Aeonium Kiwi (Aeonium 'Kiwi') is a rosette succulent that looks hand-painted: green centres, creamy yellow middles and pink-red edges, all in a neat rosette on a branching stem. In bright light the colours deepen until the plant glows, and a mature plant forms a small branching shrub of rosettes.
Aeoniums are winter growers, which catches many people out: they grow in the cooler months and rest in the heat of summer, the opposite of most houseplants. That means watering and feeding follow the seasons in reverse — water more in autumn and winter, less in summer. It is non-toxic to cats and dogs. This guide covers light, watering, humidity, temperature, soil, repotting, feeding, propagation and the common problems that show up when something is off.
Aeonium Kiwi at a glance
| Care factor | What this plant needs |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Aeonium 'Kiwi' |
| Light | bright direct |
| Water | every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully |
| Humidity | low |
| Temperature | 60–80°F (16–27°C) |
| Repotting | every 2–3 years |
| Pet safety | non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Light
Give your Aeonium Kiwi bright direct light. A spot near an east- or west-facing window is usually ideal, or a metre or so back from a bright south-facing window. In the right light the plant grows steadily and keeps its colour; in too little light growth turns weak and stretched, and the plant loses the look that makes it worth growing. Our grow-light calculator can help work out whether your spot is bright enough.
Give it bright direct sun — a sunny south- or west-facing window is ideal. Sunlight is what makes the pink edges and yellow banding appear; in low light the rosettes turn plain green and stretch. In very hot summer sun the rosettes may close up and rest — that is normal, not a problem.
Watering
Water: every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully. The golden rule is to check the soil before you water rather than watering on a fixed day — push a finger into the mix and water thoroughly only when it has dried to the depth the plant prefers, letting the excess run out of the drainage holes. Then empty the saucer so the plant never sits in standing water. Our watering calculator gives a starting point for your pot size, and the watering schedule generator can help you build a routine around it.
Water only when the soil has dried out completely — every 2–3 weeks is usually right in the growing season. Water thoroughly when you do water, and let it drain completely. In summer, when the plant rests, water much less: a dormant aeonium in wet soil rots quickly.
Humidity and temperature
Aeonium Kiwi needs low humidity and temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C). Humidity is the care factor most homes get wrong: heated indoor air in winter is far drier than most houseplants like, and the first sign is usually brown, crispy leaf edges. Grouping plants together, a pebble tray under the pot, or a small humidifier near the plant all help; a humidifier is the only method that reliably lifts humidity enough. Misting does very little — the water evaporates in minutes. Our humidity and temperature checker can tell you whether your room suits this plant.
Low humidity suits it — this is a succulent from dry, sunny places, and ordinary household air is fine. Do not mist it, and keep it out of steamy bathrooms.
Soil and potting
Indoors, Aeonium Kiwi needs a rich but free-draining potting mix. Standard potting soil on its own can hold too much water and compact over time, so mix it with perlite and orchid bark to keep air around the roots while still holding some moisture. A pot with drainage holes is not optional; without one, water has nowhere to go and root rot follows. Our potting-mix calculator can work out the parts for a homemade mix for your pot size.
Use a very free-draining succulent mix — cactus soil with extra perlite or coarse pumice. The rosettes hold water in their leaves, so the soil must dry out fast, and the pot must have drainage holes.
Repotting
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size — a pot that is too big holds wet soil the roots cannot use, and that is a fast route to rot. Our repotting calculator can help you work out the next pot size and how much fresh mix you will need.
Repot every 2–3 years in autumn, at the start of the growing season, moving up only one size. Handle the rosettes gently — the leaves bruise easily — and let any broken stems dry before replanting.
Feeding
Feed during the growing season, in spring and summer, with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half the strength on the label, roughly once a month while the plant is actively growing. Do not feed in autumn and winter when growth slows. Always follow the directions on the label — more fertiliser is not better, and excess salts build up in the soil and burn the roots, which often shows up as brown leaf edges. If you have been feeding heavily, flush the soil with plain water occasionally to wash the salts out. Our fertiliser calculator can help you get the dose right.
Feed lightly in the growing season — autumn through spring — once a month at half strength. Do not feed in summer when the plant is resting; a dormant aeonium cannot use fertiliser, and the salts will burn the roots.
Propagation
Aeonium Kiwi propagates from stem cuttings or rosette offsets. Cut a rosette with a few centimetres of stem, let the cut end dry for a few days until it calluses, then place it in dry succulent mix and water lightly once roots form.
Offsets that grow at the base can be cut away and rooted the same way. Cuttings root best in autumn, at the start of the growing season.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering | Let soil dry more between waterings; check drainage. |
| Brown leaf tips | Low humidity | Trim brown tips; raise humidity; use filtered water if tap water is hard. |
| Slow growth | Too little light or pot-bound | Give more bright light; repot if pot-bound. |
Yellow leaves
Likely cause: overwatering. Yellow leaves most often mean the soil has stayed wet for too long. Let the top of the soil dry out before watering again, check that the pot drains freely, and remove leaves once they are fully yellow. If several leaves yellow at once, check the roots — soft, black roots mean rot, and you should cut the rot away and repot in fresh mix. Water less in winter, when the plant grows more slowly and the soil stays wet for longer.
Brown leaf tips
Likely cause: low humidity. Trim the brown tips with clean scissors, following the leaf's shape, and raise the humidity around the plant — a pebble tray or humidifier helps more than misting. If your tap water is hard, switch to filtered or rainwater, since salts can also crisp the edges. Check the humidity with our humidity and temperature checker and move the plant away from radiators and hot, dry draughts.
Slow growth
Likely cause: too little light or pot-bound. First check the light: move the plant a little closer to a bright window and see whether new growth picks up over the next month. Then check whether it is pot-bound — roots circling the drainage holes mean it is time to repot into a pot one size larger with fresh mix. Do not try to force growth with extra fertiliser; a plant that is short of light or root room will not use it, and the salts can burn the roots.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Aeonium Kiwi?
Every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully. Check the soil with your finger before watering rather than watering on a fixed day — pots dry out at different rates depending on light, pot size and the season.
How much light does Aeonium Kiwi need?
It needs bright direct light. Too little light gives weak, stretched growth, while harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves, so a bright spot out of direct midday sun suits most plants in this guide.
Is Aeonium Kiwi safe for cats and dogs?
According to the data used for this guide, this plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants, and if a pet eats any of it, contact your vet.
When should I repot Aeonium Kiwi?
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size so the fresh mix does not stay wet for too long.
Why is my Aeonium Kiwi closing up in summer?
It is going dormant — aeoniums rest in hot weather, and the rosettes close tightly to reduce water loss. Water very little, keep it out of scorching sun, and it will open up again and start growing when the weather cools in autumn.