet for a couple of days then mold and bacteria will begin to attack your flapjacks roots, making your succulent look sad/unhealthy. 

If your flapjack succulent looks mushy, moldy, rotting, then your succulent definitely has root rot and it must be treated asap.

You must also be looking out for underwatering symptoms. Underwatering symptoms for a flapjack succulent would be dry/wrinkled leaves. Your flapjack will just look very dry and wrinkled, this is a sign of underwatering. Water your succulent asap if you see it has underwatering symptoms.

It is very important to keep track of the last time you watered your succulent. If a problem does occur then you know the reason why because you will know the exact last time you watered your flapjack. 

SOIL FOR THE FLAPJACK SUCCULENT

 

 

This soil is the most perfect soil for the Flapjack Succulent. This succulent soil has 2 of the fastest draining ingredients out there sand and perlite. Sand and perlite will protect your Flapjack Succulent from root rot. Root rot is known as the #1 most common reason why a succulent will die and it happens a lot.

This soil will help your Flapjack Succulent grow healthy, happy, and of course protect it from root rot which is much needed. This soil is also loaded with 60+ minerals and nutrients from seaweed fertilizer. Your Flapjack Succulent will grow bigger, faster, and stronger in this soil because it will be absorbing many nutrients from the seaweed in the soil. 

This is amazing soil for your Flapjack Succulent and you should definitely consider it when growing this succulent. Your Flapjack Succulent will just simply love it and will grow super healthy, faster, bigger, and happier when grown in this soil.

 

 

 

POT

It is very important to grow your flapjack succulents in the correct size pot, and also use a pot with a drainage hole. 

If your flapjack succulent is 2 inches, then use a succulent pot that is 2-3 inches big. If it’s 4 inches then use one that’s 4-5 inches big. When your flapjack slowly gets bigger, then repot it in a bigger size pot.

Drainage holes are very important simply because it drains all the excess water away. Drainage holes will definitely help prevent root rot, this is why they make succulent pots with drainage holes!

If your succulent pot doesn’t have drainage holes then don’t worry! You can still grow succulents in them, it's just you will have to be careful! Luckily for you we have an article all about growing succulents in pots without drainage holes. Check it out!

Also just make sure your succulent pot is the one that you simply like! Your flapjack succulent will look good in any style/color pot! Make sure it’s one that you enjoy, and that you think it’s unique and beautiful!

 

 

 

FERTILIZER: 

The flapjack succulent doesn’t need fertilizer to grow healthy and survive. However, if you want this succulent to grow faster, healthier, and bigger than you can give it some succulent fertilizer to do so!

Succulent fertilizer is amazing for succulents, it really helps them grow faster, healthier, and bigger if you want them to. A lot of succulent growers use fertilizer, especially huge nurseries because they need their succulents to grow as fast as possible.

Now which fertilizer should you use for your flapjack succulent? We definitely recommend using seaweed fertilizer. Seaweed has 60 trace minerals and nutrients, and it releases all those minerals and nutrients to succulents. Seaweed is also organic and is arguably the best succulent fertilizer out there.

Now where can you get seaweed fertilizer? Well, good news for you! We sell succulent soil with seaweed in it! Our succulent soil is fast/well draining and is also loaded with nutrients all because of the seaweed! Flapjack succulents love this succulent soil all because of the fertilizer it has in it! Give it a try!

 

PROPAGATING FLAPJACK SUCCULENTS

You can propagate flapjack succulents by cuttings or leaves. You will just need to gently clip some cuttings or leaves but make sure they form a callus before planting. This is important because if there’s no callus then there will be no roots forming. So simply cut your cuttings and leaves very gently. 

After you cut your cuttings and leaves let them sit out for 2-4 days or until they form a callus. After they form a callus, go ahead and plant the cuttings and leaves in fast/well draining succulent soil. Water immediately and then put them in an area that will give them full shade. Full shade for a week and then move them to full sun. You will then watch roots form and they will continue to grow healthy and happy.

MOST COMMON GROWING PROBLEMS

Overwatering:

To prevent overwatering, make sure to keep track of when was the last time you watered your Flapjack succulent plant. If your Flapjack succulent plant looks like it is rotting, or looks sad/unhealthy then root rot may have appeared. Root rot happens when you overwater, and you must take action immediately.

For more information on root rot and how to prevent and get rid of it, visit our article.

Lack Of Sunlight:

Make sure your Flapjack succulent plant gets enough sunlight, at least 6 hours per day. Lack of sunlight will make your Flapjack succulent look pale, and not green. Lack of sunlight will also make your Flapjack succulent grow slower than usual.

Under watering:

Make sure your Flapjack succulent plant gets enough water. If your jade plant looks dry, or its leaves are wrinkled then it is under watered for sure. Dry/wrinkled leaves are common signs of an under watered succulents and you must water it asap. 

That’s it!

Now you know all about the flapjack succulent, also known as the “paddle plant”! They are very beautiful unique succulents that are very popular! Every single day succulent lovers are growing and loving them!

They will make the most perfect garden, or indoor decoration! Their colors are so beautiful and unique, they will stand out in any room or garden!

They are also very easy to grow and care for. Just make sure you follow the growing and care requirements that we listed and you will grow such a wonderful, healthy, and beautiful flapjack succulent.

Thank You!

Thank you for visiting our website and reading our article. We hope we brought value, and great information to you today. Our goal is to help fellow succulent lovers like you! Any questions or if you’d like more tips email us or comment below! 

If you are interested in buying live succulents, soil, cuttings, etc. We have them available here on our website. Go to our homepage, or click the links in our articles for more information.

We thank you so much for your time.

Thank You!

Ramsey Succulents

Family Owned & Operated