How to Care for a Kalanchoe Plant
Kalanchoe is a group of bushy, herbaceous and succulent plants that have green to purplish red leaves and small flowers of red, yellow, lilac and orange. There are more than 100 hybrids, many of which are commonly given away as blooming gifts during the holidays. Kalanchoe have become popular houseplants because they are easy to propagate and care for. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Use standard potting soil as the growing medium. Adding loam or clay to the potting soil is recommended but not necessary. A few non-flowering hybrids, like the Kalanchoe scapigera and Kalanchoe tomentosa, thrive in cactus soil.
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Provide bright but shaded light. Most Kalanchoe varieties appreciate bright light with no direct exposure to sunlight. Woody varieties like the Kalanchoe beharensis and Kalanchoes tubiflora as well as cactus types like the Kalanchoe orgyalis require full sun.
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Water regularly and thoroughly but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Most Kalanchoe species prefer dry rather than moist soil. Refrain from watering in the cold months when the plant tends to become dormant.
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Keep in moderately warm temperatures, staying above 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.
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Provide low to medium humidity. As relatives of the cactus and succulent family, Kalanchoe prefer low levels of moisture. They do well in bright air-conditioned rooms that tend to be dry.
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Propagate from top cuttings, leaf cuttings and offsets. Kalanchoe are easy to propagate because many varieties sprout new buds or plantlets along their leaf margins. Some cultivars can be grown from seeds.
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Groom the plant by removing dead leaves and cutting off spent flower stems.
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Tips & Warnings
Prune overgrowth to control the shape and size of the Kalanchoe.
Most flowering types bloom in the spring and summer. Some require the long nights of winter to flower.
Excessive watering leads to root rot, which is a common cause of plant death. Kalanchoes have a higher rate of success under relatively dry conditions.
References
- Photo Credit flowers of kalanchoe image by Igor Zhorov from Fotolia.com
