How To Take Care Of A Succulent Ghost Plant?

Ghost plants, also known as ghost succulents or ghosty succulents, are low-maintenance plants that thrive in bright but indirect sunlight. They require a potting mix with sharp drainage and should be placed in a sunny windowsill indoors. To ensure the plant’s health, it is essential to replicate its native habitat as closely as possible.

Graptopetalum pentandrum, also known as the ghost plant, ghost succulent, ghosty succulent, or the five-leaved graptopetalum succulent, is a cold-hardy succulent in the jade plant family. To ensure optimal growth and health, follow these essential care tips:

  1. Provide a potting mix with sharp drainage.
  2. Place the plant near a window or partially shaded area. Water the plant every four or five days until the leaves are full and plump, then reduce watering to every couple of days.
  3. Place the plant less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive.
  4. Choose a location where the plant will receive full or half-day sun.
  5. Water the plant using the “soak and dry” method, ensuring the soil is completely dry after watering to avoid root rot.

Ghost plant care is similar to other succulents, favoring well-drained soil and dislikes too much water. By following these tips, you can ensure the optimal growth and health of your ghost plant.


📹 BEST TIPS | HOW TO CARE FOR GHOST PLANT GRAPTOPETALUM PARAGUAYNESE

The Graptopetalum Paraguaynese gets its nickname “the ghost plant” from its thick farina layer, which covers its pale blue, purple, …


Why is my ghost plant dying?

Ghost Plants can experience water-related issues such as over-watering, which results in yellowing leaves and soft stems, and under-watering, which results in wrinkled leaves and leaf drop. To combat over-watering, let the soil dry before watering and ensure adequate drainage. For under-watered plants, establish a regular watering schedule without overdoing. Inconsistent watering can cause shriveled or mushy leaves and discolored patches, expressing the plant’s dissatisfaction with erratic watering. To address these issues, it is essential to maintain proper watering schedules.

How to care for a ghost succulent?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How to care for a ghost succulent?

Ghost Plants, also known as Graptopetalum Paraguayense, are drought-resistant succulents that require minimal watering. They are best watered when the soil is dry, and after watering, allow excess water to drain from the pot. The plant’s name comes from its thick farina layer, which covers its pale blue, purple, and occasionally red leaves. The wax layer gives the leaves a ghostly shine, making them an excellent addition to any home garden.

Ghost Plants are not toxic to animals or people, but gardening gloves are recommended to protect the farina layer and keep them out of reach. They are relatively hardy and low-maintenance, but their pale leaf color may make it difficult to tell when the plant is struggling. Proper care and attention are essential for their survival.

Can you grow a ghost plant indoors?

The ghost plant is a succulent perennial native to central and eastern Mexico. Its leaves exhibit a range of colors, from gray-green to faded pink, and spiral around the stem in a distinctive manner.

Why is my Ghost Plant turning black?

Black spots on Ghost Plants can be caused by overwatering, poor drainage, sunburn, heat stress, and bacterial and fungal infections. Overwatering can cause the soil to become a fungal playground, leading to root rot. Sunburn and heat stress can cause black spots, while bacterial and fungal infections can be caused by a lack of air circulation and high humidity. To prevent these issues, it is essential to keep the air moving and avoid exposing the plant to direct sunlight or heat stress. It is crucial to maintain a balance between basking in light and hiding in the shade to prevent these unwanted symptoms.

What’s wrong with my Ghost Plant?

Ghost Plants can experience water-related issues such as over-watering, which results in yellowing leaves and soft stems, and under-watering, which results in wrinkled leaves and leaf drop. To combat over-watering, let the soil dry before watering and ensure adequate drainage. For under-watered plants, establish a regular watering schedule without overdoing. Inconsistent watering can cause shriveled or mushy leaves and discolored patches, expressing the plant’s dissatisfaction with erratic watering. To address these issues, it is essential to maintain proper watering schedules.

Do ghost plants like direct sunlight?

Ghost plants thrive in sunlight and should be grown near a south, east, or west window. They can be trimmed for a fuller shape or allowed to get a little leggy for a cascading effect. The plant is drought-tolerant and self-propagates as leaves break off the plant and fall to the soil below. To propagate, give a fallen leaf time to form a callous over the break-off point before planting. Ghost plants are easy to propagate, making them a great pass-along plant for friends and relatives. For more information on growing ghost plants, contact your county Extension office.

How often should a ghost plant be watered?

Ghost plants require occasional irrigation for optimal growth, especially in full sun and summer temperatures. Indoor plants may only need watering every other week, and indoor plants should be watered at the soil level to prevent stagnation. Ghost plants are hardy in USDA cold hardiness zones 9 to 11, but can survive temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit if covered over for winter. They thrive in hot weather but most active growth occurs in cool periods of spring and fall. To maintain plant health, plant ghost plants in containers or raised beds, and space them away from each other and other plants to increase air circulation.

Why is my ghost plant turning brown?

Excessive sun exposure can cause brown spots on plants, which can be caused by various factors. Overwatering and excessive sunlight are common culprits, but other potential causes include bacterial leaf spot, overcrowding, and over-fertilization. Overwatering and high humidity can lead to bacterial leaf spot, while overcrowding can reduce airflow and increase the risk of spreading the infection. Over-fertilization can also cause brown spots, as many fertilizers are mineral salts, which some plants are sensitive to. Overfeeding plants with a steady diet of fast food can also contribute to brown spots. Therefore, it is essential to manage these factors to prevent brown spots on plants.

Should I mist my ghost plant?

Ghost Plants thrive in dry environments, so avoid misting them or providing extra humidity. Choose a well-draining potting soil that doesn’t retain too much moisture. When not getting direct sunlight, give Ghost Plant 0. 5 cups of water every 12 weeks. Use a water calculator to customize watering recommendations or download Greg for advanced options. Ghost Plants also thrive near bright, sunny windows.

Are ghost succulents toxic?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Are ghost succulents toxic?

Ghost Plants are non-toxic to humans and pets, making them safe for households. The sap of Ghost Plants can be mildly irritating, but not harmful. It’s important to note that irritation is a minor annoyance, while toxicity requires a trip to Poison Control. While the Ghost Plant’s leaves may be less palatable, they won’t cause serious health issues. The sap of Ghost Plants is harmless to human handling and accidental ingestion, but it can be a mild irritant. If you get sap on your skin, wash it off. This information helps to dispel myths and promote informed gardening.


📹 Succulent Beheading: Graptopetalum ‘Ghost Plant’ Refresh

My favorite video to date. I love cleaning up unruly plants and bringing them back to life. In this video I am going to behead this …


How To Take Care Of A Succulent Ghost Plant
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

4 comments

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  • I got this plant a week after I moved out back in 2012 and I got it as a small little pot with just 2 decent sized florets. I kind of got it as a symbol of how I’m doing, damn near killed it in the beginning, but was able to keep it alive and now it’s 11 years old, and growing well out of it’s newer pot with very long stems, it’s never been trimmed and I figured it could use some love now. This plant is very hardy, i really neglected it to start and had gone weeks without watering it before. But now I generally give it a good dousing once a week. It’s my plant baby and I love it. I send it over to a relative’s in the summer to get direct sun as I don’t have a balcony or porch to put it.

  • Just beheaded two of my echeverias (some echeverias become SO etiolated SO very quickly!), and though I felt like a monster, at least I’ll be able to create a lot of new plants from it 🙂 Thanks for the article, it was very helpful and made me feel a bit better about lopping off the tops of my echeverias.

  • I just inherited what I think is a ghost plant (Graptopetalum) from a friend who inherited it from her grandmother who is now deceased. Needless to say, it was a mess. Etiolated, dehydrated and in ends and pieces. It had obviously been neglected for some time and needed to be rescued. With Mother Nature on my side, I have made it a project. I will be busy the next couple of days trying to decide exactly how to approach it. Almost no matter what I do will be an improvement from the state it’s in now. I’ll come back with an agenda!

  • Looks like too heavy soil in there, too wet. Needs succulent/cactus soil for better drainage. Looks like it needs a lot more sun to not be so stringy. Also, the new cuttings need a little more water at the beginning to get established, and the rest of the older plant doesnt. Not really a good idea to mix them like that, is it, with watering the new cuttings will give the older ones more water and more chance to rot? Otherwise, good article, very helpful.