The flowering succulent plant Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is simple to maintain indoors. Perennial plants that bloom every year are known as Kalanchoes. Pink, red, white, yellow, and orange blooms emerge on the flowering kalanchoe. Flaming Katy, florist kalanchoe, Madagascar widow’s-thrill, and Christmas kalanchoe are some of the other names for this succulent houseplant.
How to care for kalanchoe: Bright indirect light, well-draining cactus potting mix, and low humidity are ideal conditions for the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana to flourish. When the earth gets somewhat dry, water the kalanchoe. A kalanchoe plant can grow in a temperature range of 60°F to 85°F (15°C to 30°C). During the growing season, fertilize monthly.
The Madagascar native Kalanchoe blossfeldiana thrives in subtropical weather conditions. In partial shade, the bushy evergreen perennial succulent grows outdoors. Kalanchoe plants can survive in the outdoors as long as they are kept warm and do not receive too much direct sunlight.
In temperate climates, you may purchase kalanchoe plants at garden businesses, flower stores, nurseries, and grocery shops. Kalanchoe has leathery dark-green leaves and tiny long-lasting blooms, and is a popular houseplant with spherical bushy growth. The kalanchoe grows to 18 inches (45 cm) tall and has a 20-inch (50 cm) spread when grown in pots.
Some kalanchoe species, on the other hand, may be as little as 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 4 inches (10 cm) broad. You’ll learn how to look after the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana succulent in this article. In addition, you’ll learn how to cope with a variety of concerns concerning kalanchoe growing at home.
Kalanchoe Flowers
Single blooms (the pink and red blooms in the image) and double blooms (the yellow kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Calandiva’ cultivar) are among the numerous colors of kalanchoes. Each petal of the gorgeous blossoms is four. When the bushy kalanchoe blooms, these flowers form colorful flowerheads that grow in clusters.
In early spring, Kalanchoes produce masses of tiny showy flowers. To create their flower buds, they need a six-week period of complete darkness. Kalanchoe blooms last a long time, sometimes up to six months, which is one of the species’ charms.
If you snip off the flowers once they begin to fade, Kalanchoe blooms will return year after year. Kalanchoes are encouraged to grow vigorously by dying them. The best way to ensure that your flowering succulent blooms bloom every year is by pruning off dead flower stalks.
Showy blossoms like roses may be seen on certain varieties of Kalanchoe bloestfeldiana. The calandiva kalanchoe plant is a kind of double-petalled plant. The blooms of Kalanchoe and calandiva may be distinguished. Calandiva has flowers with double petals, whereas Kalanchoe has single-petaled flowers.
How do I keep my kalanchoe blooming?
The plant requires bright light to create masses of vibrant flowers. Move the kalanchoe to a sunny spot as soon as you see flower buds beginning to develop. The kalanchoe flowers should bloom for a long time as long as the succulent is kept out of direct sunlight.
You should reduce watering and imitate winter lighting conditions to persuade a kalanchoe to bloom. Leave the plant alone for 14 hours each day and refrain from watering it. To encourage the formation of flower buds, perform this for six weeks. Move the kalanchoe to a bright location as soon as flower buds form so that it may bloom. Kalanchoes may bloom for up to six months in a row under ideal conditions.
Why is my kalanchoe not flowering?
A kalanchoe’s failure to bloom again is frequently caused by too much light. If you keep Kalanchoe in bright sunlight all year, it will not bloom. Plants of Kalanchoe are photoperiodic, which means they bloom depending on the day.
To create flower buds, Kalanchoe requires long periods of darkness and limited watering. Move the kalanchoe into full sun when they begin to bloom, and continue with regular watering.
How to Care for Kalanchoe
So that you continue to get blossoms and the leaves and stems stay healthy, free of bugs or disease, here are some tips for caring for Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.
Kalanchoe Light Requirements
Kalanchoe succulent plants prefer bright, sunny areas that are protected from direct sunlight. On an east- or west-facing windowsill, place the kalanchoe pots. Succulents that bloom throughout the winter get plenty of light in a south-facing window. To avoid burning, however, keep the plant out of direct sunlight.
Keeping your kalanchoe in bright light for most of the day ensures healthy blooming. You’ll get an array of red, orange, white, yellow, or pink clusters when growing in sufficient light. These blooms should last for many months. A kalanchoe requires periods of darkness to begin blooming when it comes to getting lighting levels right.
The plant will go into dormant mode when the days get shorter and you water it less in the fall. You should ideally be able to cut light for 14 hours a day. You can return the flowering kalanchoe to a bright spot with plenty of natural light after about six weeks, when flower buds should emerge.
Best Soil for Growing Kalanchoe Indoors
Grow kalanchoe in a well-draining potting mix for cacti, which is the optimum soil for growing it. A combination of cactus mix, potting soil, and perlite is the finest growing medium for cacti. Without becoming soggy, the light potting mix retains some moisture. Perlite allows water to quickly percolate through the earth.
Bark chips, coarse horticultural sand, and charcoal pieces are other soil amendments that can aid in kalanchoe drainage. To keep a kalanchoe plant from dying, the ideal potting medium is required. Succulent roots rot and become sick when they sit in poorly-moisture soil.
Your kalanchoe will grow limp, have soggy stems, and die if root rot is not treated. Of course, the appropriate soil and watering methods are required for indoor kalanchoe plants to thrive.
How to Water a Kalanchoe
Only when the soil is drying out should you water your kalanchoe succulent. A kalanchoe might need watering every week in hot weather. Water your kalanchoe succulent only every six to eight weeks in the autumn and winter. When it comes to watering your kalanchoe, however, follow soil dryness.
Thoroughly saturate the soil until water runs out of the pot’s drainage holes before watering a kalanchoe plant. The roots of a deep houseplant are thoroughly hydrated thanks to watering. Yet, until at least 50% of the soil is dry, you must wait to water the succulent correctly.
Kalanchoe plants can tolerate some drought because they are easy to care for and succulent houseplants. Remember that watering less often is preferable than watering too much. How do you know if your kalanchoe needs water? Put two fingers, each one an inch (5 cm) deep, into the dirt.
It’s time to water your evergreen perennial kalanchoe houseplant if it’s bone dry. Wait a week or so if there is still moisture.
Kalanchoe Temperature Requirements
To maintain your kalanchoe plant in optimum health, keep it at a steady temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (15°C and 30°C) are recommended for optimal growth. Keep the kalanchoe plant in a warm, sunny location with minimal drafts. For kalanchoe plants, 40°F (4°C) is the lowest temperature. If the kalanchoe is kept in cold temperatures for more than a few hours, it may die.
If you live in USDA zones 10 or 11, you may grow kalanchoe plants outdoors. In the summer, you can bring potted kalanchoe plants outside if you live in temperate climates. In dappled or partial shade, grow the heat-loving succulents. If the temperature drops to 50°F (10°C), bring it indoors to prevent plant damage.
Kalanchoe Humidity
Kalanchoe plants thrive in a dry environment with ample air circulation. The dry air conditions in a home are usually ideal for sustaining these flowering succulents. The flowers bloom for a long time if the plant is kept in a dry room with good air circulation and near a windowsill.
The leaves of a kalanchoe plant are never required to be misted. Plant diseases such as powdery mildew and leaf spot are more likely in high humidity environments. Move the plant to a drier environment if you discover signs of white mold on plants or discolored leaves. Also, don’t water until the soil is completely dry.
Fertilizing a Kalanchoe
Fertilizing requirements for Kalanchoe plants are minimal. During the growing season, you may only apply a diluted, balanced houseplant fertilizer once each month. However, just twice a year, in spring and summer, you may need to fertilize a kalanchoe. Kalanchoes, or self-sufficient plants, are slow-growing perennial succulents. As a result, the plant does not need to be fed every day of the year.
How to fertilize kalanchoe is explained below:
- For your kalanchoe, apply a balanced organic 20-20-20 fertilizer at half the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations.
- To avoid mineral salt build-up and root burn, flush the soil every so often.
- During the autumn or winter, do not apply fertilizers to a kalanchoe plant.
Pinching Kalanchoe Plants to Encourage Healthy Growth
Kalanchoe plants develop more robust and that the blooms return year after year by pinching off dead flower stalks. After the plant has finished blooming, wait until spring to pinch off dead or dying flowers. With sterile shears, snip off the base of the stems of kalanchoe flowers.
On your kalanchoe, cut back any leggy growth you see. Long, straggly stems promote healthy plant development when they are pruned. The plant stays bushy and blooms regularly by pinching off leggy kalanchoe stems. Discolored or dead leaves should be removed as well.
Repotting a Kalanchoe
Slow-growing kalanchoes don’t need to be repotted very often. If a kalanchoe has outgrown its current pot, transfer it to a bigger pot in the spring. Because it provides the roots more space to develop, repotting a kalanchoe helps encourage healthy development. This helps ensure that there are a lot of pink, red, orange, yellow, or white flowers.
Gently remove the root ball from the pot when repotting a kalanchoe. Next, thoroughly rinse the roots with clean water after shaking off any excess dirt. Prune as needed if there are indications of root decay, such as brown, mushy roots. Put the kalanchoe in a new container half-filled with cactus potting soil.
The remaining potting medium should be poured into the empty area. How do you know if your kalanchoe needs repotting? Here are a few indicators:
- The drainage holes in the pot have roots protruding from them.
- The pot does not drain quickly when water is added.
- On the surface of the soil, water pools.
A terracotta pot is the ideal container for a kalanchoe succulent.
Propagating Kalanchoe Succulents
Kalanchoe plants may be propagated by root division as well. Cut a few healthy stems with a few leaves on them to propagate kalanchoe. Remove the bottom 2 inches (5 cm) of the stem’s leaves. Let the blade dry over a paper towel for three to five days. Transfer to a pot containing the correct kalanchoe soil.
Another method to grow a new kalanchoe succulent is to root it. Remove the kalanchoe from its pot and divide it by roots to propagate it. Separate the root into two or three sections, with at least one sound stem and a few leaves in each section. Move the root to a new pot for each section.
You should increase humidity to ensure that a freshly-propagated kalanchoe thrives. To help keep the rooted stem moist, mist the soil. To promote humidity and ensure that the kalanchoe grows quickly, cover the plant pot with a plastic bag.
Weekly water the planted cutting in bright, indirect light. The cutting should be completely rooted after three weeks. The kalanchoe can be treated normally after the plastic bag is removed.
Pests Affecting Kalanchoe Growth
Kalanchoe is a pest-tolerant succulent that looks a lot like other succulents and cactus. To get rid of houseplant pests, use a neem oil solution or insecticidal soap. Aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites are some of the insects that may attack kalanchoe plants. The early indicators of a plant infestation may be observed here.
Diseases Affecting Kalanchoe Growth
Kalanchoe houseplant may get sick if it is watered excessively and has high humidity. Make sure you give your succulent plants enough water to prevent root rot. Before watering the plant, make sure that the soil dries out sufficiently between watering. Powdery mildew on kalanchoe leaves may be caused by high humidity.
Try to keep the leaves dry when preventing powdery mildew. Also, make sure there is adequate air circulation so that moisture does not collect in the leaves. Powdery mildew white fuzzy growth might brown the leaves or appear like spots on them.
Are Kalanchoe Plants Poisonous?
Dogs, cats, and other household pets should not be allowed to touch Kalanchoe plants. Dogs and cats may experience diarrhea, vomiting, or abnormal heart rhythm if they consume kalanchoe leaves, according to the ASPCA.
FAQs about Growing Kalanchoe Plants
While the blooming succulent kind Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a low-maintenance houseplant, it may be impacted by a variety of factors.
What are brown spots on kalanchoe leaves?
A buildup of mineral salts in the potting soil might cause brown spots on kalanchoe leaves. Flush the soil by pouring water through it for a few minutes to help your plant get back on track. Remember that kalanchoes are only fertilized on rare occasions, if at all.
Why is my kalanchoe dying?
The main cause of poor, limp kalanchoe development is over watering. Hold off watering until the soil dries out to help revive a dying kalanchoe. Try repotting the succulent with a sterile potting medium that is slightly moist if the potting mix is especially soggy.
Why is my kalanchoe wilting?
A kalanchoe that is wilting is frequently due to watering problems. Roots may be damaged by too little or too much water, which may lead to poor development. Over-watering, not under-watering, is generally the reason of wilting development with kalanchoes since they are one of the best drought-tolerant houseplants.