Kalanchoe is a genus of succulent plants belonging to the Crassulaceae family. It is found in Australia, Madagascar and tropical South Africa. Kalanchoe is a very easy plant to grow indoors. Ornamental-leaved forms are easy to care for, ornamental-flowering varieties (hybrids of Madagascar K. Blossfeldiana) bloom in winter. The plants have different leaves from each other. They are usually thick, may be strongly or weakly dissected, may be sessile and may have a petiole. The red, white, yellow or purple flowers gather in umbrella-like inflorescences. Virtually all species tolerate indoor cultivation very well. The main thing is to follow the recommendations for home care.
How to care for a Kalanchoe flower?
Kalanchoe is an succulent evergreen plant. It is easy to grow and unpretentious. However, there are small secrets that extend the life of the plant and enhance its ornamental qualities. A moderate temperature, rather cool in winter (13 – 15 °C).
How often do you water a kalanchoe?; Water your houseplant with mild, lukewarm, tepid water. Water gradually as the topsoil dries out and never allow it to dry out completely – this will cause the leaves to fall off en masse. In the winter, only water after 3-4 days. You can also water using a drip tray.
Does the Kalanchoe flower like moisture? The optimum length of daylight hours at home is 12 hours. Therefore, the best place for a pot of kalanhoe plants between spring and autumn is on the east or west side of the window. In winter, it is best to put the flower on a southern window sill. If the daylight hours are very short in winter, you can shorten the hours by installing some additional artificial light. Where does kalanchoe grow?
How to prepare Kalanchoe potting soil? The ground should be light and well-drained, so it should always contain coarse- grained sand or vermiculite. The reaction of the soil composition should be neutral or slightly acidic. It is advisable to add 2 tbsp. of crushed charcoal to the soil. As a succulent, it can survive prolonged periods of drought because it stores moisture in its fleshy parts. When planting, it is important to ensure that there is no stagnant water in the root zone. Watering should always be done sparingly and the watering intervals will usually depend on the temperature: between waterings the root ball of the plant should dry out to half the height of the pot. In summer you will therefore need to water once every 10 to 14 days and in winter once a month will be sufficient. Kalanchoe plants like to be washed down with clean, soft water. This not only washes away dust from the leathery leaves but also removes pests.
At what temperature does Kalanchoe grow well?
The kalanchoe flower feels really good under the room conditions at practically any temperature. Within reasonable temperature limits, of course. The limits are between 18 and 28 °C in summer and 14 to 18 °C in winter. Below 10 °C, it is a risk of diseases and death. Lower temperatures (14 – 18 °C) promote the formation of the buds.
How to care for Kalanchoe flower?
Kalanchoe only needs fertiliser in the summer and also during the budding period in the autumn. The fertiliser can be the same as that used on the indoor cacti. In summer you should apply mineral fertiliser 4 times a month and organic fertiliser 2 times a month. Since many species of kalanchoe drop their old leaves, these can be cut back and planted separately or in the same pot. Other types of kalanchoe can also be cut back and planted next to each other, or can be left dangling.
How to reproduce Kalanchoe flower?
You can propagate kalanchoe by budding (at the ends of the leaves), seeds and cuttings. The seedlings will root on their own when they drop to the soil surface and can be replanted. Seeds are sown in February-March in a light substrate – a mixture of peat and leafy soil. Propagation cuttings are taken 10-15 cm long and stuck into a mixture of peat and sand to a depth of 3-5 cm and watered. When the cuttings have a few leaves, they can be transplanted into a small pot with nutritious soil (with compost or humus). When the young plants have grown strong, they can be transplanted to a permanent location.
What are the pests of Kalanchoe pox?
What is eating my kalanchoe? How do I get rid of aphids on my kalanchoe? How do you get rid of kalanchoe fungus? Why does my kalanchoe have spots? Callanhoe can develop mould if the plant is watered unnecessarily at low temperatures. The plant can suffer from powdery mildew if it is watered too abundantly in warm temperatures. For some species, the stems will become bare and elongated but don’t worry, this is a natural process for this plant.