If you’re like me, then when you’re shopping for a new plant, you’re looking for one that will seduce you with its beauty.
Well, Callisia Repens ‘Pink Panther’ did it for me (just like the Hoya Krimson Queen).
Pink Panther is a cultivar of Callisia Repens with many other names such as Pink Lady, Pink Turtle, or Tricolor.
A cultivar is a plant that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. Therefore, it doesn’t grow spontaneously in the wild.
This succulent creeping plant is a perfect desk decoration.
Characterized by its waxy, creamy pink and green leaves, the Pink Panther plant is a beautiful ornamental plant.
This article will be about Pink Panther plant care. Let’s get started!
NB: If you’re a beginner, I strongly recommend reading our articles on the basics. It’ll get you started in no time.
Light requirements
The Callisia Repens ‘Pink Panther’ loves light. So, direct sunlight or bright indirect sunlight will be perfect for this plant.
I advise you to put it in direct sunlight during the winter months and indirect bright light during summer.
Direct light on hot summer days could burn its leaves. Therefore, it’s best to put it on a south-facing windowsill, or approximately one foot away from a window that gets plenty of light.
If you can’t find such a spot in your house, you can go for a LED grow light. I have read somewhere that those work too for this beauty.
Please keep in mind, that Pink Panther will suffer if it doesn’t get enough light and will lose its variegation.
Temperature levels
Callisia Repens comes from central and south America. Therefore, its species thrive in warm temperatures.
The best range for your Pink Panther would be between 18°C (64°F) and 22°C (72°F). At night, temperatures can go as low as 10°C (50°F) and it should be fine.
However, please mind hot and cold drafts that could damage this plant.
Watering needs
The pink panther plant doesn’t like sitting in water. Therefore, you should water it only when the top few inches of soil have dried up.
I find it better to verify the moisture level before watering rather than doing it on a schedule.
It will spare you the troubles of overwatered and underwatered succulents.
The preferred watering method for succulents is the ‘soak and dry’. It is safer to follow it when in doubt.
Keep in mind that your plant will show you signs when it needs more watering (the leaves will turn brown) or less watering (the leaves will turn yellow and soggy).
So, keep an eye out for those signs and if they don’t show then you’ll know you’re on the right track.
Soil characteristics
When it comes to the soil needs, you’ll have to go for a well-draining potting soil (not potting mix).
To make it short, potting soil contains soil (dirt) while the potting mix is a soil-less medium.
Check out Marc’s article on soil 101 for more on that subject.
Furthermore, I suggest you add perlite (for drainage and aeration) and a little bit of vermiculite (for water retention if you tend to forget watering).
Pro tip: You should add perlite even if your store-bought potting soil contains some of it already.
Alternatively, a basic succulent soil mix would do the job just fine.
Potting & Repotting advice
When a plant is this gorgeous I like to put it in a glazed ceramic pot that serves as a cachepot. It just looks so much better in a pink or green ceramic pot.
However, I said that it should serve as a cachepot. Indeed, I advise you to plant it in a pot with a drainage hole.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, this succulent hates sitting in water. Therefore, a drainage hole is a must for getting all the excess water out of the pot.
So, just put it in a plastic pot with a drainage hole, then put that pot inside a beautiful glazed pot.
For more, read Marc’s article on how to choose a pot.
Now about the subject of repotting.
This baby plant is a fast grower. She’ll basically double in size in less than a year. So, you may have to repot her every year or so.
You can seize this opportunity to change its soil which will have lost all its nutrients by then.
Pruning
You may want to prune your Pink Panther plant for two reasons.
Since this is a creeping plant, she will trail if you don’t regularly prune her.
Once a week should be enough for it to keep its bubbly shape.
Still, it’s up to you to decide which shape you prefer.
Furthermore, there is another reason for pruning which is to avoid reverting.
To prevent that from happening, you’ll have to trim the solid green stems since they will only grow green leaves.
That way, she’ll focus her growth on the creamy pink stems which will prevent her from reverting.
Fertilizer
We’re not big fans of fertilizing. In addition, this plant is a fast grower, so you’ll have to put her in fresh soil almost every year.
Therefore, she’ll be getting enough nutrients that way and won’t need any fertilizers.
However, there are some growers that like fertilizing on a monthly basis.
If you decide to go on that road, I suggest you avoid synthetic ones and only fertilize in the spring months. Here is our pick for a fertilizer.
Propagation
Leaf propagation won’t succeed on Callisia Repens. So, propagation through cuttings is the way to go.
Start by cutting four or five internodes. The more stems you can use, the better the chances you’ll have in succeeding.
Choose stems with both green and variegated leaves. The chances of success are low when using only variegated stems.
Next, remove the bottom leaves that’ll be touching the soil when you plant the stems.
After that, plant the bare stems in potting soil and put the plant in a bright place that gets plenty of sunlight.
The final step is to give them a good soaking and let the excess water exit through the drainage hole.
Now you’ll have to wait about three weeks until the stems develop solid roots. Remember to water them each time the soil dries up.
Also, don’t try repotting them before their roots are well-developed. You can gently pull on the stems to check if they are firmly rooted in the soil.
FAQ
There are two reasons: Not enough light and not enough pruning. Callisia Repens is a creeping succulent, therefore she’ll start trailing if you let her. Moreover, she’ll stretch looking for light if she doesn’t get enough of it.
Either you’re not watering her enough or she’s getting too much direct sunlight. You should be able to determine which is the most likely reason.
There could be two reasons for this. The first one is that your plant may not be getting enough light. You should start by changing its spot to somewhere where she’ll get plenty of it. Second, you’re not trimming the solid green stems enough. Try and cut as much of those as possible, leaving only the pink ones for her to focus on.
Yes, it’s fairly easy. You’ll have to give it enough light and avoid overwatering it, and she’ll thrive.
Conclusion
In summary, the Pink Panther plant is a gorgeous succulent plant that requires bright light, well-draining soil, and regular pruning. And that’s it!
So, I love it and would recommend it.
Also, it could be a nice gift for a friend or a family member who is into aesthetics.
I hope you loved our article on this beauty. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us.
