Plant of the Month September 2022: Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)

For this Plant of the Month we’re highlighting Ghost Plants or scientifically known as Graptopetalum paraguayense. Native to Mexico, this succulent is also referred to as Mother-of-Pearl Plant or Leatherpetal. Ghost plants are related to the Jade plant, their petals are soft but don’t like to be touched so we don’t recommend placing them in any high traffic areas of your home. Because of the fragile nature of the rosette petals, it’s occasionally been referred to as the “porcelain succulent”. They appear in a variety of colors ranging from a lime green to a dusty lilac depending on light conditions. In the spring if fertilized properly, you can see flowers grow with white red spotted rosettes.

Ghost plants thrive in indirect sunlight and tolerate full sun well. When grown indoors, ghost plants have a tendency to grow elongated, also called etiolation in gardening. Etiolation occurs in partial sun lighting conditions and causes long fragile stems and paler green tones in leaves. This makes ghost plants great for propagating both petals and stem cuttings. It’s recommended that plant parents prune these babies from time to time. You can prune them any time indoor temperatures are warm, but when working with flowering types only prune in the winter when they are dormant.

The most common pests that can affect ghost plants are mealy bugs, aphids, and vine weevil. Using neem oil can help rid of these predatory bugs by stopping them from developing. Other solutions include using rubbing alcohol to disinfect sick petals. I’ve personally found them pretty resistant to pests and easy to care for.

Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) needs the following care:

Light ☀️ Full sun to light shade.

Water 💧Only when soil is completely dry. Do not overwater.

Grow 🌱 This is not a cold hardy plant. For best results avoid temperatures below 20 F.