Plants
Ghost Plant
Graptopetalum paraguayense · Crassulaceae
Graptopetalum — aptly called ghost plant in English — bears rosettes like matt porcelain: frosted grey-blue, flushed pastel pink in plenty of sun. It is one of the most robust succulents there is, trails picturesquely over the pot rim with the years and is non-toxic to pets. If you have ever lost a succulent, this is your second chance with a near-guarantee of success.
- Light
- Full sun to bright; in low light the rosettes etiolate.
- Watering
- Sparing — let the substrate dry out completely; in winter just a monthly sip.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Graptopetalum paraguayense
Characteristic is the fine waxy bloom (the so-called farina) on the leaves, which protects the plant from harsh sun and evaporation and lends it that ghostly matt shimmer. Every fingerprint stays permanently visible on it — so we handle the rosettes by the stem or pot only wherever possible.
Its colour is a light barometer: in bright shade the rosettes stay blue-grey, in full sun they shimmer pink to apricot. Etiolated, stretched rosettes with wide gaps between leaves signal lack of light — move it closer to the window.
Over the years the stems lengthen, lie down and let the graptopetalum grow like a trailing cascade over the pot rim or shelf edge. That is precisely its charm: in a hanging pot or on a pedestal an old specimen looks like a petrified waterfall. In spring small star-shaped flowers appear, white with fine red dots.
Care follows the basic succulent rule: plenty of light, little water, free-draining substrate. Water only once the soil is completely dry; in cool winter quarters a sip a month is enough. The only reliable way to kill a graptopetalum is a cachepot without a drainage hole.
Propagation is almost comically easy: fallen leaves root by themselves on dry soil and push out mini rosettes — often uninvited in the mother plant's pot. If you build succulent bowls, graptopetalum is an inexhaustible source of young plants.
Is Ghost Plant toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Graptopetalum is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children, making it one of the safest succulents for pet households. As always, nibbling is still best discouraged.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Place it as bright as possible, ideally with direct sun — the rosettes then blush pink.
- 02Water only once the substrate has dried out completely.
- 03Use free-draining cactus soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
- 04Avoid touching the leaves; the waxy bloom does not regenerate.
- 05Overwinter cool and almost dry (8–15 degrees) for compact growth.
- 06Lay fallen leaves on the soil — they root by themselves.
Frequently asked
- Is the ghost plant toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, the ghost plant is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. It is among the succulents we happily recommend to pet households — unlike, say, the jade plant, which is on the toxicity lists.
- Why is my ghost plant dropping leaves?
- Some shedding of the lowest leaves is normal and provides free cuttings. If plump, healthy leaves drop en masse at the slightest touch, though, overwatering is usually to blame. Check the substrate, pause watering and ensure drainage.
- Why is my plant grey instead of pink?
- The pink colouring is a sun response: only in very bright spots with direct sun do the leaves develop the pastel pink tones. In a brighter position — ideally a south or west window, outdoors in summer — the colour appears within a few weeks.
- Can the ghost plant go outdoors in summer?
- Yes, gladly: a rain-sheltered, sunny spot on the balcony or terrace from May to September makes the rosettes compact and intensely coloured. It tolerates no frost though — bring it back in before the first cold nights.