How to Get a Kalanchoe to Bloom

Kalanchoe are blooming houseplants that are treated as disposable and discarded after the flowers fade. You can get a kalanchoe to bloom again by following a few simple steps. The steps aren't hard, but you do have to be committed to being consistent in order to be successful. A kalanchoe will start blooming about 2 to 3 months after you begin the process.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potting soil and sand Water soluble liquid fertilizer

1. Cut back your kalanchoe after the flowers fade. Cut the branches back by 1/3 to 1/2. Make each cut just above the point where two leaves meet. Two new branches will grow from each cut, which will ultimately increase the quantity of flowers.

2. Put the plant in a low light area with a temperature of between 55 and 65 degrees. Water less than normal. If the leaves look droopy, add a small amount of water but do not saturate the plant.

3. Cover your kalanchoe with a darkened cardboard box, or put it in a dark closet every night for 12 to 14 hours. It is important to do this every night and leave it in complete darkness for the entire 12 hours, although 14 hours of darkness is even better. Move kalanchoe back into the low light area for the remaining 10 to 12 hours each day. Continue doing this for six weeks.

4. At the end of six weeks of nighttime darkness, repot your kalanchoe using 3 parts potting soil and 1 part sand. Water until it drains out of the bottom of the pot and the soil is fully moistened.

5. Place the newly potted kalanchoe in a bright, sunny window at a comfortable, normal room temperature of 65 to 75 degrees.

6. Feed weekly with a water soluble liquid fertilizer mixed at half the manufacturer's recommended strength.

Tips & Warnings

• The plant must be in complete darkness to form flower buds. Even the light from a streetlight or LED light can cause buds not to form.

Resources

• Information about growing kalanchoe.