Ghost Plant is a unique ornamental houseplant. Furthermore, it is one of the most popular succulents easily available from gardening centers and stores as it is easy to grow and care for. Even novices may grow them.
They can survive anything from long periods without water to damaged stems and cold temperatures. If you’re searching for a forgiving succulent that won’t mind a little neglect now and then, Ghost Plant is an excellent option.
If you are looking at growing a Ghost Plant, here is detailed information on how to propagate, important conditions, and care tips for your Ghost plant to thrive.
Sunlight
Ghost plant enjoys full exposure to sunlight. You should let it stay in bright light for at least six hours a day. Its most distinctive feature is its translucent pink leaves, which result from exposure to full light.
On the other hand, the Ghost plant can tolerate light shade, which turns the leaves to a grey, blue color.
For indoors lighting, locate the most lit location, or one with or receiving a lot of light. An east-facing window is ideal. West and south-facing windows may also work well, but you’ll have to relocate the plant multiple times to get the ideal position.
If your Ghost plant does not receive enough light, it will start changing to a pale gray color and lose its luster.
If it doesn’t get enough light soon, it will start stretching out and elongating towards a bright light. Move the plant to a more direct light source when you notice this happening.
Soil
The Ghost plant’s soil (like other succulents) needs to be well well-draining.
The ideal combination of light, porous potting soil, and up to 50% gravel, sand, or perlite will give your Ghost plant a conducive environment for growth. Or use this soil mix that combines coarse sand, cactus mix, and perlite in a 1:1:1 ratio.
The type of potting mix you create will also let you avoid many common problems that arise from overwatering.
Watering
When caring for Ghost plants, water is the most important element.
Water your Ghost plant once a week during the active growing season in winter and spring. Come winter; you should only water it once or twice every two to three weeks to prevent overwatering.
Wait till the soil is completely dry to a depth of one inch and water it once the soil is dry. You can check this out using your index finger.
Water the soil around the plant’s base in the morning or late evening. Pouring water directly onto the leaves might scorch on a hot, sunny day damaging the plant. In addition, dripping water on the leaves in a humid environment might cause fungal infections to your plant.
Fertilizer
Outdoor Ghost plants rarely require soil supplements when grown in the garden, but you can still add nutrients to both plants if grown outdoors or indoors.
Those grown indoors may require a feeding supplement after depleting the existing nutrients in the pot.
The secret to growing a healthy Ghost plant is to feed it while it is actively developing in the summer and spring.
In the spring and summer(growing season), you can use a balanced succulent fertilizer at half strength, and you can use it once every month or two. Fertilizer mixes made specifically for succulents and cacti are also appropriate.
Temperature
Ghost plants do well in temperatures between 60 to 80°F.
The Ghost plant is relatively a hardy succulent when it comes to temperature fluctuation, and the good thing, it will thrive in your house at room temperature.
In their native Mexico, they flourish in hot, dry regions and survive low temperatures in mountainous regions. They can tolerate low temperatures of upto 10°F.
Humidity
Ghost plants do well in environments with below 50% of humidity level.
Avoid rooms in your home that become too humid or are full of moisture, such as the kitchen or bathroom, where steam may accumulate. These areas usually have high humidity levels and may damage your plant.
The Ghost plant thrives in an arid climate and may be placed on a window to receive plenty of sunshine and good airflow, recreating its natural habitat.
Pruning
Ghost plant offshoots new rosette pups on the healthy stems that may get leggy with time. These leggy offshoots, depending on the aesthetic you’re looking for, maybe charm or make the plant look scraggly.
To maintain your plant, prune the offshoots as they grow long and re-pot the pups, share with friends or create compost with them. Always use clean, sterilized pruning sears to prune your plant.
Potting
Ghost plants don’t require regular repotting. If the plant has outgrown its container, you should switch it to a larger one in the spring.
It’s also a good time to prune the older growth and propagate.
Pro Tip: If given an ideal pot with enough space and all the right growing conditions, Ghost plants can grow to reach 12′ tall and trail 3 feet.
Propagating Ghost Plants
It’s good to propagate Ghost plants during the growing season (spring and summer) since they will root more quickly this period hence a greater chance of survival than in the winter months.
You can propagate Ghost plants with:
- Individual leaf from a rosette or stem
- Cuttings from excessive growth or older plants
- Seeds
Use a clean, sterile pair of scissors or sterile knife to make your cuttings. If plucking a leaf, ensure you pluck the entire leaf from the stem. If you let any part remain on the stem, you might not achieve a new growth from the leaf.
How To Propagate Ghost Plant from Stem Cuttings:
- Let the stem cutting dry for a day or two. Let the cut ends dry and seal or callous. It’s better to obtain cuttings from healthy-looking, plump-leafed Ghost plants than dehydrated or stressed ones.
- You can dip your cutting into a rooting hormone if you wish to speed up the process.
- Stick the cuttings in a well-draining potting mix once they’ve dried and healed.
- Place in a well-ventilated place and away from direct sunlight. Every few days, or when the soil feels dry, water it.
After about two weeks, you’ll begin to see new roots develop.
After four to six weeks, the cuttings should be firmly rooted, and new growth will start developing from the stem sides or the top.
When the succulent is well-rooted, reduce the amount of misting and water it once a week at most. As the plant grows older, expose it to more light.
How To Propagate Ghost Plant from Leaves:
- Gently twist off a leaf from the stem. Always get a healthy leaf; in addition, it is wise to have several leaves as not every leaf will grow.
- Again, you can dip the cut ends into a rooting hormone to enhance rooting. This process is optional, but you can do it if you are looking at fast success.
- Allow the leaves to dry for a day or two. Keep it in a dry place away from direct sunlight.
- Prepare a well-draining potting soil. Take the leaves and lay them flat on the soil surface, barely covering them, or insert the cut ends in the soil.
In about two weeks, the leaves will begin producing roots. In a few more weeks, you will notice new seedlings growing. The process might take anything from a few weeks to several months.
Pro Tip: It takes longer to grow Ghost plants from leaves than from a whole stem. Stem cuttings also have a higher success rate; therefore, note these details when propagating.
How To Propagate Ghost Plant from Seeds:
Lastly, you can start Ghost plants from seeds, which is the best approach if you are looking at covering a large area of your garden or have many seedlings for potting.
You can collect the little seeds that develop after the blooms have died or purchase them from gardening stores.
Plant the seeds in a swell draining potting mix on a tray and barely cover with soil. Water with a plant mister to prevent washing away the seeds.
Place your tray in bright light at 70°F, and you will see new sprouts in three to four weeks.
Common Pests and Diseases
Remove dead leaves from the base of your Ghost plant as it develops. Decaying foliage is home to mealybugs, which are bugs that spread bacterial infections causing decaying of your plant.
You can treat mealybugs on a Ghost plant y smothering the pests away with horticultural oil or with a dab of isopropyl alcohol.
In Conclusion
Ghost plants are one-of-a-kind plants with interesting foliage, and when grown in the proper conditions, their changing hues make them ideal focal points in any space. They’re really simple to maintain and look beautiful as greenery decorations for your home or workplace.
Last update on 2023-12-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
