Kalanchoe care
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana belongs to Crassulaceae family. It is an attractive plant with fleshy, scalloped leaves that bear clusters of star-like flowers and comes in a myriad of vibrant colors. Given the right growing conditions this low-maintenance plant will bloom up to 10 weeks. It blooms naturally in late winter to late spring but growers can make it available any time of year as long as it gets 6 weeks of 14 hours of darkness. This succulent plant can tolerate dry soil and low humidity which makes them an ideal indoor plant during the winter.
Care:
Kalanchoe needs bright light, full sun (south window) in the winter and some shade during the heat of summer (east/west window). The fleshy leaves will blush red when exposed to full sun. Grow it in well-drained soil consisting of peat, sand or perlite and sterile soil. Cooler temperatures and bright light will prolong blooming. Remove spent flowers for a neater appearance. When all flowers are spent, enjoy your Kalanchoe as a houseplant.
Water thoroughly, then allow the soil to dry. They are drought tolerant so allow the top half to dry out before watering again. Don’t over water, soggy soil will cause stem and root rot. If the lower leaves start to shrivel and yellow, then the soil is too dry.
Feed a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3 weeks when actively growing and when in bloom.
Problems: Scale, mealy bugs and root mealy bugs , mites
Reblooming : Some feel it is hardly worth the effort. It is difficult but can be done. To rebloom, remove all dead flower stalks and when new growth appears start feeding with a 15-30-15 fertilizer at 1/2 strength in March-October. Kalanchoe, like Poinsettias are short-day flowering plants which require 6 weeks of 14 hr nights and bright light during the day with temperatures of 60F at night and 70F during the day. Blooming should start within 4 months after treatment.
You can also propagate your plant from tip cuttings taken in spring. Root them in a mix of peat moss and coarse sand and place in bright filtered light.
An exciting new variety is the Calandiva, a double-flower that looks like a cluster miniature roses and comes in a variety of colors. It has the same growing requirements as the Kalanchoe.
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I received a small kalanchoe as a gift last year. It is no longer small! What do people usually do with this plant when its branches are in excess of 2 feet each? Tie it to stakes or turn it into a hanging plant? I like it but am a bit bewildered! : )
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I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD. IS THIS PLANT POISONOUS FOR HIM? I READ ABOUT MITES. IS THIS A PROBLEM FOR INSIDE A HOUSE AND WITH A CHILD.
I live in Ohio can this plant be put in ground to come back in spring?
I have a new blooming Kalanchoe house plant and am wondering if I could put it in a hanging basket on the outside deck for the summer months.
My Kalanchoe plant has developed brown spots on it’s leaves. What is this a sign of and what should I do?
Michelle
I received an orange Kalanchoe plant the last week in April from a florist shop - I just love it - but my flowers started getting pale and eventually started wilting. I cut them off - it looks like I am still getting some flowers/leaves. Is this the time I would put it in the dark for 14 hours for 6 weeks and will it start to bloom again? Or won’t it bloom now until October? Thanks!
I recieved an orange Kalanchoe plant for a gift, and until recently it was doing fine. I accidently left the plant in the car overnight, and due to the summer heat, the entire plant has wilted. Is there anything I can do to bring this plant back?
I see the plant, Kalanchoe is listed as poisionous to cats and dogs. Do you tink it would be poisionous to a miniature sheep?
I have a kalanchoe plant it is a house plant.
I am having problem with the leaves on it . It is turing soft and dry at the end of it. Do I have to much water in it?
By chance can you tell me what the Kalanchoe is hardy to? I’ve looked all over for the dangerouse low temperature.
My plants has spots on the stems for the flowers and little white spots (that fall off) all over the leaves. I guess this is mites?
Please help.
Do the “spots” fly when the plant is disturbed?
i have a kalanchoe house plant, i water once a week, and summer temperatures are 90 degrees, but it is wilting. Does that mean i have to put it in the shade or more sun?
I just got a Kalanchoe for my room as an indoor plant and I live in the tropics, where it’s hot (average 85 degrees F) and humid every day of the year. Would it be better out on the balcony? Would it survive this heat?
I have a plant that I bought and it stated it was a kalanchoe but it does not look like my other one it has light large green flat leaves. the stem is thick and when it gets colder outside the tips of the leaves turn red. could this be another variety
I just received the Kalanchoe plant for Valentines Day, Its a beautiful plant, but after reading all the questions and problems, it seems like a very difficult plant to take care of. Right now it has flowers and no brown spots.
Propagate Kalanchoe
Hello, I also received my Kalanchoe plant as a gift. I do love it but I have a couple of concerns. I repotted it from the green plastic pot it came in to a pot that’s not very wide but extends 6-7 inches below the lowest leaves. Should I repot to a shorter pot? I would also love to propagate the plant, what is the best way to do so and how often should I water the repotted clipping? Thank you very much for your time!
I have a question regarding removing the old blooms from the Kalanchoe plant….everything I read says ‘remove the old blooms’. Does this mean down to the mother plant or to the first set of little leaves? Will those little leaves grow or should they be removed?
Thanks
I live in Western Canada & have just received a Kalachoe plant as a gift. Can I put it outside in a container for the remainder of the Spring & Summer?
Thank-you
I have a Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana that’s probably over 10 years old. It has developed very long bare branches with leaves on the ends. How do I get it to look like a normal potted plant again? Should I cut everything off and let it start over from the ground up? Believe it or not, it’s in bloom now.
ps I’m not sure how a 10 year
old plant will respond to severe pruning.
Thanks for the reply. What about watering? I have a succulant garden in an old bar-b-que, would the Kalanchoe work there & the rain we so often get—would it hurt it?
I have a Pear Cactus doing famously also spreading Sedum.
Hi, you stated that the Kalanchoe plant needs six weeks of 14 hour nights. I am not clear about where the plant should be stored during this time. I keep it as a houseplant now in front of a huge picture window. Should it be moved in the fall, and if so to where?
Thanks,
Teresa
Put it in a room that you don’t use in the evenings, where you don’t turn on the lights.
I rec’d a Kalanchoe as a gift and it is beautiful, however it is very full in the pot it came in and the leaves are touching the soil. I know it’s only to be watered when the soil gets dry and I’ve being doing that but the leaves near the base of the pot are turning yellow and I want to know what to do. Should I replant in a larger pot? What about the yellow and dried out leaves? Thank you
I just got a kalanchoe blossfeldiana I was wondering about pruning. It is my first plant and thought it would be nice to try to keep alive and as a decoration. I looked on other sights and there is not much info out there. I just need to know how to prune, if I should and when to do so?