Bunny Succulents – Cutest Addition to Your Garden & Home

What Are Bunny Ear Succulents

Monilaria moniliforme, also lovingly called bunny ears, is a small succulent that can only grow to about 6 inches tall. This plant got its name from the tiny, fuzzy bunny ears that come out when they first sprout. As the plant gets older, the bunny ears continue to grow in length while the base remains the same size.

Although they may look like they are very fragile, they are easy to take care of. They are not like some purple succulents that are hard to grow. Also, unlike other succulent species, growing bunny ears usually starts with the seeds. Depending on the soil conditions and the climate in the area, the seeds will start sprouting and you will begin seeing tiny bunny ears popping up after a week.

Benefits of Bunny Ear Succulents

Easy to Grow and Cultivate

Unlike other succulents that you cultivate from seeds, bunny ears are quite easy to grow. You do not need to prepare the soil too much. It would also be unnecessary for you to sprout the seeds before transplanting them into the pot. You have to plant the seeds in a container with free-draining soil and ventilation.

Guaranteed to Be Low-Maintenance

Bunny ear succulents are also beneficial as they are low maintenance. If you grow cacti in your garden, then you already know that bunny ears do not require as much maintenance compared to other house plants. You need to keep them in a brightly lit area but away from direct sunlight.

Cute and Nice to Look at

Bunny ears have a unique appearance, especially when they are just beginning to sprout. You can liken them to a dozen little green rabbits popping out of the soil. Even when they are fully grown, seeing those fluffy fronds can put a smile on anyone’s face.

How Do Bunny Ear Succulents Work

Bunny ears, unlike the other common succulents, grow from seeds. Even if you are not a gifted gardener, it is hard to mess up growing bunny ear succulents, just like taking care of drought-tolerant ground covering succulents. You need to plant the seeds in some moist potting mix, high-draining is preferable, and the seeds will sprout after a week.

These versatile flowering succulents are also very hardy. They do not need much sun to survive a bit of cold weather, although you need to take them inside when it is freezing. They also do not require too much light so that they could thrive indoors.

Pros and Cons of Bunny Ear Succulents

Pros

• More than 90% germination rate of seeds.
• Low-maintenance – They only need little sun and rain.
• Very hardy once established.
• Nice and attractive to look at.
• Can thrive indoors.

Cons

• It may take some time to grow fully.

Bunny Ears Succulents and Different Seasons

If you want to plant and cultivate bunny ear succulents, then it would be a better idea to do so at the tail end of winter so that the seeds will start sprouting by early spring. When springtime comes, the moderate sun and still quite cool temperature will allow the sprouts to grow stronger.

During the summer, the bunny ears would have grown enough that they can withstand brighter sun, but you should still expose them to indirect sunlight. When the colder months come, the bunny ear succulent will start growing a lot slower, but you can expect it to be able to stand the colder temperatures.

How to Grow Bunny Ears Succulents

Step 1 – Prepare the pot

It is best to plant bunny ears in a pot so that you can move them indoors when needed. You need to put a handful or two of pebbles or cracked terra cotta pots in the pot’s base.

Step 2 – Fill the pot with the potting mix

Ideally, you should use a fast-draining potting mix, but mixing your own succulent soil will give the best results. Dampen the soil a bit with a bit of water, but do not drench it.

Step 3 – Plant the seeds

Poke a hole for each seed; around an inch deep is fine. Drop individual seeds inside the holes and cover them up with a potting mix. After a week or two, tiny bunny ears will pop out of the soil.

 

How to Care for Bunny Ears Succulents

Step 1 – Water regularly

Water the plants every week or so. Just like other succulents, you do not need to water bunny ears every day as it is unlike how rose succulents need more moisture. You only need to water them whenever the soil in the pot is completely dry to the touch.

Step 2 – Make sure it gets enough indirect sunlight

Bunny ears get sunburned easily, so you should not place them under direct sunlight, or at the most, allow an hour of morning sunlight. Ideally, you should make sure that the bunny ears get around 5 to 6 hours of indirect light.

Step 3 – Move the potted succulent inside when the weather gets bad

If there is a rainstorm, a heatwave, or if it gets frosty outside, you need to take the potted bunny ears inside the house. If you want to make sure that the plant grows continuously while still indoors, you need to learn about growing low-light succulents. That way, you will know exactly how you can make the bunny ears thrive even indoors.

 

Does More Spending Mean More Quality

Unlike some of the world’s best rare succulents, bunny ear succulents are easy to grow. However, if you want all, or at least most of the seeds to sprout, you should get your seeds from qualified growers. These seeds might cost a bit more, but their germination success rate is much higher.

Do’s and Don’ts With Bunny Ears Succulents

Do’s

• Do get your seeds from reputable nurseries – That way, there is a high chance for the succulent to grow.
• Do give them lots of indirect light – It would be like what you will be doing for premium pink succulents.
• Do wait until the soil is bone dry before watering them – Adjust watering based on temperature.

Don’ts

• Don’t crowd the seeds when planting bunny ears.
• Don’t place them under direct sunlight for more than an hour a day.

FAQ About Bunny Ears Succulent

Are bunny succulents real?

Yes, they are real, and they are as cute as their name implies. They are also among the succulents that you can easily grow at home.

Are bunny ears illegal?

No, unless you take them from the wild, keeping bunny ears is completely legal. There are plenty of reputable nurseries where you can buy them legally.

Why is my bunny ear cactus leaning?

Leaning succulents is a symptom of your plant not getting enough sunlight. The plant is leaning towards the direction of the light. To fix this problem, move the plant to a place that gets more indirect sunlight. It should not also be too shady during the afternoon.

Where can you buy bunny ears succulents?

There are plenty of plant nurseries that sell this succulent. You can also score one in plant conventions. This succulent is not that rare, so finding one is easy.

Can bunny ear succulents flower?

Yes, they usually blossom during the middle of spring. This plant has tiny white flowers with yellow centers.

How do you propagate bunny ear succulents?

You can propagate bunny ears either by cuttings or sprouting seeds. If you have an existing bunny ear succulent, you can pick off a mature leaf. However, if you cannot bear to do this, look for leaves that have fallen off the main plant.

Get a tray, put a bit of potting mix on top, and layout the leaves on top of the soil. Place the tray somewhere cool and dry, then wait for a couple of weeks until the roots sprout out of the cut ends. There should also be a couple of small leaves. These are ready to transfer to a permanent pot.

If you are using seeds, buy them from a reputable nursery so that you can be sure that most, if not all, of the seeds would germinate and grow into strong plants.

Are bunny ears succulents expensive?

No, not at all. Bunny ear succulents are quite common, so that you can get a small potted plant for just a couple of dollars.

Conclusion

If you ever needed a reason to start collecting succulents, just the fact that bunny ears exist should be more than enough. These adorable little plants are easy to grow and maintain, and they will always bring a smile to your face every time you look at them. 

Photos from: kipgodi / depositphotos.com, Myimagine / depositphotos.com and suganyasopat / depositphotos.com.